The Oura Ring 5 is still the best smart ring you can buy, but is it worth the upgrade? Here’s what you need to know - NBC News

What the report says

NBC News’ shopping vertical, NBC Selected, reviewed the Oura Ring 5 after more than a month of testing and concluded it remains the strongest smart ring option on the market, though not necessarily the best fitness tracker for every user. The article says the new model is notably slimmer than the Oura Ring 4, with NBC reporting it is 40% smaller, and that the change makes it more comfortable for daily wear.

According to NBC Selected, the Oura Ring 5 tracks health signals such as heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate and blood oxygen, while also offering sleep tracking and workout logging through the Oura app. Listed specs include no display, water resistance up to 100 meters, iPhone and Android compatibility, a weight range of 2 to 2.69 grams, and battery life of up to nine days. The ring starts at $399, and the review notes that a membership, priced at $5.99 monthly or $69.99 yearly, is effectively needed for full access to data beyond the current day.

The reviewer found sleep tracking to be a key strength, saying the ring often captured brief nighttime interruptions more accurately than some other wearables tested. NBC also highlighted Oura’s “Symptom Radar” feature, which flagged signs of strain when two staffers became sick during the test period.

The review cautions that the device is less suited for athletes or people who rely heavily on precise outdoor workout data, especially when exercise is detected automatically rather than manually started. NBC’s overall guidance was that new buyers should consider the Ring 5 over older versions, while Oura Ring 4 owners may not need to upgrade immediately unless comfort, a sale price or device issues make the change worthwhile.