A good health tracker should really only have two main goals: provide accurate tracking and be comfortable. The accuracy bit feels fairly black and white. For a health device to be useful, the data it collects needs to be correct. But the comfort element is more nuanced. In the past decade-plus that health trackers have become ever-increasingly popular, I’ve tried my fair share of them, and there has not been one I felt I could wear nonstop day in and day out. The Oura Ring 5, which was released on June 4, isn’t perfect, but the fifth-generation smart ring has gotten closer than any health tracker before it in becoming a gadget that you don’t need to or want to take off. 4 Oura Ring 5 The Oura Ring 5 outdoes itself and other smart rings with a significantly smaller design, greater comfort, and superior health tracking. Pros Smaller and more snug than before Amazing battery life New health tracking features keep coming out Cons Too much data for some Requires a subscription Expensive What’s actually new about the Oura Ring 5? The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic vs. Oura Ring 5. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo On the hardware side, the biggest update is that the smart ring is 40% smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the Ring 4. This makes the Oura Ring 5 the slimmest smart ring currently on the market, and one of the smallest wearables available. $399 gets you a black or silver model or $499 for the brushed silver, deep rose, gold, or stealth versions. This isn’t all that different from the price of the Oura 4 when it first came out in 2024, when the price ranged from $349 for a silver or black model to $499 for the gold and rose gold.