Oura Ring Is Rolling Out New Health-Tracking Features: When to Unlock Them

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The Oura Ring 5 is here, as announced on Thursday by the ring's maker, Oura. But while the new smart ring is 40% smaller than its predecessor, making it what Oura calls the world's smallest smart ring, it comes packed with a slew of new software features that aim to give members greater insights into their health.

For those wearing the Oura Ring 3 and later models, on both iOS and Android (unless otherwise stated), these are the features you can expect to see in the Oura app in the coming weeks.

Track your workouts -- live

Available June 4, when you start a workout in the Oura app, you can use the new "live activity tracking" feature to view metrics like pace and distance right from your phone. To see your heart rate, you can connect third-party heart rate monitors. Widgets will allow you to track all three metrics even when your phone is locked.

This feature comes with the news that Oura's automatic activity detection will be more accurate than ever -- especially for activities that involve less motion, like Pilates.

Three phone screens showing Oura's live working tracking.

Recognize blood pressure and nighttime breathing patterns

Oura launched its symptom radar in 2024 to alert its ring wearers to early signs of strain on the body based on changes in their health data. Now, there is the "health radar," which monitors health data in the background and notifies users who opt in to the feature about patterns that could become problems down the line, prompting lifestyle adjustments, rest or a doctor's appointment.

Specifically, health radar is launching in June with the following two capabilities: nighttime breathing and blood pressure signals. These features will be available to members in the US, India and the United Arab Emirates who use their Oura app in English.

When health radar notices signs of increasing blood pressure based on a member's health data, it will alert them, explain what it means and outline potential next steps.

Two phone screens showing Oura's blood pressure signals.

There will also be "nighttime blood pressure," which monitors blood pressure patterns during sleep, a time when blood pressure should drop. If it doesn't, this might be a sign of cardiovascular risk.

If you use a blood pressure cuff, you can log your readings directly in the Oura app.

Building off of its nighttime breathing regularity feature, which tells you how many suspected breathing disturbances occurred while you slept, nighttime breathing will allow members to see 30 days of their breathing patterns and disturbances during sleep. With explanations and guidance, this new feature can help users understand when their breathing may affect their sleep and whether it's time to consult a doctor.

Two phone screens showing Oura's nighttime breathing feature.

Connect clinical care

Starting in June, US members in 43 states can connect eligible providers to the Oura app and upload lab results, medications, allergies and diagnosed conditions to their "personal health record." An Oura representative didn't immediately respond when asked which states are excluded.

This medical record connection will enable users to see their daily data and medical records all in one place.

Oura already has partnerships with medical providers, such as virtual health care platform Twentyeight Health and sleep health tech company Resmed, but starting in June, it will partner with on-demand care platform Counsel Health, which combines medical AI with licensed doctors.

Available for testing in Oura Labs, which permits Oura members to test in-development features before they officially launch, users can opt in to use the Oura app's AI chatbot, Oura Advisor, to connect to Counsel Health's medical AI for personalized medical guidance. Within minutes, they can also be paired with a licensed doctor.

However, it's important to note that health care and AI experts recommend that you think twice before uploading your health information or medical records into any AI chatbot.

A phone screen showing Oura Advisor with the option to connect with Counsel Health's medical AI.

Track GLP-1s in one place

Oura members can already log their meals and monitor their glucose data with a Stelo by Dexcom continuous glucose monitor. Starting on June 4, members in the US, India and the United Arab Emirates who use their Oura app in English will have a "GLP-1 insights" feature that will let them see all of this information in one view, along with their health data (sleep, stress, activity and readiness), medication dosing and schedules, side effects they're experiencing and weight changes.

As part of Oura's health panels, which allow users to schedule lab testing and view results in the Oura app, members can also upload their own lab results for even more information about their health. This will be available globally in English on June 30.

Two phone screens showing Oura's GLP-1 insights feature.

Time-based data deletion and privacy

All Oura Ring members, regardless of ring generation, will have a new time-based "data deletion" on June 4 that lets them erase Oura app data for a specific period, up to today, without losing their account or the rest of their data history.

As part of its privacy policy, Oura doesn't sell or rent user data. If data is shared with third parties, members have control over how their data is shared, and are informed about what data is collected and why.

A phone screen showing Oura's new data deletion deature on a calendar.

A new brain health study

Starting Thursday, in Oura Labs, eligible US iOS members with an Oura Ring 3 or later will be able to opt in to a brain health study that pairs Oura's activity, sleep and psychological data with neuroscience tech company Cambridge Cognition's digital, in-app, research-backed CANTAB cognitive assessments.

The goal is to examine how stress, rest and behavior patterns affect cognitive function and performance over time.

The ability to locate multiple devices

On June 4, members with Oura Ring 2 or later can use the "locate" feature to locate multiple misplaced rings and charging cases. There will also be an in-app search mode for pinpointing a specific device.

A phone screen showing Oura's Locate feature.

The bottom line

With the launch of the Oura Ring 5, members will gain access to new features that aim to bring all their health information into one place, whether it's the sleep and stress data the smart ring collects on their finger, glucose trends from their CGM or results from their bloodwork, should they choose to upload it on their own or schedule a test through the Oura app.

Starting at $399, plus a $6 monthly or $70 yearly subscription, the Oura Ring could be worth it for those who appreciate Oura's commitment to releasing fresh features as new tech becomes available -- all right there on their finger.

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