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With health and wellness on the rise, having some sort of technology to track your progress is key. Thankfully, there are two main health technologies that help make it easy. Both the Apple Watch and Oura Ring were released in 2015. Since their release, the trajectory of Apple Watches and Oura Rings have greatly differed.
Apple Watches have become a fashion staple and one of the most worn and coveted watches in the United States, while the Oura Ring has recently become a viral phenomenon. I own and love both for different reasons. I have owned two Apple watches since 2019 and have recently purchased the Oura ring about 6 months ago. Since buying the Oura Ring I have loved it and have transitioned to wearing it every single day! The Oura Ring has so many features and uses that I have completely stopped using my Apple Watch. In my opinion, here are a few reasons why you should consider making the official switch to the Oura Ring.
First, let’s take a look at the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is a great device! It is one of Apple’s best products made with user-friendly technology and a crisp and elegant look. There are two different sizes for the latest version, 41 mm and 45 mm and I have always had the smaller face size. Like other Apple products, part of its appeal is that it syncs to your iPhone and other Apple devices. You can text people back, take a phone call, and even see your GPS. My favorite feature of the Apple Watch is the Health and Workout apps, which track your workouts, heartbeat, calories, and workout duration. In my opinion, it tracks my workouts more effectively than the Oura ring. It has more efficient technology and better calculates an accurate amount of calories burned. The Apple Watch also functions perfectly to be used as a watch for keeping time and a stylish accessory to your fit! Overall, the Apple Watch is a great product.
On the other hand, I believe the Oura ring is far, far better. The Oura Ring does everything an Apple Watch does and more! Unlike the Apple Watch, an Oura Ring accurately and efficiently tracks your sleep and stress levels. I especially love its ability to monitor my sleep cadence and how long I am in different phases of sleep. The ring also recommends a bedtime every day based on your previous sleep schedules. Even more amazing is its ability to use your sleep data and tell you how active you should be and how ready you are for the day. For someone like me who struggles with sleep apnea and anxiety, it is essential for my mental and physical health!
Additionally, the Oura Ring tracks when you’re on your period and has a log to predict when you will start your period. It can tell you between what days you will start based on your temperature. You can also use the ring as a type of birth control if you pay for a subscription to another app called Natural Cycles. In addition, I love how my ring tracks my stress levels throughout the day. As for the workouts, it did not track them as well as the Apple Watch at first, but has improved since I bought it. It also tells you how long you have been inactive in the day. All of this data is stored on the Oura ring app which also has articles to read.
Both products are around the same price. Currently, the Apple Watch 41 mm starts at $399 and the 45 mm starts at $429. There are 5 different colors, pink, black, gold, silver, and red. On the other hand, there are three different types and prices for the Oura ring. The cheapest one is the Silver Horizon version which is $299. This is the model I have and love. It differs from the other one because it has a more ridged surface. I will note though that it does scratch easily and also is not the same silver as my other rings.
The Heritage is the rounded ring that starts at 349$ for silver. The gold ring is $499 for both styles and the rose gold is $549 for both. However, with the Oura ring, you must pay a monthly extra $7 a month to keep the app and the data working — I think it’s worth it.
With the Apple watch, it is a standard rate and no monthly fees or costs. The Apple watch should be charged every night when you sleep. Whereas the Oura ring can last seven days with a charge, and is very fast at charging. They both sync up to your iPhone health app and help track your weekly goals that you can set.
Overall, I prefer the Oura ring because it has helped me to improve my sleep schedule. Ever since owning it, I have been getting eight hours of sleep the majority of the time. It has warned me that I am sick based on my temperature and heart rate. I love how it tells me how active I should be based on my heart rate, temperature, and sleep. I appreciate how the Oura Ring app is easy to use and super insightful. Lastly, it is so lightweight and easy to wear. I forget half the time that I am wearing it. However, you can’t go wrong when deciding between the two!