ZDNET Product of the Year: Why Oura Ring 4 Beats Samsung, Apple and Others in 2024

In a year filled with technological advances, from Apple’s first mixed reality headset to the modern space race artificial intelligenceOne particular product group has seen its mainstream aspiration: smart rings.

According to IDCGlobal ring sales are estimated to reach 880,000 by 2023. This year, the market research firm forecasts sales to rise to 1.7 million, with an even bigger spike of 3 .2 million units by 2025. As consumers continue to look to dial in health and happiness, the understated styling of smart rings is slowly taking away market share from bracelets, bangles and watches. smart lake. The increase in new smart rings at CES 2024 was our first sign.

Also: We have entered the era of the smart ring. Here’s why it will shake up the wearables market

Although the smart ring category has been validated by the arrival of the first major technology supplier with Samsung’s Galaxy ring — as well as by exciting new entrants like Supermanand Movano Evie — female Oura Ring 4 stands out as a beacon of seamless integration between advanced health monitoring technology and everyday wellness. It’s the rare synergy of hardware and software, pursued by actionable insights that lead to meaningful life changeshelping Oura Ring 4 earn the top spot on ZDNET’s best smart rings list — and was recognized as ZDNET Product of the Year for 2024.

How did the Oura Ring 4 win out of all the products released this year? By playing to your strengths and perhaps more importantly, getting the timing right. Oura Ring 4’s release timeline — in early October — turned out to be its greatest asset.

Review: Oura Ring 4: The best smart ring I’ve tested this year

While competitors like Samsung and Ultrahuman rushed to the market, Oura remained relevant Update software regularlyprotect the jabs with improvements to stress tracking, women’s health features, heart rate variability, etc. The counterattack comes when Ring 4 launches this fall with a new design outperforms competing wearables — while listing at a similar retail price Round 3 first.

With a starting price of $349, the Oura Ring 4 introduced several hardware improvements:

• The internal sensors have now been cleaned for a more comfortable wearing experience.
• The ring is offered in more sizes, such as 4, 5, 14 and 15, making it more versatile than ever.
• A total of 18 new signal paths allow the ring to collect more accurate health data.
• The larger battery capacity gives the ring a rated durability of 8 days.

These changes are supported by a companion app that ZDNET experts agree is one of the more useful, user-centric and intuitive software experiences available. For example, sleep scores come with personalized recommendations, stress data is contextualized with mindfulness reminders, and activity tracking is tailored to readiness levels. individual, taking into account each user’s unique needs and health status.

“The ability to track key metrics and use the data collected to predict disease, contextualize health conditions, and provide diagnostic data puts smart rings ahead of many competitors.” competition”, added. Nina RaemontZDNET Smart Ring Reviewer.

Previous winners: ZDNET Product of the Year: Meta Quest 3 is the silent shock of 2023

However, there’s still one lingering question mark about the Oura Ring 4 and the company in general: the subscription fee. While competitors have adopted a subscription-free business model to sell more of their smart rings, Oura continues to justify its $6 monthly fee with sustained innovation, Compatible across multiple devices and enhanced value. For example, Ring 3 owners may not have access to the Ring 4’s advanced sensors, but they’ll still benefit from updated sleep algorithms, stress tracking, and other features. Mindfulness tools are introduced through the app.

The app’s ability to understand complex health metrics, combined with ongoing updates, turns Oura Ring from a simple utility into a life-enhancing tool. For many users, that conversion justifies the monthly fee. For others, it’s the main reason to invest in one Competitive smart ring.

Health technology has taken center stage in recent years, driven by growing awareness of the importance of monitoring our physical and mental health. The demand for accessible, reliable and in-depth medical tools has never been higher, and Oura Ring 4 receives ZDNET’s highest recommendation.

Honorable mention