Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Review: Colorful Glow

Let’s be honest, most wearable tech devices are bulky and not exactly what you’d describe as pretty. But when you wear something on your hands regularly, you probably want it to look pretty and perhaps blend in with the rest of your jewelry. That’s the idea behind Oura’s latest smart ring, the… Oura 4 ceramic ring.

The Ring 4 Ceramic is Oura’s first range of smart rings that don’t have metallic finishes. Instead, they’re made of zirconia ceramic, a more wear-resistant ceramic, which Ora says allows for style and comfort.

I’ve been testing the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic for the past three weeks, and this is my experience with it.

However, before we get into the details, it’s worth noting that since the software behind the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is the same as the Oura Ring 4, I won’t delve too deeply into the software and hardware side. So, you can check our website Oura Ring 4 review.

Finish and feel

Oura Ring 4 comes in four colors: Midnight (dark blue), Cloud (white), Tide (light teal), and Petal (light pink). The ring costs $150 more than the starting price of a standard 4-ring, at $500, and is available in sizes 4 to 15.

I chose midnight. Although this shade is technically dark blue, it can appear black from a distance — or even a dark shade of green, I’m told. The ring doesn’t look like a tech wearable at first glance, which is great if you want to prioritize aesthetics without sacrificing functionality.

When compared to the original Ring 4, the ceramic version is a little thicker, but it’s not too noticeable. The titanium version is 2.88 mm thick, while the ceramic version is 3.51 mm thick.

As for weight, the ring can weigh between 5.1 and 8.1 grams, depending on the size you get, which makes it heavier than a Titanium 4 ring, which weighs between 3.3 and 5.2 grams.

Despite being thicker and heavier than its predecessor, I found the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic to be comfortable and lightweight, even when compared to a standard metal band. It looks like a very regular ring, but a little thicker.

The ring is smooth and not as prone to collecting fingerprints as the titanium versions of the Ring 4. Since zirconia ceramic is warmer and less smooth than titanium rings, the Ring 4 Ceramic can feel a little “sticky” at times, meaning the outside of the ring may feel like it’s sticking or clinging to the sides of your fingers, but I got used to the feel of the ring pretty quickly.

Ora says the color on the rings comes from the natural minerals in the ceramic itself, so it stays vibrant and doesn’t fade over time. (Of course, I’ve only had the ring for three weeks, so I can’t speak to how it will hold up in the long run, but so far, the color is identical to how it was on day one.)

durability

Ora says Ring 4 Ceramic is susceptible to scuffing from softer metals, like those found in cookware or dumbbells. The company says these scuffs can be addressed using the polishing pad that comes with the ring. (However, the review unit I received from Oura did not include the polishing pad.)

While there were moments where I thought I could see scratches on the ring, they ended up being smudges that I was surprisingly able to clean up with the edge of my shirt or jacket.

The company also recommends wearing the ring on your non-dominant hand to avoid unnecessary influence. However, I felt like the ring was on my dominant index finger, so I’ve worn it there for the past three weeks. This exposes him to more potential damage in a shorter period of time than the average customer would see.

The first day I wore the ring, I spent it on a busy travel day disable techcrunch, Our annual conference is in San Francisco. I wasn’t sure how the ring would hold up when I was carrying my luggage, accidentally bumped the ring on a few counters (I’m clumsy!), or left it touching the plane window when I leaned over to take a nap.

As it turned out, the ring made it through all of this unscathed. There were even some moments when I was sure I had scratched it — like when I was holding on to a rusty fence while climbing the steps of the Point Arena Lighthouse, and forgot I was wearing the ring, or when I forgot to remove it before washing the dishes. But the ring did not end up with any marks or permanent damage.

It’s worth noting that although the ring is water resistant to 100 meters, which means you can wear it while washing dishes or showering, I personally took it off while washing dishes because Oura warns that the ring can scratch when it comes into contact with softer metals.

Since I’ve spent less than a month with the ring, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ring has collected at least a few scratches or scratches, especially given its location on my dominant hand.

Final thoughts

Aside from aesthetics, I’ve found the ring very useful in helping me understand my heart health, sleep, and stress through the Oura app. Every morning, I found myself looking forward to seeing my “readiness score,” which is calculated using short- and long-term metrics to show how prepared I am for the day ahead.

Additionally, the battery life is holding up well, as I only had to charge it once a week, which is in line with Oura’s promise of 5-8 days of battery life.

Choosing between a titanium ring and a ceramic ring ultimately depends on your aesthetic preferences and ideal price point. Since color and material are the only difference between the two, it really comes down to whether you want a sleek, modern finish or the standard metal smart ring look.

If you want that color and style, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic might be the smart ring for you.