Let’s be honest, most tech wearables are bulky and not exactly what you’d describe as pretty. But when you’re regularly wearing something on your hands, you probably want it to look nice and maybe even blend in with the rest of your jewelry. That’s the idea behind Oura’s newest smart ring, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic.
The Ring 4 Ceramic is Oura’s first collection of smart rings that doesn’t feature metallic finishes. Instead, they’re made from zirconia ceramic, a more wear-resistant ceramic, which Oura says allows for both style and comfort.
I’ve tested the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic for the past three weeks, and here’s my experience with it.
However, before we get into the specifics, 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 be getting too much into the software and hardware side of things. For that, you can check out our Oura Ring 4 review.
Finish and feel
The 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 the standard Ring 4, with a $500 price tag, and is available in sizes 4-15.
I opted for Midnight. Although that shade is technically dark blue, it can appear black from afar — or even a dark shade of green, I’ve been told. The ring doesn’t look like a tech wearable at first glance, which is nice if you want to prioritize aesthetics without sacrificing functionality.
Image Credits:Oura
When compared to the original Ring 4, the Ceramic version is a bit thicker, but it’s not super noticeable. The titanium version is 2.88 mm thick, while the ceramic version measures 3.51 mm.
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As for the weight, the ring can weigh between 5.1 and 8.1 grams, depending on the size you get, making it heavier than the Titanium Ring 4, which weighs between 3.3 and 5.2 grams.
Despite the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic being thicker and heavier than its predecessor, I found it to be comfortable and lightweight, even when compared to a standard metal band. It feels like a pretty regular ring, just a bit thicker.
The ring is smooth and not as prone to collecting fingerprints as the titanium versions of the Ring 4. Since the zirconia ceramic is warmer and less slick than the titanium rings, the Ring 4 Ceramic can feel a bit “sticky” at times, meaning the outside of the ring might feel like it’s sticking or clinging to the sides of your fingers, but I did get used to the feel of the ring pretty quickly.
Oura says the color on the rings comes from 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 would hold up long term, but so far, the color is identical to what it was on day one.)
Durability
Oura says that Ring 4 Ceramic is prone to scuffs from softer metals, like those found in cookware or dumbbells. The company says these scuffs can be addressed with the Polishing Pad that comes with the ring. (The review unit I received from Oura did not include the Polishing Pad, however.)
While there were moments when I thought I could see scuffs on the ring, they ended up being smudges that I was surprisingly able to clean away with the edge of my shirt or sweater.
The company also recommends wearing the ring on your nondominant hand to avoid unnecessary impact. However, the ring just felt right on my dominant index finger, so that’s where I wore it for the past three weeks. This exposed it to more potential damage in a briefer period of time than a typical customer might see.
Image Credits:TechCrunch/Aisha Malik
The first day I put on the ring, I put it through a busy travel day to TechCrunch Disrupt, our annual conference in San Francisco. I wasn’t sure how well the ring would hold up with me hauling my luggage around, accidentally hitting the ring on a few counters (I’m clumsy!), or letting it brush against the 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 handful of moments when I was certain I had scratched it — like when I was holding on to a rusty railing walking up the steps of the Point Arena Lighthouse, forgetting that I had the ring on, or when I forgot to remove it before doing the dishes. But the ring didn’t end up with any marks or permanent damage.
It’s worth mentioning that although the ring is water-resistant up to 100 meters, which means you can wear it while doing the dishes or showering, I took it off while doing the dishes because Oura warns that the ring can scuff when it comes into contact with softer metals.
Since I’ve had less than a month with the ring, I wouldn’t be surprised if, further down the line, the ring collected at least some scuffs or dents, especially given its location on my dominant hand.
Final thoughts
Beyond aesthetics, the ring was quite useful in helping me understand my heart health, sleep, and stress through the Oura app. Each morning, I found myself looking forward to seeing my “readiness score,” which is calculated using both short-term and long-term metrics to show how prepared you are for the day ahead.
Plus, the battery life is holding up well, as I’ve only had to charge it once per week, which is on par with Oura’s promise of a battery that lasts between five and eight days.
Choosing between a titanium and a ceramic ring ultimately depends on your aesthetic preferences and your ideal price point. With color and material being the only differences 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 pop of color and style, then the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic might be the smart ring for you.
