Last checked: 12 November 2026. Prices and stock change often, so confirm them on Oura’s UK store before you buy.
Short answer: Oura Ring 4 is the better ring for most people. It has a smooth all-titanium inside, a newer sensing system called Smart Sensing, sizes from 4 to 15 and a battery Oura rates at 5 to 8 days. Oura Ring 3 (also called Gen3) is no longer sold by Oura. It uses the same app and the same membership as Ring 4.
If you already own Ring 3, you do not have to upgrade. Upgrade only if it is uncomfortable, spins on your finger, runs out of charge too fast or never came in your size.
One thing to know first: Oura launched Ring 5 in June 2026, from £399. That makes Ring 4 the previous model. This guide stays focused on Ring 3 vs 4 and covers Ring 5 only where it affects your choice.
Quick verdict
- Buying new: choose Ring 4 (or look at Ring 5 if you want the newest).
- Own Ring 3 and it works well: keep it.
- Tight budget: count the membership too. At £69.99 a year it costs as much as the ring after five years.
In this guide:
- Quick comparison table
- Design and comfort
- Size, fit and weight
- Sensors and Smart Sensing
- Features and app
- Accuracy
- Battery and charging
- Oura Membership
- Price and availability
- Total cost of ownership
- Which ring should you buy?
- Pros and cons
- FAQs
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Quick Comparison Table
Oura calls the older ring Gen3, while most people say Ring 3. They are the same product. Here is the difference between Oura Ring 3 and 4 on the points that matter.
| Feature | Oura Ring 3 (Gen3) | Oura Ring 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | October 2021 | October 2024 |
| Design | Two styles: Horizon (round) and Heritage (flat-top) | One round design, plus a Ceramic range |
| Finishes | Black, Brushed Titanium, Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Stealth | Silver, Black, Brushed Silver, Stealth, Gold, Rose Gold |
| Materials | Titanium outside, non-metallic moulding inside | Titanium inside and out |
| Inside surface | Raised sensor bumps | Smooth, sensors sit flush |
| Width | 7.9 mm | 7.9 mm |
| Thickness | About 2.7 mm (Heritage), 2.9 mm (Horizon) | 2.88 mm |
| Weight | 4–6 g | 3.3–5.2 g |
| Sizes | 6 to 13 | 4 to 15 |
| Sensor paths | 8 | 18 (Smart Sensing) |
| Sensors | Green, red and infrared LEDs, extra temperature sensor, accelerometer | Red and infrared LEDs for blood oxygen, green and infrared LEDs for heart rate, HRV and breathing, digital temperature sensor, accelerometer |
| Battery (Oura’s claim) | Up to 7 days | 5–8 days |
| Charging | Up to 80 minutes | Typically 20–80 minutes |
| Water resistance | 100 m (328 ft) | 100 m (328 ft) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Low Energy | Bluetooth Low Energy |
| Membership (UK) | £5.99 a month or £69.99 a year | £5.99 a month or £69.99 a year |
| Sold by Oura? | No, discontinued | Yes, still listed; Ring 5 is now the flagship |
| Launch price (UK) | Not sold by Oura now; Currys listed Gen3 Horizon at £199 in November 2025 | From £349 |
Three differences matter most in daily life:
- Comfort: Ring 4 removes the raised bumps inside the band.
- Signal handling: Smart Sensing uses 18 paths instead of 8 to keep a clean reading as the ring moves.
- Fit range: Ring 4 adds sizes 4, 5, 14 and 15.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Design and Build Quality
Oura Ring 3 design
Ring 3 has a titanium outside with a PVD or DLC coating, depending on the finish. The inside is a seamless, non-metallic moulding that holds the sensors. Those sensors sit on small raised bumps so they stay in contact with your skin. Oura sold two styles: the round Horizon and the flat-topped Heritage.
Oura Ring 4 design
Ring 4 uses titanium on the inside as well as the outside. The inside is smooth and the sensors sit flush, so nothing pokes into your finger. Oura dropped the Heritage flat-top, so that look only exists on Ring 3.
Which ring is more comfortable?
