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 challenge.
When Oura unveiled its fourth-generation sensible ring final October, its eight-day battery life was a significant draw for these upgrading from the Oura Ring 3. However a 12 months after its launch, it looks as if 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 a number of 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 person wrote.
I’ve additionally had my Oura Ring 4 for round a 12 months and have observed the sensible ring averages round two to 3 days earlier than needing to be recharged. These battery shortages are coupled with extra frequent battery notifications launched in latest updates. The app now tells customers when their sensible ring will run out. I’ve seen my battery proportion hit somewhat over 50%, prompting the battery button to show orange and signaling me to cost the gadget.
“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 time out of it simple,” one other person writes.
Oura’s weakening battery and the newer battery notifications that urge customers to cost the gadget extra ceaselessly could possibly be the rationale battery life is the recent subject du jour on Oura’s Reddit.
In an electronic mail to ZDNET, Oura addressed the rationale behind the reported battery life points, explaining that the sensible rings use lithium-ion batteries, which chemically age over time to cut back most battery capability. Efficiency varies relying on the sensible ring’s age, utilization, function 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 growing older. Most members proceed to expertise between 5-8 days of battery life, as anticipated. We encourage members to contact buyer assist, 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 normal utilization. In the course of the first few weeks of testing, I received 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 could possibly be shorter than bigger sizes with bigger battery capability.
Methods to get assist from Oura
The excellent news is the corporate is pretty responsive and has messaged Reddit posters instantly to deal with the problem. Plus, those that contact Oura about these battery issues obtain a free substitute.
ZDNET’s Aly Windsor messaged Oura in regards to the challenge, and buyer assist instantly authorised her substitute request. As soon as the digital buyer assist assistant detected a difficulty with Windsor’s battery, it kick-started a free substitute. One person mentioned the substitute course of took “lower than 5 minutes.”
A scroll by way of Oura’s Reddit exhibits this to be the standard expertise of ring customers with weakened battery life. Oura has a social care crew member sifting by way of these complaints on Reddit to information customers to buyer assist and repair these points.
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