Oura Ring 5 stays ahead with sharper software

Oura is widening its lead on software, even as the smart ring field gets more competitive. In its Ring 5 review, Wired says the company has added GLP-1 tracking, stronger privacy controls, and support for multiple rings on one account—features that help keep it ahead of rivals despite its ongoing $6-per-month subscription.

The new GLP-1 tools let members log injections or oral medications, track side effects, and record weight changes. Users also get reminders on scheduled dose days and progress recaps in the Today tab. Wired notes that the addition makes sense given how widely these drugs are now used for long-term health management.

Privacy is getting more attention too. A new time-based Data Deletion feature allows users across all Oura generations to erase data from specific periods without wiping their full health history. Oura has also added more granular controls over how data is used and shared with third parties.

Another practical change: multiple Oura rings can now be linked to a single account. Users can pair both Ring 4 and Ring 5 devices and switch between them without paying for another membership, preserving their health history while alternating styles.

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According to Wired, competitors have closed the gap. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring works closely with Galaxy phones, Ultrahuman skips subscription fees, and RingConn still offers some of the best battery life in the category. Even so, the review argues that Oura still delivers the strongest software experience. Without a subscription, users can only see their Readiness, Activity, and Sleep Scores.

The buying advice is straightforward. If you’re new to smart rings—or upgrading from a Ring 2 or Ring 3—Wired says the Ring 5 is an easy recommendation thanks to its smaller design, better comfort, and increasingly polished software. But for Ring 4 owners, the case is weaker: the review says it found no dramatic jump in sensor accuracy, and many software additions are also coming to older hardware.

For now, Wired still considers the Oura Ring 5 the smart ring to beat, largely because it does more than collect health data—it helps shape how users train, sleep, and recover.