Oura Ring 4 came out in October 2024 at $349, and the question most Gen 3 owners ask is whether it is worth replacing a ring that still works. On paper, mostly not.
Start with the money. The titanium Ring 4 is $349. In October 2025 Oura added Ring 4 Ceramic at $499 in four colors, plus a $99 charging case that holds up to five full ring charges. On top of any of these, the membership is $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year, and the ring shows you very little without it. Over two years, a $349 ring with an annual plan costs about $490.
What changed from Gen 3 is real but incremental. Ring 4 is titanium inside and out, where Gen 3 had a resin inner molding. The sensor bumps on the inside are gone, replaced by recessed sensors, so the inner surface is smooth. Oura calls its new approach Smart Sensing: it reads more signal paths than Gen 3 did, to cope with how the ring sits on the finger and with different skin tones. The ring is lighter, and Oura rates the battery at up to 8 days, against up to 7 for Gen 3. Sizes now run from 4 to 15.
What did not change is the fee. The membership costs the same whichever generation you wear, so upgrading buys you hardware, not a cheaper or different plan.
That hardware is worth paying for in a few cases. If your Gen 3 battery has faded and no longer lasts the week, or the sensor bumps bother you at night, Ring 4 fixes both. If your Gen 3 is comfortable and still holds a charge, $349 buys a smoother ring and a day of battery, and that is not much.
For a first smart ring, the upgrade question does not apply, and Ring 4 is the one to buy from Oura. Order the sizing kit first, as Oura asks, because a ring that is slightly loose will read worse and a ring that is tight will not get worn. The ceramic model is a style choice at a $150 premium over titanium. On paper it does nothing extra.
The short version: new to smart rings, buy the titanium Ring 4 and budget $69.99 a year on top. Already own a Gen 3 that lasts the week, keep it.
