With ever-improving technologies making them a worthwhile alternative to traditional smartwatches and fitness trackers, more of us are switching to smart devices like the Oura Ring.
Jennifer Aniston was one of the first people to follow the trend. The star was spotted with the Oura Ring Generation 3 on her finger last year as she walked the streets of New York, filming The Morning Show for Apple TV. But, the star has actually been wearing the ring for years.
This smart ring is an advanced fitness tracker that offers detailed insights into sleep, stress, daily activity, and long-term health. Now, with the Oura Ring 4 also on sale, I've seen the biggest discount yet on the original ring.
Shop the Oura Ring
In 2021, Jennifer Aniston appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and revealed she had become "addicted" to the smart ring, fascinated by the sleep insights.
Last year, while promoting her new book, Jennifer appeared on the show again - still wearing her Oura Ring.
The star is known for her 15-15-15 workout and Pvolve method, so it's no surprise she likes to track her workouts and health metrics, with fitness taking such a key role in her life.
Jennifer Aniston isn't the only celebrity fan of the Oura Ring, however. Gwyneth Paltrow has snapped pictures of herself wearing the tracking ring at home, paired with several stylish outfits.
Prince Harry has been wearing the Oura Ring since 2018, debuting the premium tracker on his royal tour of Australia.
Is the Oura Ring really worth buying?
While we're quick to look to celebrities for healthy inspiration, their lifestyles don't tend to match ours. Another version of the Oura Ring has been released since we wrote this article, so it's about time for an update.
Verdict: Yes, if sleep, stress, and step tracking are your main priorities.
If you want to understand your sleep and recovery habits better, the Oura Ring is a great alternative to one of the best Fitbits or Garmin watches. Alongside basic insights like sleep quality (how much deep sleep and REM sleep you have versus light sleep) and duration, you'll find unique data on Restfulness (wake-ups and excessive movements during the night) and Latency (how long it takes you to fall asleep), with personalised insights into your sleep chronotype (your body's sleep schedule), and how you might like to change your sleep routine for the better.
Sensors pick up on body temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate to log stress levels, flagging constantly whether you're in a relaxed, stressed, restored, or engaged state. While this might sound a bit 'much', I find it to be a very helpful insight - and you don't have to look at it if you don't want to, as all the insights are stored in the app.
For counting steps, it's also a winner. Comparing it to my Coros Pace 3, I found it was very accurate even after just a few days. The sensors also use data from your activity, sleep, and stress levels to suggest a calorie burn/activity quota, which can give you something to aim for if you struggle with exercise motivation.
The Oura Ring covers just the basics when it comes to workout tracking, however, so I'd recommend weighing up your options (Oura Ring vs Garmin, for example) if you prioritise sports like hiking, running, or cycling.
- OURA RING GEN 3 HORIZON: 34% off in the Amazon Spring sale
As the Oura Ring doesn't have a screen or in-built GPS, you can't see your live workout stats or record your distance or pace without your phone (or using another device alongside it - like the Fitbit Charge 6 or the Apple Watch Series 9).
That doesn't mean you have to stick to a smartwatch. Given the rise in smart rings in recent years, Samsung and other brands have also released their versions, with the Samsung Galaxy Smart Ring scoring four stars in our review. The Ultrahuman Ring is another good alternative to the Oura Ring 3, with the main plus being that it doesn't come with a subscription to maintain to keep getting insights - unlike the Oura Ring.
