Oura is expanding its wearable capabilities this week by introducing two cardiovascular health features to its Gen 3 models and later. The update includes Cardio Effort, a tool designed to track weekly workout intensity, and an automatic VO2 Max feature that measures aerobic capacity. These additions bring the smart ring closer to feature parity with established fitness tracking smartwatches from brands like Apple and Garmin.
The newly introduced Cardio Effort metric evaluates how hard a user's cardiovascular system worked during a workout and how long that demand was sustained. By analyzing heart rate response against resting heart rate during exercise, the Oura app categorizes weekly totals into five distinct tiers: Light, Fair, Maintaining, Building, and Reaching. This data is designed to work in tandem with the device's existing Readiness Score to help users balance exertion and recovery over time.
Meanwhile, the automatic VO2 Max capability arrives as part of the company's experimental Oura Labs program. The feature passively estimates maximum oxygen uptake after a user completes a minimum of five GPS-enabled activities utilizing a connected smartphone. Oura then provides context regarding current fitness levels and how those metrics might shift over the long term.
Maintaining feature parity is becoming increasingly critical for Oura as competition in the screenless wearable sector intensifies. While the company established strong market dominance through early timing and product design, rivals such as Ultrahuman and RingConn continue to expand their presence in the market. Beyond competition from alternative ring manufacturers, Oura also navigates external pressures, including a postponed IPO citing market uncertainty and ongoing questions regarding measurement accuracy.
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