Ring 4 wins on comfort. Wareable’s tester said the bumps are gone, the ring leaves no indents and it stays stable on the finger. Ring 4 is not slimmer, though. Width is the same at 7.9 mm and thickness is almost identical, so do not expect a visibly smaller ring. It is a little lighter, at 3.3–5.2 g against 4–6 g.
Both rings are rated to 100 m, so showers, swimming and saunas are fine. Wareable notes this does not cover diving.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Size, Fit and Weight
Ring 3 came in sizes 6 to 13. Ring 4 runs from 4 to 15, which helps people with very small or very large fingers. If you wear a size from 6 to 13, either ring is made in your size, though the fit may not feel the same.
- Do not reuse your Ring 3 size. Oura sizes differ from standard ring sizes and between generations. Order the sizing kit for the ring you are buying.
- Wear the sizer for at least 24 hours, including during sleep, before you choose.
- Check the weight range. Larger sizes weigh more, and the battery and charger are size-specific.
In India, the Ring 4 sizing kit costs ₹999, which Oura says is adjusted against the ring or the subscription.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Sensors and Smart Sensing
Oura Ring 3 sensors
Ring 3 uses green and red LEDs alongside infrared LEDs to read your pulse and blood oxygen. It adds an extra temperature sensor, an extra infrared sensor that helps spot a poor fit, and an accelerometer for movement.
Oura Ring 4 and Smart Sensing
Ring 4 uses red and infrared LEDs for blood oxygen and green and infrared LEDs for heart rate, HRV and breathing rate. It has a digital temperature sensor and an accelerometer. The big change is Smart Sensing, an 18-path multi-wavelength sensor system. Oura says it picks the best signal path to suit your finger, skin tone and activity.
What is the difference between 8 and 18 sensor paths?
Think of each path as a different route the light takes through your finger. More routes give the ring more chances to find a clean signal when it shifts or when your finger is cold. Wareable lists Ring 3 at 8 paths and Oura names 18 for Ring 4.
More paths do not guarantee better results for every metric, and Oura’s own figures are averages that vary by person. The practical gain is fewer gaps in your data, not new kinds of data.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Features and App
Both rings feed the same Oura app. The biggest new software features have also reached Ring 3 owners, so the app experience is close to identical.
| Feature | Ring 3 | Ring 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep tracking and stages | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 heart rate and HRV | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature trends | Yes | Yes |
| Readiness, stress and activity | Yes | Yes |
| Cycle and pregnancy insights | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Sensing (18 paths) | No | Yes |
| Membership needed for full app | Yes | Yes |
Does Ring 4 offer features Ring 3 does not?
Not in any big way. No new Ring 4-only health metric has been announced. The upgrade is about how well the ring reads your body, not what it reports.
App, phones and updates
The Oura app works on iPhone and Android, so the ring you choose does not depend on your phone. If you are still choosing a handset, our Android vs iPhone comparison covers that decision.
Oura has not published an end-of-support date for Gen3 that we could find, while support for Gen1 has ended. Check Oura’s previous-generations page before buying a used Ring 3.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Which Is More Accurate?
Accuracy claims come in three kinds, and they are not equally reliable. This section keeps them apart.
| Evidence type | What it is | How much to trust it |
|---|---|---|
| Oura’s claims | Results Oura reports from its own or commissioned studies | Useful, but the company is marking its own homework |
| Peer-reviewed studies | Published research against a lab reference such as ECG | Strongest evidence, but samples are often small |
| Reviewer and user reports | “It matched my watch”, “fewer gaps” | Helpful colour, not proof of accuracy |
Oura’s claims: what Smart Sensing improves
Oura tested both rings on 60 people overnight in a sleep clinic in August 2024. It reports that Ring 4 did better on blood oxygen and heart-rate continuity.
- SpO2 signal quality: 120% better, measured with a perfusion index.
- SpO2 accuracy: 30% higher, counted as nights where the average was within 2 points of the reference.
- Breathing disturbance index: 15% more accurate.
- Heart-rate gaps: 31% fewer overnight and 7% fewer in the day.
These are Oura’s numbers for the study group on average. We found no independent head-to-head test of Ring 3 and Ring 4 blood oxygen.
