Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Oura introduces a new feature in its iOS app called Oura Labs, allowing users of the smart ring to access and test new features before their official release. Users can also contribute to research aimed at improving health and wellness using data collected by the wearable.
The first feature in Oura Labs is Symptom Radar, which monitors key metrics such as resting heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory rate, and body temperature for significant changes. It provides alerts when it detects deviations that indicate added strain on the body. If your readiness score shows elevated strain levels, Symptom Radar will notify you accordingly.
While Symptom Radar is not a diagnostic tool, it serves as a guide to check if your personal sensations align with the alerts from Symptom Radar and Readiness Score, allowing you to take appropriate action. By opting in to test the Symptom Radar, it will replace the current Rest Mode feature, which is manually activated for those preferring a break from tracking and goal-reaching activities.
Upcoming Features
In the future, Oura Labs may offer the chance to participate in focus groups and surveys, contributing data and feedback to studies conducted by the company’s partners. Additional beta features are also expected to be added to Oura Labs. Participation is voluntary, so if testing beta features or assisting in research is not of interest, users are not obligated to join Oura Labs. Oura has previously trialed various features with a select group, including its advanced sleep staging algorithm and a caffeine monitoring system.
The Oura Ring is currently our recommended smart ring, standing out against recent competitors like the Circular Ring Slim and the Movano Evie smart ring. With potential competition from Samsung and the upcoming Galaxy Ring, adding new features and ensuring users maximize the benefits of their monthly subscription will be crucial for maintaining its status as the top smart ring in the market.
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