The Oura Ring 5 is coming. And even though we’ll likely have to wait until 2027 for its arrival, the hype is building. The question is, will the new model bring enough to the table to keep Oura at the head of the smart ring pack?
While the Oura Ring 4 remains the best smart ring available today, it’s far from your only option. In fact, over the past six months alone, I’ve tried out half a dozen exciting new smart ring models, many of which are subscription-free with unique features not yet found on the Oura Ring, from color-changing exteriors to customizable on-ring touch controls.
So, to remain the brand to beat in 2027, Oura might want to consider ‘borrowing’ at least some of these shiny new features for its next-gen flagship. With that in mind, these are the five biggest Oura Ring 5 upgrades I’m hoping for the most.
1. Two weeks or more of battery
The Oura Ring 4 lasts an average of five to eight days per charge, which is pretty solid. The brand also sells an accessory, the Oura Ring charging case, to lessen the burden of keeping the device juiced up.
However, those stats pale in comparison to the promised battery life of the forthcoming Ultrahuman Ring Pro: Up to 15 days per charge. To stay in lock-step with what I’d consider to be the brand’s biggest competition, I’m hoping the Oura Ring 5 also cruises past the two-week battery life barrier.
2. Haptic feedback
When I first caught wind of smart ring brands adding haptic feedback to their devices, I was skeptical. However, after experiencing haptic alerts for notifications on the Dreame Smart Ring earlier this year, I’m now intrigued.
While I’m not so certain I want my finger to buzz every time I get a text, it seems like a great way to gently wake up versus an audible alarm, assuming you’re not a heavy sleeper. Haptic feedback might also let Oura Ring 5 users know when holistic insights are ready to be viewed or if any troubling health trends emerge.
3. High blood pressure alerts
Speaking of health, the Oura Ring 4 offers users detailed and digestible holistic insights via the companion app, along with actionable takeaways and advice.
For example, the Oura Ring 4 can already tip you off to an oncoming illness ahead of time via Symptom Radar, monitor your physiological Strain, track ovulation cycles, and more. But, what if the Oura Ring 5 could also alert you to potential signs of high blood pressure, similar to Hypertension Alerts found in the best Apple Watch Models?
Of course, actual medical-grade blood pressure tracking in a smart ring would be an even greater achievement, but I suspect we’re still a few years out from that becoming a reality in such a small form factor.
4. Custom gesture controls
Both the Dreame Smart Ring and the Aivela Ring Pro, which I demoed at CES 2026, feature tiny touch-sensitive areas on the exterior for customizable gesture controls. For example, the Dreame Ring supports three programmable actions: swipe up/down, double-tap, and long-press.
I set up my Dreame Ring to advance Spotify to the next track whenever I double-tap the side of the device with my thumb, and though there's a slight learning curve, it ultimately works quite well.
I’d love to see Oura similarly offer a touchpad on the exterior of the Oura Ring 5, but with expanded customizable capabilities to execute more than just three actions.
5. NFC for mobile payments
Rumors of Oura adding NFC are not new, but this time around, I’m hopeful they are true. Seriously, how cool/futuristic would it be to pay for your morning coffee with a tap of a ring?
You won’t find support for mobile payments offered on even the best Oura Ring alternatives… for now, but I have no doubt the competition is working on it. Ultimately, beating the rest of the pack would no doubt go a long way to ensuring Oura’s dominance in the smart ring market in 2027 and beyond
