Last Updated on March 1, 2021 by James Matthews
Today, more and more people are becoming conscious about their health. As a result, wearable fitness trackers are now more popular than ever.
However, with almost all major tech companies launching their own wearable fitness trackers, choosing can be confusing. If you have this dilemma, then you are on the right page. This article will provide a closer look at the two most talked about wearable fitness trackers in the market; the Oura vs. Apple Watch.
Oura
Oura might sound like an unknown brand, but they currently have a very interesting product: the Oura Ring. Sooner or later, you will be hearing more about it in the mainstream media as they have recently partnered with the NBA to help staff and coaches better grasp their player’s health condition before the season begins.
Basically, the Oura ring is a fitness wearable tracker that is the shape of a ring. It looks sleek and simple, although it can be a little thick compared with a regular-sized ring.
On the inside, it has a bunch of sensors that collect biometric data. This collected data is then sent to the user’s phone through a cloud. It will tend to enable the user to have valuable information about their readiness, activity, and sleep.
You can choose two different ring styles: the Heritage with plateau top detailing and the Balance with peak top detailing. The price of this ring varies depending on the color and style that you will choose.
The Heritage style has three colors to choose from; silver, black, and stealth. The silver and black Heritage Oura rings cost $299 while the Stealth variant is a little more expensive at $399.
It is also the same case for the Balance Oura ring style, which also has three colors; silver, black, and diamond. Both the silver and black variants cost $299 while the diamond is the most expensive at $999.
When you look at the price of Oura rings, it is almost the same as the Apple Watch. The question now becomes, is it a better wearable fitness tracker than the Apple Watch?
Oura Key Features
- 6 to 7 days battery life
- Water-resistant
- Weighs .26oz
- Made of titanium
- NTC temperature sensor
- Accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- Infrared LED
Oura Membership
Since the Oura ring does not have a screen for displaying data, you need to download their app named Oura. It is available for free on both the App Store and Google Play.
The Oura app allows you to see all of your data. Let’s begin with their advanced sleep monitoring feature. Here you will find the stage of your sleep and know what must be your ideal bedtime. The app also provides you with 3 daily scores for readiness, activity, and sleep.
The app will also show you information about your heart rate, HRV, body temperature, and dynamic activity progress. Along with that, you will also have access to your long-term trends to have a better understanding of your health and fitness.
The app has also recently added a new feature called “moment.” This will provide you data regarding your HRV and Heart rate after a breathing or meditation session.
Oura Benefits
The biggest benefit that you will get from Oura is accurate data. It measures your body using your finger instead of the capillaries found on your wrist like band wearables. Therefore Oura is able to collect more reliable data from arteries found in the fingers.
Furthermore, the Oura ring has plenty of powerful sensors despite its small size. It has PPG or infrared light photoplethysmography that digs deeper compared to other fitness wearables that use green light LEDs. Its body temperature sensor is also very efficient as it takes the temp directly from the skin, unlike other wearable devices that capture the nearby external temperature.
The Oura ring may not be a medical device, but it works as efficiently as other medical equipment. For example, it has a 99.9% reliability compared to ECG or electrocardiogram when it comes to measuring the resting heart rate. For its temperature measurement, it only has a margin of 0.01 °C error.
However, during the first few days that you will be using the ring, it is normal to have a few inaccurate readings due to the ring adjusting. This is because, during this time, it is still identifying your baselines. After a week or so, its accuracy will improve, and you will get the reliable data that you want.
The Oura ring is also very easy to use. All you have to do is slip it into your finger and check the data you need using your phone. Since it is a ring and water-resistant, it would not affect any of your normal routines, whether at work or at home.
Another advantage of the Oura ring is that it can be integrated into Google Fit and Apple Health. This somehow compensates for its lack of fitness tracking features. This integration will allow you to import information on the official Oura App directly.
Oura Pro’s
- Accurate sensors
- Compact design
- Beautiful design and colors
- Easy to use
- Durable
- Water-resistant
Oura Con’s
- Requires and adjustment period
- Expensive price
There is no point arguing about the accuracy and the data that the Oura ring can provide. However, it does come with a few downsides. First, it does not track fitness activities except how many steps you take in a day. Second, you are basically paying over $299 for a bunch of sensors for your fingers. It does not do anything other than that: no music streaming, no push notifications, etc. Lastly, although its app provides you with beneficial data, it does not offer any suggestions.
Apple Watch
Unlike Oura, who does not know about the Apple Watch? From the moment it was launched up until the unveiling of the 2020 version, Apple Watch has been receiving a lot of hype.
