The best fitness trackers of 2023: Expert tested

Oura Ring 3 specs: Materials: Titanium with PVD coating | Battery life: 4-7 days, full charge in 20-80 minutes |Dimensions: 7.9 by 2.5 millimeters | Weight: 4-6 g, depending on size | Water/dust resistance: Waterproof and sweatproof | Connectivity: Bluetooth LE | Sleep Tracking: Yes 

Don’t like the bulky design or constant notifications that come with wearing a smartwatch, but want wellness insights? Enter the Oura Ring. Taking up a fraction of the real estate, the Oura Ring tracks exercise, sleep, and more. While a bit thick, the high-quality titanium ring with PVD coating looks and feels more like an everyday accessory than a fitness tracker. 

ZDNET’s Sherin Shibu recently purchased the ring for herself and was impressed by its minimalist and comfortable design along with its detailed and actionable insights, all without implementing a screen. 

The ring is even subtle and sleek enough to wear at night. In fact, you’re supposed to. Equipped with Sp02 sensors, the Oura Ring tracks heart rate variability (HRV) along with overall blood saturation levels during the night. 

Much like its design, the Oura ring takes a more well-rounded approach to fitness rather than giving immediate stats. Using an intuitive app interface, you can access data on your own time, getting insight into data beyond activity tracked and calories burned. This insight includes recovery and readiness, and is quite comprehensive. 

“I think of the Oura as what happens overnight. It’s more of a big level view of myself and my wellness, taking a step out and considering the consequences of what you’ve been doing for the past few weeks/days,” said Dr. Jason Fanning, an assistant professor at Wake Forest University who researches the use of commercial and research-grade activity monitors. 

“If I’m training too hard or too little, getting sick, if I’ve had too much alcohol — all those things show up and give an idea on how I’ll be feeling,” Fanning elaborated. 

The Oura Ring also features bedtime guidance, period prediction, and an “automatic nap” prompt. The only downside? In addition to the $299 price tag and custom fitting process, you’ll need a membership fee to access the full suite of features. Non-paying members only have access to sleep, readiness, and activity. 

Review: Is the Oura Ring 3 worth buying in 2023? Yes, if you value these features