Another Wearable? Here’s Why the Oura Ring Stands Out
Wearable tech is everywhere. There are more wrist gadgets than you can count, all screaming, “Check your steps! Look at your calories! Answer your texts right now!” But what if you want a wearable that’s sleek, minimal, and not another screen demanding your attention?
Meet the Oura Ring—a stylish, futuristic health tracker that focuses on sleep, recovery, and mindfulness.
I recently grabbed a Gen 3 ring during their Black Friday sale for $250, curious to see how it would stack up against my beloved $279 Apple Watch SE. The question: Is this little ring worth the hype?
Spoiler alert: While the Apple Watch SE wins for features, the Oura Ring nails style, simplicity, and sleep tracking. And for now? It’s a keeper.
Table of Contents
1. Unboxing and Setup: A Premium First Impression
The Oura Ring’s unboxing experience sets the tone: sleek, minimal, and thoughtfully designed—no unnecessary fluff. It feels like you’re opening something special, like tech and jewelry had a baby.
Sizing Kit:
Before you even get your ring, Oura sends you a sizing kit with plastic rings so you can find your perfect fit. I landed on a size 12, and let me tell you—it’s snug without feeling restrictive.
Setup Process:
Connecting the ring to the Oura app took less than 5 minutes—zero headaches. The app immediately started syncing data, and within a few hours, I had a baseline of my sleep and heart rate metrics. It’s fast, clean, and intuitive—just how modern tech should be.
2. Sleep Tracking: Where the Oura Ring Shines
The Oura Ring wasn’t built to compete with fitness trackers—it was built to be the king of sleep tracking, and it delivers.
Here’s what the Oura app gives you each morning:
- Sleep Score: Your overall quality of sleep, boiled down into a single number (on a scale of 0-100).
- Sleep Stages: Detailed breakdown of REM, deep sleep, light sleep, and those pesky wake-up periods.
- Recovery Metrics: Resting heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and respiratory rate—all key indicators of how well your body is recovering.
Compared to My Apple Watch SE:
- Apple Watch sleep tracking is basic—it tells you how long you slept but doesn’t get into the nitty-gritty.
- The Oura Ring, on the other hand, feels like it actually cares. One morning, I woke up groggy, and the app showed I only got 45 minutes of deep sleep. That’s the kind of detail that makes you go, “Ah, so it’s not just me—I really did sleep like trash.”
The bottom line? If sleep tracking is your priority, the Oura Ring wins, hands down.
3. Style and Comfort: Why the Oura Ring Outshines the Apple Watch
Let’s be real: the Apple Watch is great, but it’s a chunky square strapped to your wrist. Sure, it’s fine for the gym or casual wear, but if you’re dressing up—do you really want your fitness tracker peeking out from under your sleeve?
Enter the Oura Ring:
- Sleek and Minimal: It looks like a stylish accessory, not a gadget. I’ve worn it out to dinner, to meetings, and even to a wedding. No one noticed I was tracking my sleep and heart rate.
- Comfortable: It’s so lightweight and snug that I often forget it’s there. You can wear it 24/7 without feeling like you’re lugging tech around.
- Not for Weightlifting: So what I will say is during my Barry’s class this morning, I found myself annoyed with my Oura ring. I did wear both my Oura and my Apple Watch, but I was so stressed about scratching the ring, I wrapped the dumbbell handle with a towel. Not ideal. However, because I tracked the workout on my Watch, it imported into the Oura app which was lovely.
But here’s the kicker:
- The Oura Ring doesn’t light up, buzz, or nag me with notifications. It just exists, silently doing its job without adding more noise to my day.
Meanwhile, my Apple Watch? It’s another screen demanding my attention. Helpful? Yes. Peaceful? Not so much. I am very easily distracted and break focus modes all the time— putting my Watch and my phone on the charger allows me to still track my vitals with my Oura (without being disturbed).
4. Battery Life: Quietly Impressive
Battery life is where the Oura Ring quietly flexes on the Apple Watch.
- The Oura Ring lasts up to 7 days on a single charge.
- Charging takes about 20-30 minutes, and you’re good to go for almost a week.
Compare that to my Apple Watch SE, which needs to be charged every night or every other day. And if I want to track my sleep? Well, I’ve got to plan around charging.
With the Oura Ring, battery life isn’t even something I think about. I pop it on the charger while I shower, and boom—it’s topped up and ready for another week.
5. Where the Oura Ring Falls Short
To be fair, the Oura Ring isn’t perfect, and it’s not trying to be.
- Limited Features: It doesn’t track workouts, play music, or deliver notifications. If you want all those features in one device, stick with the Apple Watch.
- Basic Activity Tracking: The Oura Ring tracks steps and calories burned, but it’s not as robust as the Apple Watch for fitness enthusiasts.
For me, though, this simplicity is part of its charm. The Oura Ring feels less like a gadget and more like a quiet health companion.
6. Is the Oura Ring Worth It? Final Verdict
Here’s the deal: if you want a wearable that’s discreet, stylish, and laser-focused on sleep and recovery tracking, the Oura Ring is absolutely worth it.
For me, it’s the perfect complement to my Apple Watch SE:
- The Apple Watch keeps me connected, tracks my workouts, and handles the heavy lifting for fitness.
- The Oura Ring gives me better insights into my sleep and recovery while letting me disconnect from constant notifications.
It’s like choosing between a Swiss Army knife and a precision scalpel—both are great, but they serve different purposes.
FAQs About the Oura Ring
1. How accurate is the Oura Ring for sleep tracking?
It’s one of the most accurate sleep trackers on the market, thanks to its ability to measure heart rate, HRV, and sleep stages.
2. Can I wear the Oura Ring all day?
Absolutely. It’s lightweight, water-resistant, and designed for 24/7 wear.
3. How long does the battery last?
Up to 7 days on a single charge, with a quick 20-30 minute charging time.
4. Does the Oura Ring track workouts?
It tracks steps and general activity but doesn’t offer detailed workout metrics like the Apple Watch.
5. Is the Oura Ring worth it?
If sleep tracking, recovery insights, and minimal design are priorities for you, the Oura Ring is worth every penny.
