Why You Can Trust CNET This Is Why the Oura Ring 4's Readiness Metric Matters So Much to Me
Commentary: More than most wellness devices, the Oura Ring gives me the context to help me get enough sleep or maintain my exercise routine.
The Oura 4 is my secret fitness weapon.
I'm tougher on myself than any exercise coach when it comes to maintaining my fitness routine. I may be tired or feel sore or short of time to stretch or warm up, but I make myself squeeze in a workout anyway.
The Oura Ring 4, which isn't cheap at $350 with a $6 monthly subscription, helps me overcome the guilt that goes with skipping a workout. This wellness-tracking ring can measure everything from activity to heart rate and stress levels, but in my view it's the way these readings are presented in Oura's app that makes this ring stand out from other wearables.
Oura not only provides a score assessing how well rested I am but also offers advice to put these ratings into context -- making it feel like the app is giving me guidance rather than just spewing out data. And some of that guidance includes telling me when it's time to take it easy.
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Oura's Readiness score explained
To be clear, Oura's Readiness Score isn't new; it's been a staple of the Oura app since the first generation ring debuted on Kickstarter in 2015. Oura also isn't the only wearable-tech maker trying to provide more context about what the deluge of data coming from our devices means. Apple, for instance, introduced an Apple Watch feature called Training Load to help users see how workouts may affect their body over time. Samsung's Energy Score metric is similar to Oura's Readiness Score in that it analyzes various metrics to assess your physical and mental readiness for the day.
But I still think Oura's metric is the best at giving me meaningful information about my body, rather than just highlighting trends.
Oura's Readiness Score takes into account factors such as sleep, activity, resting heart rate, heart rate variability and body temperature to get a sense of whether you need rest or are ready to hit the gym. On days when I'm feeling a little exhausted and burnt out, seeing a low Readiness Score gives me the extra bit of reassurance I need to take a break rather than pushing myself into a run.
On a recent Saturday when my Readiness Score was pretty low (53 out of 100), for example, the app told me that my resting heart rate was elevated and I should give myself "a lot of fun downtime" to relax. It also mentioned that it's common for Oura members to experience elevated resting heart rates on Saturdays, which was a useful piece of context that could help ease concerns around readings like these.
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But it's not just about telling me to relax when I'm tired. I came down with a minor fever and sore throat in early October, and my Oura ring spotted my elevation in body temperature and encouraged me to prioritize resting.
That said, the Oura Ring 4 is far from perfect; it's just as pricey as many smartwatches, and you need a $6 subscription to access most features. Auto workout detection doesn't always work with certain exercises, like indoor cycling, and certain finishes of the ring cost more than others.
It may not be the best choice for people who care most about tracking exercises and monitoring their workout performance. But for folks who want a holistic health tracker for making sure they're getting enough sleep and activity, the Oura Ring won't disappoint.
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Why the Oura Ring makes a great gift
We plan to take better care of ourselves in the new year, whether that means losing weight or getting more fit or creating healthy habits. But without support, that task can get a lot harder. The Oura ring may be just the support needed to start the new year off right.
Although the Oura Ring 4 isn't on sale, there's still good news. The Oura Ring 3 is on sale following Cyber Monday. On Amazon, you can get the silver Heritage version of the Oura Ring Gen 3 for $249, which is $100 less than its usual asking price. The rose gold finish, which typically starts at $549, is down to $349.
Even though Oura just came out with the Oura Ring 4, getting the Gen 3 at a discount is a great deal. The Oura Ring 4 has a more streamlined design and an improved sensing system, but you'll get the same features and health metrics on the Gen 3.
For more gift ideas, we've found 22 of the best fitness gifts and 13 fitness gifts under $50.