ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Oura Ring 4 customers report shorter battery life.
- The claims come a 12 months after its debut.
- Oura appears to be rapidly responding to this problem.
When Oura unveiled its fourth-generation sensible ring final October, its eight-day battery life was a serious draw for these upgrading from the Oura Ring 3. However a 12 months after its launch, it looks like that eight-day battery declare is weakening.
Reddit customers on the r/ouraring discussion board report that their sensible rings aren’t holding a cost, solely lasting just a few days earlier than dying. Others say that the battery is totally shot and unrevivable.
“I went from in all probability a 5 day cost cycle to seemingly each different day,” one Reddit user wrote.
Additionally: Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Opt for the older, discounted smart ring or the newest?
I’ve additionally had my Oura Ring 4 for round a 12 months and have seen the sensible ring averages round two to a few days earlier than needing to be recharged. These battery shortages are coupled with extra frequent battery notifications launched in current updates. The app now tells customers when their sensible ring will run out. I’ve seen my battery share hit a little bit over 50%, prompting the battery button to show orange and signaling me to cost the machine.
“The factor will actually be at like 20% and ship me a ‘critically low battery’ notification prefer it’s about to flatline lmao. In the meantime I am getting one other full day trip of it straightforward,” another user writes.
Oura’s weakening battery and the newer battery notifications that urge customers to cost the machine extra often might be the explanation battery life is the new subject du jour on Oura’s Reddit.
Additionally: This smart ring is half the price of the Oura Ring 4 – here’s what to know
In an electronic mail to ZDNET, Oura addressed the explanation behind the reported battery life points, explaining that the sensible rings use lithium-ion batteries, which chemically age over time to scale back most battery capability. Efficiency varies relying on the sensible ring’s age, utilization, characteristic settings, and charging habits, an Oura spokesperson mentioned.
“We’re persevering with to make enhancements in our software program and options to assist scale back battery getting older. Most members proceed to expertise between 5-8 days of battery life, as anticipated. We encourage members to contact buyer help, the place we deal with points on a case-by-case foundation, troubleshooting and changing rings as wanted,” the spokesperson mentioned.
After I initially reviewed the sensible ring final 12 months, I discussed how its eight-day battery life claims did not dwell as much as the truth of standard utilization. In the course of the first few weeks of testing, I bought round 4 to 5 days out of the ring earlier than needing to recharge. I’ve a measurement 6 ring, which is likely one of the smaller ones. So my battery life might be shorter than bigger sizes with bigger battery capability.
Learn how to get assist from Oura
The excellent news is the corporate is pretty responsive and has messaged Reddit posters immediately to handle the difficulty. Plus, those that contact Oura about these battery issues obtain a free substitute.
ZDNET’s Aly Windsor messaged Oura concerning the problem, and buyer help instantly permitted her substitute request. As soon as the digital buyer help assistant detected a difficulty with Windsor’s battery, it kick-started a free substitute. One person mentioned the substitute course of took “less than five minutes.”
A scroll via Oura’s Reddit exhibits this to be the standard expertise of ring customers with weakened battery life. Oura has a social care team member sifting via these complaints on Reddit to information customers to buyer help and repair these points.
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