Oura, a Finnish-American joint venture wearables company, has unveiled its "Ceramic Collection (Oura Ring 4 Ceramic)." Made of zirconia ceramic, the product is stronger than metal, yet lighter and less hypoallergenic. The colors are baked-in mineral pigments rather than paint, so they won't fade even if scratched. Priced at $499, the product comes in four colors: Cloud (white), Tide (light green), Petal (pink), and Midnight (navy).
The ceramic ring is slightly thicker than the existing titanium model at 3.51mm and weighs 5.1-8.1g, but the internal sensor configuration is the same. It detects heart rate variability, blood oxygen concentration, body temperature, respiration rate, and stress, and provides sleep, activity, and recovery scores. Oura claims that the sensor accuracy has been improved by up to 120% compared to the previous third-generation model. The battery lasts 5-8 days on a single charge and takes 20-80 minutes to fully charge. It is water-resistant to 100m, allowing it to be worn while swimming.
The most striking change in this collection is the Portable Charging Case. This $99 accessory, designed as a clamshell aluminum case, provides up to five full charges. Using a USB-C port, both the ring and the case charge in approximately 90 minutes. Users can link multiple rings to a single account and swap them out, allowing them to wear different colors to suit their fashion and occasion.
Oura sees this update as part of its expansion strategy as a "health platform." The newly added "Health Panels" feature allows users in the US to schedule blood tests through Quest Diagnostics and view the results in the Oura app. Approximately 50 biomarkers are displayed, and the AI chatbot "Oura Advisor" provides guidance on normal ranges and suggests ways to improve. However, it does not provide diagnosis or prescriptions. This service costs $99 per test and is not available in some states (Arizona, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island).
“We wanted to create health tech that felt like jewelry, not just a gadget,” explains Miklu Silvanto, OURA’s Chief Design Officer. CEO Tom Hale says, “We wanted to make it so users could enjoy OURA in a way that suited them, without worrying about battery life or style.”
The smart ring market is currently teeming with competitors like Ultrahuman, Ringcon, and the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which is expected to be released next year. Aura, however, has chosen a strategy of combining ceramic, a novel material, with fashion, enhancing both technology and style. The fact that more than half of its total sales occurred in the past year demonstrates the brand's growth. While the high price of $499 and the monthly subscription fee of $5.99 may be a burden, the ceramic collection is being evaluated as an attempt to redefine wearables, straddling the lines between jewelry and healthcare.
