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‘I tried the Oura Ring 5 - could it be the sleekest, chicest wearable yet?’

Siena Hocking

Updated August 19, 2026 - 8.30pm

I’m happy to admit that I’m a bit of a wearables enthusiast. Once the whole ‘self-optimisation’ thing boomed a few years ago, I jumped on the bandwagon and am yet to fall off.

While I firmly believe that we don’t necessarily need all this tech to keep us fit and healthy, the sheer intricacy of insights and intel they can offer us about our bodies, wellness, and overall health is nothing short of impressive – and interesting!

I’ve had OG Apple Watches, Garmin Forerunners and Venus, but I’m yet to dip my toe into the smart ring category, which is why when I was asked if I wanted to test the brand new Oura Ring 5, I was certainly intrigued. How much could this tiny, super-slim, and actually rather chic ring tell me about my health?

Oura Ring 5 at a glance…

$799 | Shop here

Design: Made from titanium, it is 40 per cent smaller and lighter than its predecessor, starting at a super-light 2 grams depending on size
Colours: Available in Silver, Black, Brushed Silver, Stealth, Gold, and Deep Rose
Health metrics: It tracks over 50 health metrics, including 24/7 heart rate, sleep staging, stress, and women’s health
Battery life: Lasts between six and nine days per charge, and comes with a portable charging case
Subscription: The Oura Ring membership subscription costs $9.99/month or $109.99/year, with the first month free for new members

The Oura Ring 5 (left) compared to the 4 (right). Supplied

What I like about it

Stylish: First and foremost, this ring is super sleek for a fitness wearable. I’ve seen the Oura Ring 4, and while they still look fine, the 5’s slimmer design is a game-changer aesthetically. Unlike other wearables, an Oura Ring can still be worn with any dress code.

Comfortable: When I work out, I prefer to remove my jewellery like necklaces and rings. With the Oura Ring, however, it’s easy and inoffensive to wear for activities like running, Pilates, swimming (it’s waterproof!), and more. It doesn’t feel clunky, tight, uncomfortable, or like it’s going to slip off. I sleep with it on, and I shower with it; it rarely leaves my side.

Capabilities: The ring connects to the Oura app via Bluetooth, making it easy to access the wearable’s wealth of real-time information. You have access to the basics, and then some. You can track step count, heart rate, and calories burned, as well as more intricate details like body temperature, heart rate variability, and resting heart rate. Plus, it automatically logs activities without you needing to hit a start button.

The data captured ranges from cycle insights to automated activity logging to sleep. Supplied

The Advisor feature: It’s one thing having access to data, but it’s another thing knowing how to use it. The app features an AI-powered personal health companion that translates your sleep, stress, activity, and more into conversational, customised wellness advice, answers data-related questions, and proactively checks in on your goals.

I had a slightly lower sleep score than usual last night. Upon investigating and explaining my evening schedule in the chat function – I had an evening sauna, ate dinner later than usual, and set an earlier alarm to get to the gym – it told me that I need at least two hours to let my core temperature drop post-sauna, I had eaten too close to going to sleep which is why my latency period (how long it takes to get to sleep) was longer than usual, and because of my 4:30 am alarm, I had cut short my REM sleep.

Women’s health: Paying attention to how your cycle affects your day-to-day energy and life can prove difficult at the best of times. Once the ring has calibrated to your body and enough initial data has been logged, it offers dedicated insights spanning menstrual cycles, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause – all of which can be discussed and unpacked with the AI assistant, too. Whether you want to understand fertile windows or when you will be most energetic during your cycle, it will help you uncover these details.

What could be improved?

Scratch-proofing: One issue that I noticed almost immediately was that the ring is easily scratched. I wore it when using gym equipment like kettlebells and dumbbells, and noticed some tarnishing, which was a shame. I’ve yet to wear it to a CrossFit class again out of nervousness; however, I was reassured that gym junkies can avoid this using a transparent, anti-scratch protector or a silicone casing.

Subscription fatigue: With wearables, I think it’s always preferable to purchase an item without having to fork out additional costs.

Is it worth it?

I knew I’d love using the Oura Ring; it is subtle, pretty, and offers insightful, useful, and interesting information about my body’s overall health. Whether you’re a wearables newbie or total aficionado, the Oura Ring is for you. If you’re not fussed about having a thinner design, then you could save the cash and opt for the Oura Ring 4.