Smart rings are still in their infancy when compared to most other types of tech gadgets, but I think I’ve already found the perfect one. Well, almost.
Oura has been around for years, pioneering the category. It’s now the choice of smart ring for the rich and famous, with Jennifer Aniston, Prince Harry and Kim Kardashian among well-known wearers. Its latest effort, the Ceramic Edition of the Ring 4, is the best smart ring money can buy.
I won’t be talking about software here because it’s the same experience as the regular Ring 4, which we already reviewed, and to a large extent, previous generations.
It’s all about the design and build because, despite their short time in this mortal world, smart rings got boring and same-y very quickly. After all, there’s only so much you can do with a ring.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Almost every model from every brand features a titanium-coated exterior in a selection of colours – typically shades of black, silver and gold. It’s not very imaginative, even if the Galaxy Ring has a more distinctive standout concave shape.
It throws a welcome splash of colour into the smart ring arena
Then, along came the Ceramic Edition of the Oura Ring 4 to offer something completely different. It’s a much-needed breath of fresh air.
As the name says, the outside has a ceramic finish, which is important for two key reasons.
For starters, it throws a welcome splash of colour into the smart ring arena. Who thought people were so boring that we only wanted the most basic hues of metal?
After all, this is one of the most fashion-forward pieces of tech. There’s not even a screen to break up the design!
Chris Martin / Foundry
Fortunately, Oura saw sense and the Ceramic Edition comes in Midnight, Cloud, Petal and Tide – AKA dark blue, white, pink and a pale green.
I’ve tested the pale green version and really enjoy just how much it stands out against the rest of the effectively indistinguishable market.
Oura
Second, the Ceramic Edition fixes a problem almost every other smart ring has, which is durability.
In review after review, we’ve complained about smart rings getting scratched. Often in a matter of days, they look tatty and old. This includes previous Oura models, by the way.
The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Edition is a Terminator
In stark contrast, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Edition is a Terminator. I’ve been wearing it for more than three months and in that time, it’s been bashed on all kinds of things and dropped a couple of times too.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Sure, it gets a little dirty at times, but a quick polish and it always comes up looking brand new. I’m astonished, to be honest.
The downside, as is the ongoing issue with Oura, is the price. The Ceramic Edition is £499/$499 to purchase outright. Then you need the firm’s monthly subscription to make the most of the data it collects.
Plus, if you want the portable Charging Case – which comes as standard with a lot of rivals – it’s an extra £99/$99.
Considering it costs more than many of the best mid-range smartphones we’ve tested, it may simply be out of reach for many smart ring buyers. But if you want the best right now, this is it.