Peer-reviewed evidence: resting heart rate and HRV
A 2025 study in Physiological Reports compared five wearables with an ECG reference over 536 nights of sleep. Both Oura rings scored very close to the reference. A score of 1.00 would be a perfect match.
| Measure (overnight) | Ring 3 | Ring 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Resting heart rate: agreement with ECG | 0.97 | 0.98 |
| Resting heart rate: average error | 1.67% | 1.94% |
| HRV: agreement with ECG | 0.97 | 0.99 |
| HRV: average error | 7.15% | 5.96% |
Ring 4 is slightly ahead on HRV, while Ring 3 has a slightly lower error on resting heart rate. In plain terms, both are strong. The study used only 13 healthy adults and only measured sleep, so it does not tell you how either ring behaves during hard exercise.
Sleep stages: the evidence is mixed
Sleep staging is where the evidence is least settled. Studies that Oura cites report 70–79% agreement with a sleep lab for four stages in healthy adults, and at least 90% for sleep versus wake. A 2025 Scientific Reports study on Gen3 found about 53%. Oura says that study used only two ring sizes, a single scorer and 31 usable nights, and points out that random guessing across four stages would score 25%.
None of the sleep-stage studies we found tested Ring 4 directly. So no one can say yet that Ring 4 tracks sleep stages better than Ring 3. Treat the stage breakdown as a guide to your pattern, not a lab result.
Temperature and blood oxygen: what we could not confirm
Both rings track skin temperature trends, and Ring 3 has an extra temperature sensor. We found no study that compares the two rings on temperature. For blood oxygen, remember that signal quality and accuracy are different things: better signal helps, but accuracy still has to be checked against a reference.
What reviewers say
Wareable’s testing favoured Ring 4 on data gaps, comfort and battery. The reviewer reported almost no gaps in the HRV and blood oxygen graphs on Ring 4 and said daytime stress had more data points. That matches Oura’s claims, but it is one person’s experience.
Is Oura Ring 4 more accurate than Ring 3?
Partly. Ring 4 shows reported gains in signal continuity and blood oxygen, and a small edge in HRV. Both match ECG closely for resting heart rate and HRV overnight. There is no proof yet of better sleep staging or temperature. Neither ring is a medical device, so use them to track trends.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Battery Life and Charging
Oura rates Ring 3 at up to 7 days and Ring 4 at 5 to 8 days. Oura’s Ring 4 figure comes from tests on new rings in sizes 8 to 10, so smaller or older rings may do worse.
Wareable’s reviewer found Ring 3 rarely lasted more than four or five days, especially with SpO2 on, while Ring 4 lasted over a week. That is one test. We found no long-term independent battery comparison.
What changes battery life
- Ring size: larger rings hold slightly more charge.
- Blood oxygen sensing: leaving it on can cut Ring 4’s battery by up to two days.
- Activity detection: under an hour a day can add up to a day; two to three hours a day can take off up to two days.
- Age: rechargeable batteries lose capacity over time. Oura suggests keeping charge between about 25% and 80%.
Charging
Ring 3 charges fully in up to 80 minutes. Ring 4 typically takes 20 to 80 minutes depending on how empty it is, and short top-ups do no harm. Both use a size-specific charger. Oura no longer sells the Gen3 charger either, so a used Ring 3 without its charger is a real problem.
Battery age matters most if you buy used. Gen3 launched in 2021 and any Ring 3 sold today is at least two years old.
Oura Membership: Do You Need a Subscription?
Yes, for the full app. Membership unlocks the detailed sleep analysis, trends, insights and most of the features listed above. It is tied to your Oura account, not to the ring, and it costs the same for Ring 3 and Ring 4.
| Region | Monthly | Yearly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | £5.99 | £69.99 | After tax |
| US | $5.99 | $69.99 | Before tax |
| EU | €5.99 | €69.99 | After tax |
| India | ₹599 | Not confirmed | UPI AutoPay is the only payment method |
What you get without membership
You still see your three daily scores (Readiness, Activity and Sleep), the ring’s battery level, basic profile details, app settings and Explore content. You also keep the right to download your data. Anything deeper needs an active membership.
Good to know
- New members get one free month, which starts when you pair the ring.
- Cancel before the free month ends and you will not be charged.
- Upgrading to a new ring on the same account does not give you another free month.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Price and Availability
Is Oura Ring 3 discontinued?