The starting price of the Apple Watch Series 6 starts from $399 with the basic silicon bands. Its price will gradually increase if you choose premium quality bands. However, the nice thing about it is that it’s very versatile. You can purchase multiple bands to mix and match with your outfit or desire style for the day.
If you want a more affordable Apple Watch, the older series are still available. Still, they do not have features such as the blood oxygen app, ECG app, Always-on retina display, and family support setup.
The apple watch is more than just a wearable fitness tracker. It can be a fashion statement, GPS, and mobile device. Thus, it is easy to understand why many consider it the best smartwatch in the market today.
Apple Watch Key Features
- Blood oxygen sensor
- Always-on Retina Display
- GPS + Cellular Models
- Infrared LEDs
Apple Membership
The Apple Watch Series 6 is operated by the watchOS 7, which provides it with plenty of personalization options.
It also allows the Apple Watch to track sleeping patterns holistically by allowing users to get an accurate database on how long they sleep, based on what time they went to bed. It also allows you to create a before-bed routine so that you can achieve your desired sleep goals. The operating system and the device can do this thanks to its accelerometer that sends signals during sleep.
Furthermore, there are several free and useful apps that you can utilize when you have an Apple Watch aside from the default Apple Health App. Among these that is worth mentioning is the new blood oxygen app exclusive on the Apple Watch Series 6.
The blood oxygen app measures the user’s oxygen levels directly from the wrist. This provides comprehensive data regarding the overall health of the user. However, it is important to take note that these readings should not be used for medical purposes but only for general fitness.
On top of that, you also have the option to subscribe to Fitness+ by the end of 2020. This is a fitness service you can use in the comfort of your home. It provides world-class workouts for just $9.99 monthly.
Apple Watch Benefits
The Apple Watch has a long list of benefits. Starting with its health and fitness tracking benefits, you can easily see the data you need without using any mobile device because the Apple Watch has its own display.
As for the data it captures, it can help you track your sleep pattern, blood oxygen level, ECG. The new Apple watch series now tracks monthly menstrual cycles for women. It also has a feature that provides you with a notification if you have an irregular heart rhythm.
Another benefit that you will surely enjoy with the apple watch is its connectivity. You can take phone calls or call someone on your watch as long as you are within reach of a wireless network. You can even send text messages as well.
Furthermore, the Apple Watch also has the family set up feature. This feature can really be very helpful if you have young kids or elderly members of the family. By providing them with an Apple watch, it is easy to track their fitness and wellness even if they do not own any mobile devices. It also has features such as emergency SOS that they can access when needed.
Aside from its functionalities, the Apple Watch is very stylish as well. The wide range of band options allows you to choose a design that speaks about your character and personal style. This is something that you wouldn’t get with other wearables. Many also consider it to be a status symbol because buying it means that you can afford expensive things just like popular individuals like athletes and celebrities.
Apple Pro’s
- Amazing display
- Phone call capacity
- Family sharing feature
- Bld oxygen reading feature
- Heart rate monitoring feature
- Multiple app integrations
- Easy to use
Apple Con’s
- Expensive price point
- Battery life can be longer
It is very easy to understand Apple’s price because it provides you plenty of features and capacity beyond just a fitness tracker. This makes it ideal for those who are looking for a multi-purpose design. As for its ability as a fitness tracker, it does not fall short when compared to the Oura, especially regarding accuracy.
Final Verdict: When Should You Pick Oura or Apple Watch?
The Oura ring and Apple watch’s price range are very close to each other, so when you are choosing between these two, that would have much of a bearing. Now, this leaves the question, when should you pick the Our or Apple Watch?
The Oura is an excellent choice if you want a device that is only for health tracking and health tracking alone. It provides reliable and easy to understand data, so you will get exactly what you need.
Furthermore, the Oura ring is perfect for those who do not like wearing bulky accessories such as watches. It is very lightweight and incognito as well, so it looks like it is barely there.
However, it is important to remember that the Oura ring does not do much for tracking your fitness. Although it provides a lot of usable information, it does not give any recommendations. This means that figuring out what to do with what you know falls on your shoulders.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch is a perfect choice if you want a wearable fitness device that can do so much more. Its sleep tracking, blood oxygen level, heart rate, and sleep monitoring features can provide you with the information you need about your current health and overall wellness.
It also has features such as cellular connectivity and GPS. These can be very useful, especially if you already own other Apple devices because the integration is very seamless.
It is very easy to say that the Apple Watch can provide you more value for money compared to the Oura ring because of its long list of features. But when it comes to Oura vs. Apple Watch, if you prefer simplicity and don’t mind getting limited capabilities, the Oura ring might just be for you.
