Oura Ring 4 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Updated, February 27, 2024 (10:22 PM ET): We’ve updated this Oura Ring 4 wishlist and rumor hub with details about new features and some new information about smart ring competitors.

Original article: The Oura Ring 3 is small but mighty in a wearables market saturated with wristwear. Easily the most popular smart ring currently available, the device offers a petite alternative to bulky smartwatches without sacrificing key health measurements. It’s also one of the most powerful sleep trackers we’ve tested. With its lead in the ring race, we don’t expect Oura to slow down anytime soon.

We rated the Oura Ring 3 very highly in our review. Since then, I’ve rarely taken it off my finger, especially at night. However, there are a few improvements I’d be eager to see in the next generation.

The fall of the paywall

The Oura Ring 3 introduced a nearly mandatory subscription structure I would love to see crumble. Wearables grow more expensive yearly, and it’s even worse to continue forking over cash. I’d rather the Oura hike its one-time price and drop the practice. It’s a long shot, but I’m not above crossing our fingers anyway.

Additional training metrics

With its focus on heart rate monitoring and temperature tracking, the Oura Ring 3 offers a fantastic holistic approach to health monitoring. Where the device doesn’t measure up is fitness tracking. Inconsistent activity stats and limited training metrics keep the ring off many shoppers’ radars. Though I value the lack of a distracting display and are happy to forego onscreen stats, there are plenty of other tools worth adding that would make the ring a better gym companion.

More smart features

Oura cannot afford to hang its hat on its laurels. Competition in the smart ring arena is heating up with the official unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Ring and speculation about a potential Apple smart ring. Oura needs to push the envelope beyond health tracking to stay ahead of the pack. Recent Oura Ring 4 rumors suggest the company is working on contactless payment support, and that’s a solid start, but I also wouldn’t shy away from haptic alarms or a Find My Device feature.

Thinner and more durable options

It’s hard to complain about the wizardry that is the Oura ring when we consider how much tech is packed into such a tiny form factor. Yet, I’d love to see Oura Ring models go even smaller. All the current Oura Ring 3 design options resemble a traditional men’s wedding band. Those of us with petite digits (hi, it’s me) would like to see something thinner and more feminine. Additional colors would be nice, but I’d settle for the same old neutral metallics with improved scratch resistance.

Digital payment support

Recently, Oura published a blog post announcing its acquisition of Proxy, a digital identity signal platform. This suggests the company aims to include digital payment support in future Oura Ring iterations, and I’d love to see that come to the Oura Ring 4.

Will there be an Oura Ring 4?

We absolutely think there will be an Oura Ring 4. Between the growing Oura Ring 4 rumors and the company’s teasers, a follow-up to the successful Oura Ring 3 is only a matter of time. Compared to the smartwatch market, smart rings may be few and far between, but the form factor is growing in popularity (and competitors). The release date is up in the air, though.

The original Oura Ring launched with a Kickstarter campaign in 2015. The Oura Ring 2 arrived with improved specs and new features three years later. In 2021, Oura announced the Oura Ring 3, the company’s most advanced model yet. Since releasing the device in October 2021, Oura has continued to roll out additional features, including Oura Circles and third-party integration.

• Oura Ring: 2015
• Oura Ring 2: 2018
• Oura Ring 3: 2021

So where does that leave us in terms of when to expect an Oura Ring 4? Based on the company’s three-year pattern (see the list above), shoppers may see a new model hit shelves in 2024. Rumors suggest a new Oura Ring is not only in the works but arriving imminently. On the other hand, the consistent three-year gap may only be a coincidence. It’s unlikely Oura will release a new generation without significant hardware changes when it’s clearly comfortable upgrading the current model’s software. We’re certainly hoping 2024 sees a new Oura Ring.

Should you wait for the Oura Ring 4?

Without a better idea of exactly when we can expect the Oura Ring 4, it’s hard to recommend shoppers wait around for it. This is especially true when we consider how beneficial an Oura Ring 3 ($299.99 at Oura) can be right now for someone’s health. You can’t go wrong with the current model if you’re committed to the ring form factor.

If you don’t need a device immediately, check back with this hub to see what else we learn about the Oura Ring 4’s timeline. Digital payment support alone is worth waiting for, and we doubt that will be the only new feature added to the next generation. As Oura Ring 4 leaks continue to spill, we’re hopeful more hardware upgrades will be unveiled.

If you are open to a wrist-based wearable, there are plenty of other options to consider. The Whoop 4.0 ($300 at Best Buy) offers a similarly screen-free experience. Alternatively, a device like the Fitbit Charge 6 ($159.95 at Amazon) still provides advanced sleep tracking but packs a ton more smart features and a colorful display.

Of course, there’s also the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring on the horizon. Though the devices look very similar and will likely offer similar feature sets, the latter may appeal more to those already embedded in the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem. If that’s you, waiting to see how a next-gen Oura Ring and first-gen Galaxy Ring stack up might not be a bad idea.