Yes. Oura’s support page says the Gen3 ring and charger are no longer available for purchase, and Ring 4 took over from it. Sources differ on the exact month Oura stopped selling it, but you can no longer buy it from Oura. Most big retailers sold out after the switch, and John Lewis lists its Gen3 pages as no longer available online.
Today that leaves used, refurbished or leftover stock. A few checks save trouble:
- Ask for a photo of the battery level in the app and the ring’s condition.
- Make sure the charger is included.
- Ask the seller to remove the ring from their Oura account first.
- Pay through a method with buyer protection. Our look at whether GOAT is legit shows the kind of checks worth making on any resale marketplace.
Oura Ring 4 price by country
| Country | Ring 4 starting price | Higher-priced finishes | Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | £349 at launch | Some finishes cost more; check Oura UK | £5.99 / £69.99 |
| US | $349 (Silver, Black) | $399 (Brushed Silver, Stealth), $499 (Gold, Rose Gold) | $5.99 / $69.99 |
| India | ₹28,900 (Silver, Black) | ₹39,900 (Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold, Rose Gold) | ₹599 a month |
Ring 4 was Oura’s first ring in India, launching in March 2026 through Croma and Amazon.in.
Finding a better deal
Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026. In 2025, UK retailers cut Ring 4 to £319 in early sales, and Amazon later went as low as £249. Newer rings are rarely discounted, so Ring 4 may be your best chance of a deal now that Ring 5 is out. Prices move quickly, so check the date on any review before trusting its price. Here is how to find the publication date of a website if it is not obvious.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Total Cost of Ownership
The ring is only half the cost. The example below uses the UK annual plan at £69.99 a year. These are illustrations, not Oura totals. We assume Ring 3 at £199 (the price Currys listed for a Gen3 Horizon in November 2025) and Ring 4 at £349. We ignore the free first month and any sale price.
| Cost | Ring 3 (assumed £199) | Ring 4 (£349) |
|---|---|---|
| Ring | £199.00 | £349.00 |
| Membership, year 1 | £69.99 | £69.99 |
| Total after 1 year | £268.99 | £418.99 |
| Total after 3 years | £408.97 | £558.97 |
| Total after 5 years | £548.95 | £698.95 |
The ring price gap is £150, and it stays £150 for as long as you own both. Membership is identical, so the real question is whether a cheaper, older ring with a possibly weaker battery is worth £150 to you. Paying yearly saves £1.89 a year compared with paying monthly.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Which One Should You Buy?
Choose Ring 3 if
- You find a genuine unit at a much lower price, with the charger.
- The battery holds charge well.
- You are happy with the older design, or you prefer the flat-top Heritage look.
Choose Ring 4 if
- You are buying new and want a current ring that is still sold new.
- You want the smooth inside and sizes 4 to 15.
- You value fewer data gaps and the newer sensing system.
Should Ring 3 owners upgrade?
Only when something bothers you. Good reasons are bumps that irritate, a ring that spins at night, a battery that no longer lasts, or a size Ring 3 never offered. If none of those apply, you would pay for a ring that gives you the same scores. If you do upgrade, selling the old ring helps. Our guide to the best things to sell online has tips for listing it.
| If you care most about… | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep tracking | Either; slight edge to Ring 4 for comfort | No Ring 4 sleep-stage study yet, so the sleep evidence we have is for Ring 3. Frequent flyers can pair the data with smart travel hacks for time-zone changes. |
| Fitness and recovery | Ring 4 | Both match ECG for overnight resting heart rate and HRV, but Ring 4 has fewer gaps and a longer battery in testing. If you train at home, kit from luxury home gym equipment brands in the UK is only half the picture; recovery data shows how you are responding. |
| Accuracy | Ring 4 for blood oxygen and gaps | Gains are Oura-reported; HRV and resting heart rate are strong on both. |
| Budget | Ring 3, if genuine and with a good battery | Saves about £150 upfront; the membership cost is the same. |
A note on Ring 5: it is smaller, from £399 in the UK (£50 more than Ring 4’s launch price), and rated for 6 to 9 days. T3’s review says Ring 4 owners do not need to rush to switch. If you are buying new, compare Ring 4 and Ring 5 prices side by side.
Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Pros and Cons
Oura Ring 3
- Pros: Lower cost on the used market; same app and membership; Heritage style available; strong track record in studies.
- Cons: Raised inside bumps; sizes 6 to 13 only; no longer sold by Oura or its charger; older battery; no Smart Sensing.
Oura Ring 4
- Pros: Smooth titanium inside; sizes 4 to 15; lighter; 18-path Smart Sensing; longer stated battery; still sold new.
- Cons: Not slimmer than Ring 3; higher price; accuracy gains are mostly Oura-reported; Ring 5 has now replaced it as the flagship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oura Ring 3 vs 4
What is the main difference between Oura Ring 3 and 4?
Ring 4 is made of titanium inside and out, has a smooth inside with flush sensors, comes in sizes 4 to 15 and uses Smart Sensing, an 18-path sensor system. Ring 3 has raised sensor bumps, sizes 6 to 13 and a fixed sensor layout.
Is Oura Ring 4 better than Ring 3?
For most buyers, yes. It is more comfortable in Wareable’s testing, has wider sizing and a longer stated battery life. Both rings use the same app and membership, so the gap is mainly hardware.
Is Oura Ring 4 more accurate than Ring 3?
Only for some measures. Oura reports better SpO2 signal quality and fewer heart-rate gaps on Ring 4, but that comes from its own study. An independent ECG study found both rings very close for resting heart rate and HRV.
Is Oura Ring 3 still worth buying?
Only if the price is clearly lower, the battery is in good shape and a charger is included. Oura no longer sells the Gen3 ring or its charger, so you would be buying used or leftover stock.
Is Oura Ring 3 discontinued?
Yes. Oura’s support page says the Gen3 ring and charger are no longer available for purchase. It still works with the Oura app and membership.
How long does the Oura Ring 3 battery last?
Oura says up to 7 days, with a full charge in around 80 minutes. One reviewer at Wareable rarely got more than four or five days, and older batteries last less.
How long does the Oura Ring 4 battery last?
Oura says 5 to 8 days, depending on ring size and features. Leaving blood oxygen sensing on can cut up to two days.
Can you use the same sizing kit for Oura Ring 3 and 4?
Do not assume so. Sizing differs from standard ring sizes and between generations, so order the kit for the ring you are buying and wear the sizer for at least 24 hours.
Does Oura Ring 4 have more sensors?
It has more signal paths (18, against 8 on Ring 3), not more kinds of sensor. Both rings measure heart rate, HRV, blood oxygen, skin temperature and movement.
Does Oura Ring 4 have new health features?
No clear Ring 4-only metrics have been announced. Smart Sensing is the hardware change, and new app features have generally reached Ring 3 as well.
Do you need an Oura membership?
For the full app, yes. Without it you still see your three daily scores (Readiness, Activity and Sleep), the ring’s battery level and Explore content. In the UK it costs £5.99 a month or £69.99 a year.
Is the Oura Ring medically accurate?
No. Oura sells it as a wellness device, not a medical one. Use it to spot trends, and speak to a doctor about any health concern.
Can you swim or shower with Oura Ring 3 and 4?
Yes. Both are rated to 100 m (328 ft), which covers showers, swimming and saunas, but not diving.
Is it worth upgrading from Oura Ring 3 to 4?
Only if Ring 3 is uncomfortable, spins, loses charge quickly or does not fit well. If it works for you, keep it.
Should you buy Oura Ring 4 or wait for a newer model?
Oura Ring 5 is already out (June 2026, from £399). Ring 4 is the cheaper choice and still sold; Ring 5 is smaller and rated for 6 to 9 days. Compare current prices before you decide.
Sources
- Oura: previous ring generations (Gen3 status and hardware)
- Oura: Ring 4 product page (specs and sensors)
- Oura: Ring 4 battery life
- Oura: Membership pricing and free features
- Oura: Smart Sensing study summary
- Oura: response on sleep staging accuracy
- Dial et al., Physiological Reports (2025): nocturnal RHR and HRV validation
- Wareable: Oura Ring 4 vs Ring 3 testing
- T3: Oura Ring 5 review
This guide is general information, not medical advice. The Oura Ring is a wellness device.