Oura adds Cardio Effort and VO2 max workout metrics to its smart ring
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Smart ring maker Oura is rolling out Cardio Effort and VO2 max metrics to Gen3 and newer rings.
The sleep-tracking brand is pushing into performance metrics long tied to Garmin and Apple.
Background
Oura is the smart ring maker known mainly for sleep and recovery tracking. The new features mark another step in its shift into a fuller fitness and health product, moving into performance metrics traditionally associated with competitors like Garmin and Apple. Rivals such as RingConn and Ultrahuman are emerging in the smart ring market, putting pressure on Oura to keep innovating. The rollout follows the Oura Ring 5 launch in May, which added real-time workout metrics and improved automatic activity detection.
How it unfolded
- May 2026Oura introduced the Oura Ring 5, bringing real-time workout metrics, improved automatic activity detection and a smaller design.
- Oct 20, 2026Oura announced it is rolling out Cardio Effort and VO2 max metrics to expand workout tracking beyond exercise duration and heart rate zones.
- Oct 20, 2026Cardio Effort began rolling out to Oura Ring Gen3 and later models, while VO2 Max launched in Oura Labs for Gen3 and newer devices.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Oura says Cardio Effort shifts users' focus from 'How many minutes did I move?' to 'Am I maintaining my fitness, building it, or overdoing it?'
- Official
- Oura says that because Cardio Effort accounts for both intensity and duration, a shorter, more intense workout can yield a similar score to a longer, less intense one.