Oura Plans Blood Pressure Monitoring Feature to Challenge Apple Watch

Oura is releasing a redesigned app for its smart ring that introduces a new cumulative stress monitoring feature, which tracks long-term stress impacts using data such as sleep, heart rate variability, and temperature regulation. Alongside this, Oura is advancing its health tracking capabilities by developing a blood pressure monitoring feature aimed at detecting early signs of hypertension, though it does not directly measure blood pressure but estimates it by combining ring data with health questionnaires and lifestyle information. The company has received FDA approval to conduct a study involving users testing this experimental blood pressure feature, integrating continuous ring data with research-grade measurements to identify physiological shifts linked to elevated blood pressure risk. The app redesign also includes new tabs for easier access to vital health metrics, stress management insights, and personalized health trends, positioning the Oura Ring as a more comprehensive health companion and competitor to devices like the Apple Watch. Oura's efforts reflect a broader trend among wearable makers to expand beyond basic fitness tracking into more clinical health monitoring capabilities. The blood pressure study will help refine the feature's accuracy and user guidance, encouraging users with significant hypertension signs to seek medical attention.