Oura Ring 3 Launches With New Health-Tracking Features

You might have seen headlines last year about a smart ring being used by NBA and WNBA players as part of reopening plans to keep athletes safe during the the pandemic. Maybe you read a few studies that mentioned a smart ring that might be able to detect infections—including covid-19—early. Or perhaps you saw it on Prince Harry’s finger in the tabloids. That ring was the Oura Ring, and today the company’s announcing a slew of new updates for the third generation of its sleek, subtle, health-focused wearable.

In our review of the Oura Ring, we noted that the device worked best as a sleep tracker. That’s because it didn’t do much else—it was primarily focused on giving folks deeper insight into how well-rested they were. This time around, Oura Health is adding green and red LED sensors in addition to its existing infrared sensors. As a result, users will be able to view daytime and live heart rate data. Later this year, Oura Health says the ring will also be capable of recording heart rate during runs, walks, and bike rides. Users will then be able to view post-workout insights, as well as activity data like location, distance, and heart rate recovery. Another heart rate feature coming later this year is “restorative heart rate,” which measures whether users are taking the appropriate amount of breaks during the day to combat stress.

While the Oura Ring is adding more fitness tracker features, it’s not straying from its primary mission: sleep. The company says that in 2022, it’ll add new and improved sleep stage-tracking, as well as SpO2 data from the new red LEDs. The company says it won’t spot-check SpO2 readings like you see on the Apple Watch Series 6/7 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Instead, it’s more in line with what Fitbit does: analyze your blood oxygen levels as you sleep for more accurate sleep quality data.

Tracking Temperature

On top of the new heart rate sensors, Oura Health says it’s also added seven research-grade temperature sensors. The company claims that translates to minute-by-minute readings that may help users notice if they’re getting sick. There is some evidence to indicate that wearables may be able to detect infections early, but it should be noted that this particular application is still in the early stages of research.

The new Oura Ring is also adding period predictions based on body temperature readings. The company says it can predict a user’s next cycle 30 days in advance, and alert them six days before it starts. In the app itself, the prediction appears as a notification that identifies a window for when a user’s period is expected to start.

Oura Health also says its period prediction feature is different from others on the market, as it adapts based on how your cycle changes over time. The feature is admittedly intriguing. For starters, it relies on continuous temperature monitoring, as opposed to other period-tracking apps, which use the calendar method or require you to input readings from basal body thermometers. It also theoretically reduces human error. Using an external thermometer generally requires a…