Now I have less reason to buy a smart ring that isn’t Oura

With the launch of its new charging case, Oura has finally closed one functional gap between the brand and its competitors. I’ve been testing the new setup for over a week, and the improvements are noticeable. More importantly, it removes one of the few remaining benefits I can point to elsewhere.

Until now, Oura’s only charging option involved a puck-style charger with a flat base and an external post. The design is perfect for home use, and one has sat on my desk for years, connected via USB-C. I throw my ring on it when the charge goes down (or when I need a break from dressing), and it’s nice to have a dedicated home base. However, it is less convenient to travel than other types of methods.

Many smart rings I’ve reviewed, including RingConn, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, and most recently the Luna Ring 2, already offer portable charging cases. Instead of a simple puck that must always be connected, these designs put their rings inside a small clamshell case with its internal battery. That means I can fill up anywhere, without having to rely on a store, and even recharge while I’m throwing the whole system in my bag.

Oura unveiled its own clamshell-style charging case earlier this year, offering the brand’s first portable solution to replace the standard, wired puck. The new case is lightweight and compact, measuring 56mm x 55mm x 17mm and just 60g. The shape of it looks like a smaller version of my high school case, although it’s much nicer. It’s made of dark gray recycled aluminum (instead of neon green plastic) that’s classy, ​​durable, and splash-resistant. The interior of the case is gray with a post that fits my size 5 ring perfectly for a snug, secure fit. Like the old puck charger, the design fits the pocket comfortably.

The catch is that this one holds enough juice for five full ring charges. Considering my Oura Ring 4 usually lasts about four days per charge, that means I can go weeks without needing to plug it in. I can pack it up so I can take it out into the wilderness, get lost for a while, and come back with all my stats intact. Honestly, I can bring you on a regular, hassle-free trip and charge as needed on the go. I wear my smart ring around the clock and I tend to stick to a fixed charging schedule. With the new case, I can fill up everywhere from the plane to the back of an Uber. The case also acts as a last resort when I’m packing or placing the ring safely when I’m not wearing it.

It’s not a life-changing upgrade, but the usability is noticeable. Even if you only charge at home, you don’t need to tie your system to the outlet. I keep the case parked in my vanity, and it’s easy to easily top up my ring’s battery while I shower or get ready for bed. If I need to recharge the case, it recharges in about an hour and a half via USB-C. The case doesn’t come with a USB-C cable, but most of us have an excess anyway.

Currently, a single LED on the front of the charging case serves as a status light, indicating whether my ring is charging continuously or fully charged when docked. When the case is empty, the lamp shows its status instead (low, charging, or full). Like the ring itself, the case is also paired with the Oura app in the My Oura list of devices. There, I can get detailed battery readings on both the ring and the case, making it easy to see how much juice is left before hitting the grass or hitting the road.

With all that said, I am disappointed with the price of the charger. As good as it is, the enhanced experience shouldn’t cost an extra $100. Oura rings already remain firmly in the premium segment, and asking users to pay even more feels excessive, especially when other competitors include similar chargers as part of their standard package. Even $50 would feel more acceptable for a device.

Ironically, that $100 price also ends up helping Oura’s competitors. Brands like RingConn, Samsung, and Luna can still make a small but meaningful profit by including portable charging as standard. In my testing, Oura offers the best smart ring experience with the most robust data, the most in-depth analytics, and the most polished app. The option to set the price of its charger very high maintains the separation where Oura recently cleared.

In short, I’ve been pushing chargers of other brands for years, and I’m very happy to see Oura make the jump. The charger fixed the original error. However, Oura makes money from repairs. When the novelty wears off, I hope to see Oura make a case for it coming out with its next model.