Let’s be honest: Most tech wearables are bulky and not exactly beautiful. But when you wear something on a regular basis, you probably want it to look good and even match your other jewelry. That’s the idea behind Oura’s latest smart ring, Oura Ring 4 Ceramic.
Ring 4 Ceramic is Oura’s first collection of smart rings without a metal finish. Instead, it’s made from a more wear-resistant zirconia ceramic, which Oura says provides both style and comfort.
I’ve been testing the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic over the past three weeks. My impressions are shown below.
But before we get into the details, please note that the software behind the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is the same as the Oura Ring 4, so we won’t go into the software and hardware aspects too much. For that, check out our Oura Ring 4 review.
Finish and feel
Oura Ring 4 is available in four colors: Midnight (dark blue), Cloud (white), Tide (light teal), and Petal (light pink). This ring costs $150 more than the starting price of the standard Ring 4, which retails for $500 and comes in sizes 4-15.
I chose Midnight. Technically, its color is dark blue, but I’ve heard that it can look black or even dark green from a distance. This ring doesn’t look like a high-tech wearable at first glance, so it’s perfect if you want to prioritize beauty without sacrificing functionality.
Compared to the original Ring 4, the ceramic version is a bit thicker, but not noticeable. The titanium version has a thickness of 2.88 mm and the ceramic version has a thickness of 3.51 mm.
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In terms of weight, the rings weigh between 5.1 and 8.1 grams depending on size, making them heavier than the Titanium Ring 4, which weighs between 3.3 and 5.2 grams.
Even though the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is thicker and heavier than its predecessor, we found it to be comfortable and lightweight compared to standard metal bands. It feels like a pretty normal ring, but it’s a little thicker.
The ring is smooth and doesn’t attract fingerprints as easily as the titanium version of the Ring 4. Because zirconia ceramic is warmer and less smooth than titanium rings, Ring 4 Ceramic can sometimes feel a little “sticky.” This means that the outside of the ring can sometimes feel like it sticks or clings to the side of your finger, but I quickly got used to the feel of the ring.
According to Oura, the color of the ring comes from the natural minerals contained in the ceramic itself, so the color is vivid and will not fade over time. (Of course, I’ve only had the ring for three weeks so I can’t speak to how it holds up long term, but so far the color is the same as it was on day one.)
durability
According to Oura, Ring 4 ceramic is susceptible to scratches from soft metals like those found in cookware and dumbbells. The company says these scratches can be addressed with the polishing pad that comes with the ring. (However, the review product received from Mr. Oura did not come with a polishing pad.)
There was a moment when I thought I could see a scuff mark on the ring, but it turned out to be just dirt, which I was able to remove surprisingly well with the edge of my shirt or sweater.
The company also recommends wearing the ring on your non-dominant hand to avoid unnecessary shock. But this ring fit perfectly on my dominant finger, so I’ve been wearing it there for the past three weeks. This exposed them to more potential harm in a shorter period of time than the average customer would experience.
The first day I wore the ring, I had a busy day of travel to TechCrunch Disrupt, an annual conference in San Francisco. I wasn’t sure how well the ring would hold up when I carried my luggage around, accidentally bumped it against some counters (I’m clumsy!), or scraped it against an airplane window when I leaned in for a nap.
As it turned out, the ring made it through all of that unscathed. There were even a few moments when I was convinced I had caused the scratches, like when I held on to the rusty handrail while walking down the stairs of the Point Arena Lighthouse, when I forgot I was wearing a ring, or when I forgot to take it off before washing the dishes. However, the ring did not leave any marks or permanent damage.
It’s worth mentioning that this ring is water resistant up to 100 meters, which means you can wear it while washing dishes or showering, but I took it off while washing dishes as Oura warns that the ring can get scratched if it comes into contact with soft metals.
Since I’ve had the ring for less than a month, I wouldn’t be surprised if it had at least a few scratches or dents, especially considering the position of my dominant hand.
final thoughts
Beyond being aesthetically pleasing, this ring has really helped me understand my heart health, sleep, and stress through the Oura app. I found myself looking forward to seeing my “prep score” every morning. It’s calculated using both short-term and long-term metrics to show how ready you are for the next day.
Additionally, the battery life holds up well as you only need to charge it once a week. This is on par with Oura’s promise that the battery will last between 5 and 8 days.
The choice between titanium and ceramic rings ultimately comes down to your aesthetic preferences and ideal price. The only difference between the two is color and material, so it comes down to whether you want a sleek, modern finish or a standard metal smart ring look.
If you want a pop of color and style, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic might be the ring for you.
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