Oura is expanding the capabilities of its smart rings with the rollout of two new cardiovascular metrics designed to track long-term fitness trends. The updates bring Cardio Effort and automated VO2 Max data directly to users, pushing the wearable further into comprehensive health and fitness monitoring.
The newly introduced Cardio Effort feature measures the physical strain a wearer experiences during activities. Relying on the Training Impulse method, the personalized metric categorizes activity intensity into five distinct ranges: light, fair, maintaining, building, and reaching. This system helps users evaluate how their weekly workouts compare against their established personal baselines.
Alongside Cardio Effort, the company is introducing automated VO2 Max estimates, which previously existed under the name Cardio Capacity within the Oura Labs experimental feature set. Earlier versions required users to complete a dedicated six-minute walking test to establish baseline metrics. The updated system eliminates this requirement by passively estimating VO2 Max during regular GPS-enabled workouts.
These tracking updates will be accessible through Oura Labs for owners of the third-generation Oura Ring and subsequent models. By incorporating these advanced cardio statistics, Oura bridges the feature gap with wrist-worn alternatives like the Apple Watch and Fitbit, appealing directly to users who favor the ring form factor over traditional sports watches.
Oura Smart Rings Roll Out Automated VO2 Max and Cardio Effort Tracking
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