I went hands-on with the new Oura Ring 4: The Samsung Galaxy Ring's worst nightmare

The Oura Ring 4, like a stealthy ninja in the night, may have just knocked the Samsung Galaxy Ring off its high horse.

I’ve been wearing the Galaxy Ring since it launched in late July — and I’ve been adorning it on my ring finger non-stop. I praised it for a handful of features, including its graceful interactions with my Galaxy S24 Ultra (it can trigger the shutter button in the Camera app). Plus, the absence of a subscription fee is always a bonus.

As the weeks have passed, however, I’ve grown bored of the Samsung Galaxy Ring — it’s missing something. It needs more.

And then — wham! — the Oura Ring 4 just got announced, threatening to wipe out all of its competitors. A new wearable beast has entered the ring, pun intended, and it’s got the Galaxy Ring squarely in its crosshairs, ready to deliver the knockout blow.

Oura Ring 4 hands-on

So for the uninitiated, the Oura Ring 3, due to its sensors, has a bumpy interior — similar to the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Samsung Galaxy Ring
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In my opinion, the bumpiness is barely perceptible for both wearables. For example, Mashable’s Chris Taylor, who reviewed the Oura Ring 3, claims that the sensors felt like “tiny smooth round teeth,” but didn’t find them to be unpleasant. And while the Galaxy Ring has similar grooves, they don’t faze me.

Still, wanting to achieve wearable nirvana, Oura has recessed the sensors on the new fourth-generation ring for a smoother interior. Take a look below.

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now compare this to the Oura Ring 3, pictured on the left next to Taylor’s wedding ring.

Oura Ring 3 (pictured left)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On top of that, Oura increased the number of signal pathways to 18 (up from eight).

The Finland-based health tech company told Mashable that these sensors use Smart Sensing technology, powered by an algorithm that works with the advanced sensors in the Oura Ring 4, to adjust to each user’s unique finger characteristics.

In other words, depending on your skin tone, BMI, and age, the Oura Ring 4 can calibrate to your individual physiology.

Better accuracy

The extra 10 signal pathways on the Oura Ring 4 lead to better accuracy, according to Oura. As such, users should experience more precise readings.

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Oura said that its accuracy claims are backed by research. It compared the Oura Ring 4 to the Oura Ring 3 with an external research group and recorded a 30 percent improvement in blood-oxygen sensing accuracy and better breathing disturbance monitoring (up by 15 percent). Plus, there are less gaps in its daytime and nighttime heart-rate graphs (7 percent and 31 percent fewer gaps, respectively).

The sensors inside the Oura Ring 4 include the following:

Oura told Mashable that the Ring 4 uses a “multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) system.” As you might have guessed, that went way over my head. But after Oura explained it to me like I’m five, it basically means that Oura Ring uses lights (e.g., green and infrared LEDs) that shine through your skin to detect certain health metrics (e.g., how your blood is flowing in your body).

The PPG method tracks your heartbeat, breathing rate, and even sleep patterns, throughout the day and night.

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Oura Ring 4 can monitor the following health and wellness metrics:

• Heart rate

• Heart-rate variability

• Bedtime detection

• Sleep staging

• Blood oxygen levels (spO2)

• Cardiovascular age

• Cardio Capacity

• Daytime stress and resilience

• Body clock and chronotype

• Cycle insights

• Automatic Activity Detection

It’s also worth noting that, with the Oura Ring 4, you no longer have to worry as much about how it’s sitting on your finger. With the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring 3, you’ll get more accurate readings if the sensors are facing the fleshier parts of your finger. However, thanks to the enhanced sensors, this isn’t as much as an issue as it was with the Oura Ring 3.

Longer battery life

The Oura Ring 3, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Ring, has an advertised battery life rating of about seven days. (For me, the latter lasted about six days on a single charge.)

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

According to Oura, the Ring 4 has improved power efficiency. It can reportedly last up to eight days, but we’ll be the judge of that when we get it in for review.

More sizes

Oura said it received a lot of requests to accommodate more sizes.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Young women (e.g., teens), in particular, have shown interest in wanting a wellness-focused wearable. It has even received some requests from stocky athletes who demanded a bigger size.

As such, Oura Ring 4 now offers an expanded range of sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

I asked an Oura rep which finger is the best placement for the Ring 4 — and it’s the pointer finger, apparently. Interestingly, my pointer finger is a size 7: two sizes larger than my ring finger.

Oura Ring 4 sizing kit
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When you purchase the Oura Ring 4 online, you can receive a free sizing kit, allowing you to select your correct size confidently.

The gold Oura Ring 4 is stunning

The Oura Ring 4’s predecessor, the Oura Ring 3, came in two styles: Heritage and Horizon.

The Oura Ring 4 worn next to Mashable’s Joe Maldonado’s aquamarine ring
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now, the Oura Ring 4 only comes in Horizon.

Oura Ring 4 comes in six different finishes, but let’s be honest, the gold one is the best.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I’ve always joked that Heritage reminds me of a washer with its ridges while Horizon offers a smooth, uninterrupted, round design.

The Oura Ring 4 comes in four finishes:

• Black

• Stealth

• Silver

• Brushed Silver

• Rose Gold

• Gold

Samsung Galaxy Ring in black
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, it’s the Gold ring that won my heart. I can imagine getting a lot of compliments while wearing this one. Meanwhile, not only have not received compliments on my matte-black Samsung Galaxy Ring, but my ultra-honest best friend had the gall to call it “ugly.”

New-and-updated app

The Oura app is getting a huge update and redesign, too. However, I’m most excited about Oura Labs, which is where you can find an AI-powered Oura Advisor that works in concert with your Oura health data.

You can start a conversation with the Oura Advisor, and it will give you advice and personalized health goals based on what it understands about your data.

The Oura Ring 4 is available for pre-order now, and you can find it across several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and of course, Oura’s main website.

The Oura Ring 4 starts $349, and it comes with a free one-month membership. However, after it expires, a membership will set you back $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

The Oura Ring 4 will officially hit store shelves on Oct. 15.