Competition may be increasing among smart rings, but Oura is seeking to stay ahead of the pack with the upcoming addition of two new features. Later in May, the company will be adding ‘Cardiovascular Age’ and ‘Cardio Capacity’ metrics to the Gen 3 Oura Ring to help users monitor their heart health.
Of the two new features being added in late May, Oura’s upcoming ‘Cardiovascular Age’ metric is by far the most unique. To monitor this, the Oura Ring will use its photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to measure and determine arterial stiffness.
Higher levels of arterial stiffness suggests a less efficient (and chronologically older) vascular system. The biggest issue that comes with stiffer blood vessels is that they have more trouble handling changes in blood pressure compared with more flexible blood vessels.
Oura says its ‘Cardiovascular Age’ metric will helps members get a sense of how old their vascular system compared to their chronological age. The Oura Ring needs 14 days of tracking in order to provide the new metric, and will indicate whether users are at, above, or below their chronological age.
The second new feature being added to the Oura Ring, named ‘Cardio Capacity’, is a more simple VO2 Max estimate. In order to see this metric, users must first take a six-minute test where they will be asked to walk as fast as they can.
VO2 Max, while traditionally measured for sports training, has recently become more recognized as an important metric to access your long-term cardiorespiratory health. A higher VO2 Max not only helps improve performance in endurance sports, but also leads to a numerous other health benefits as you age.
Connect The Watts’ take
Oura has been pretty good about regularly adding new features to its smart ring, and both ‘Cardiovascular Age’ and ‘Cardio Capacity’ metrics seem like great additions.
Of the two, I’m very intrigued to check out the ‘Cardiovascular Age’ and seeing what it says, and get a see how much it changes overtime.
As far as the new ‘Cardio Capacity’ metric, which is just a simple VO2 Max estimate, I am less interested. Not because I don’t think VO2 Max is important. I do. But because I am skeptical about the metric given it is using data from a simple speed walk test. While this sort of test makes be easiest for a wide range of users, it the least accurate.
Still, it is nice to see both of these measurements being added. I think the increased competition from the Ultrahuman Ring Air and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring is great for consumers. If for no other reason than it pushing Oura to continue adding new features like this more regularly.
Suggested articles:
- Oura Ring vs. WHOOP
- Ultrahuman to open first US manufacturing facility for smart rings
- WHOOP Band – why I’m still wearing it after two years
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
