World's smallest smart ring launches as World Cup fixtures kick off

Saturday’s World Cup fixtures pit Canada against Morocco and Paraguay against France – but for those less interested in football, a different kind of arrival has landed. The Oura Ring 5, which its maker calls the world’s smallest smart ring, is now available from £399. Zoe Cripps, who has worn an Oura Ring for two years and tested every generation, said the new model is 40% smaller than its predecessor and “packed with even more health tech”. She described it as “noticeably slimmer” and “much lighter”, to the point where she forgets she is wearing it – though that means she also forgets to charge it every week. Cripps chose the updated gold finish, which she said looks “a little more like real gold” than previous versions, and praised the scratch-resistant coating after her older ring got scratched within weeks from weightlifting. The ring tracks sleep, activity and health metrics, using redesigned sensors and AI-powered insights, rather than just counting steps. Cripps, head of beauty, fashion and shopping at The Mirror, has been wearing the Oura Ring 5 for two weeks and said it is “one of the few wearables you can actually forget you’re wearing”. The ring comes in six shades, with more expensive-looking finishes available.