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I Upgraded from the Oura Ring Gen 3 to Oura Ring 5 and the Difference Shocked Me

The other week I opened my Oura app and was greeted by a message I wasn't expecting: Oura Ring 5 had arrived.

My immediate reaction was, "Already?"

I've been wearing an Oura Ring Gen 3 for almost three years now. In fact, I bought it shortly before the Gen 4 launched. At the time, I figured I'd keep it for several years before feeling the need to upgrade.

After all, my Gen 3 was still working perfectly.

Then I started reading about the new Oura Ring 5.

What Finally Made Me Consider Upgrading

The headline feature that immediately caught my attention was the slimmer design.

Oura advertised the new ring as significantly smaller and more comfortable than previous generations. While I wasn't actively shopping for a replacement, there was one issue I had started noticing with my Gen 3.

As I've been losing weight, my ring fit was changing.

When I first got my Gen 3, I regularly moved it from my index finger to my middle finger at night because it would become too tight while I slept. Recently, though, I hadn't needed to do that at all.

In fact, it was starting to feel a little loose.

Not loose enough to fall off, especially when paired with one of my favorite stacker rings, but loose enough that it would occasionally rotate. When that happened, the sensors weren't always sitting exactly where they should be.

The ring still worked, but it wasn't fitting as perfectly as it once had.

That's when I started taking a closer look at the Oura Ring 5.

The New Sizing Process Is So Much Easier

One thing I really appreciated this time around was the ordering process.

Unlike previous generations, the sizing kit was included automatically with my ring order.

Within two days, the sizing kit arrived at my house.

Since I wear a size 9 in my Gen 3, I started there. I also tested sizes 8 and 10 just to be safe.

The size 8 wasn't happening.

Both the 9 and 10 fit comfortably, so I wore the sizing rings for several days before making my final decision.

In the end, I landed right back where I started: size 9.

Updating my size in the order portal was simple, and it automatically updated the travel charging case I decided to add this time around.




First Impressions of the Oura Ring 5

My new ring arrived on launch day.

And my first thought was:

Oh. My. Goodness.

It is tiny compared to my Gen 3.




Photos online don't fully capture the difference. Seeing them side by side was genuinely surprising.

The slimmer profile immediately made the ring feel more like jewelry and less like a piece of technology.

After wearing it for several days, I can honestly say there are times I completely forget I have it on.

That wasn't always true with my Gen 3.

The Biggest Difference I've Noticed

For me, the biggest improvement isn't a new metric or health feature.

It's comfort.

The ring stays in place much better than my older one. I haven't noticed the spinning that had become increasingly common with my Gen 3, and because it stays positioned correctly, I have more confidence that the sensors are exactly where they should be.

The smaller size also makes it much less noticeable throughout the day.

Whether I'm typing, working, walking Walt and Lilly, or sleeping, the ring simply disappears into the background.

That's exactly what I want from wearable technology.

My Favorite Oura Ring Accessory Still Works

One thing I was worried about before upgrading was whether my favorite stacker rings would still look good with the new design.

Thankfully, they do.



I chose the gold Oura Ring 5 so it would continue matching my existing jewelry collection, and my thin stacker bands from BaubleBar still pair beautifully with it.

If you've already built your everyday jewelry around your Oura Ring, you probably won't need to rethink your entire look when upgrading.

Is the Oura Ring 5 Worth Upgrading To?

If you're happy with your current Oura Ring, there's no urgent reason to replace it.

But if you've been considering an upgrade, especially from an older generation, I think you'll immediately notice the difference in comfort and wearability.

I've only been wearing mine for a few days, but I can confidently say I'm thrilled I upgraded.

The tracking experience I already loved is still there.

The ring is just smaller, lighter feeling, more comfortable, and far less noticeable throughout the day.

For me, that's exactly what an upgrade should be.

If you've been on the fence about the Oura Ring 5, the slimmer profile alone might be enough to convince you.

It certainly was for me.


Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Location: Arlington, TX, USA

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