I Couldn’t Look Past Oura Ring 4’s Subscription Price — Then I Tried The Oura App

InnovationConsumer TechI Couldn’t Look Past Oura Ring 4’s Subscription Price — Then I Tried The Oura AppByPrakhar Khanna,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Prakhar Khanna covers lifestyle tech for Forbes.Follow AuthorMay 10, 2026, 03:48pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Oura's app is what gives the Oura Ring 4 a real advantage over other health trackers.Prakhar KhannaI dislike the idea of tracking my health metrics 24/7, but the Oura Ring 4 changed my mind. I’ve been wearing it for almost two months now, and just when I thought I couldn’t get past the monthly subscription price, Oura’s app showed me why it is better than other wearables I’ve used in the past.Before I get to that, I have to mention why I don’t like to wear health trackers. First, I travel frequently, so I don’t want yet another device to charge frequently. Second, most wearables throw a bunch of numbers at me without any contextualization. I know I slept poorly; I don’t need a device to tell me that. Third, my skin isn’t fond of these sensors. I have gotten rashes from every smart ring and smartwatch I’ve worn so far. The Oura Ring 4 (nearly) solved all of these issues and this might be the first wearable that I’ll continue wearing after the initial review period.The Oura Ring 4 Is Sleeker And StealthierOura Ring 4 in Black.Prakhar KhannaThe Oura Ring 4 is slimmer and more comfortable to wear than before. It has a recessed interior, as opposed to the raised domes present inside the Ring Gen 3 to house its sensors.Oura’s new flat housing includes a digital temperature sensor, red and infrared LEDs for blood oxygen, green and red LEDs for heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep respiration, and an accelerometer. They are asymmetrically positioned, so the measurements are taken at a variety of tissue penetration depths, allowing the readings to be more accurate....