Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The Oura Ring is becoming an even better smart ring for women

A person holding the Oura Ring 3rd generation Horizon model.
Oura Ring Horizon Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Oura Ring is adding new features for women’s health. The tools are part of the company’s commitment to promoting body literacy for women and come two months after the introduction of an insights tool for pregnant Oura Ring users.

Oura is updating its Cycle Insights feature, first introduced late last year. The new features will inform users about their cycle’s regularity, typical cycle length, and typical period length. This will allow users to identify patterns and seek necessary care, particularly those with irregular cycles and women in perimenopause.

Additionally, Oura is making an adjustment so that biometric changes occurring throughout a user’s menstrual cycle will not affect their Oura Readiness scores. This score considers factors such as activity from the previous day, sleep, resting heart rate, recovery, and more. During a menstrual cycle, biometric changes include rising heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and decreasing HRV. Previously, these changes would have influenced the Readiness score, but they no longer will.

Now, Cycle Insights users will no longer see decreases in their Readiness scores due to these changes, providing them with a more accurate measurement of wellness.

The Oura Ring Horizon resting on a green succulent plant.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Finally, Oura is announcing a new women-based study in collaboration with Clue and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. The study will focus on menopausal women, who are often overlooked in studies.

In the new study, stakeholders will collect data from Oura Rings to better understand the changes women experience during perimenopause and menopause. They will use this information to provide women with resources, tools, and guidance. In addition to Oura Ring data, researchers will use historical cycle data, surveys, Clue symptom tracking, and other biometric data to determine when someone is entering perimenopause and how far they are into this stage, if applicable.

The women’s health features and more information about the new study will be rolling out in the coming weeks.

In March, Oura introduced a Pregnancy Insights feature to support women throughout their pregnancy journey. This feature includes a gestational age-tracking tool to help users keep track of their estimated due date. It also provides weekly updates on the physical changes one might expect during pregnancy.

The Oura Ring is available through Oura, Best Buy, and Amazon, starting at $299.

Editors' Recommendations

Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
The Oura Ring Horizon resting on a green succulent plant.

The Oura Ring is a highly sought-after wearable device available in different styles and price ranges. It allows users to track their sleep and recovery, stress levels, illnesses, and fitness routines -- and it even provides features specific to women's health. With so many features,  you might wonder whether the watch is waterproof. Let's find out.
Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
Technically, the Oura Ring is not waterproof. Instead, it's water-resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters). This is the case for most modern gadgets. You'll often find water resistance protection on products, which is good, but it's not exactly the same as being waterproof. But what does that really mean? We explain below.
Can you go swimming with the Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring has a certain level of protection that allows you to wear it while swimming, showering, and snorkeling. However, wearing the Oura Ring during scuba diving or when there is a risk of extended water submersion or extreme pressure is not advisable. Oura recommends avoiding wearing the ring in such scenarios to ensure its longevity and proper functioning.

Oura further explains: "The Oura Ring operating temperature ranges from [-10 to 52 degrees Celsius and 14 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit]. You can safely wear your ring in the shower, hot tubs, saunas, ice baths, and cryotherapy tanks. However, extended exposure to extreme temperatures (below 0°C/32°F or above 35°C/95°F) may lead to battery damage."
How does this compare to other smart rings?
Of Oura's chief competitors, only the Ultrahuman Ring Air provides similar water resistance. By contrast, the Amovan Smart Ring only provides water resistance up to 50 meters. The Oura Ring offers the same level of protection as the Apple Watch Ultra, making it an excellent alternative to smartwatches. However, it surpasses the Apple Watch Series 2 or later and the Google Pixel Watch 2, which can only resist water up to 50 meters.

Read more
Does the Oura Ring track steps?
Oura Ring Horizon sitting upright on a wood railing.

The Oura Ring is a sleek and stylish wearable device that has gained popularity based on its advanced sleep-monitoring features. It provides users with detailed insights into their sleep patterns, including the duration of each sleep stage, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate. It also tracks other key health metrics, such as body temperature and activity levels.

However, the question remains: Can the Oura Ring track fitness metrics such as step counting? It's time to find out.
Does the Oura Ring track steps?
The simple answer is this: Yes, it does! The Oura Ring tracks steps. Similar to smartwatches like the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Apple Watch Series 9, the Oura Ring can track your steps just like any other fitness tracker. This feature allows you to gauge the distance you've traveled and the calories you've burned daily.
How to track steps with the Oura Ring
It's important to note that activity tracking is not the primary focus of the Oura Ring. Therefore, it doesn't measure steps in the traditional sense. Instead, it relies on its built-in 3D accelerometer to track your body movement throughout the day and estimate your step count.

Read more
The Oura Ring has a hidden mode that every other wearable needs
A person wearing the Oura Ring smart ring.

The Oura Ring has a workout mode I’ve not seen on any other fitness wearable, and because it’s paired with one of the most accurate auto-workout recognition systems I’ve tried, it has become one of my favorite features.

No, it doesn’t recognize weight lifting, dodgeball, or specific yoga poses; it recognizes housework, and it should be standard on every single activity-focused wearable out there.
Housework, really?

Read more