Oura rings can't really measure sleep quality, new lawsuit says

Key Points:

• A class-action lawsuit filed in California alleges that Oura rings oversell their ability to accurately track sleep quality and stages, claiming the device cannot measure sleep cycles as it only collects data from the finger, not the brain.
• The lawsuit argues that Oura markets its rings as providing detailed and accurate sleep metrics, including deep sleep and REM stages, but these claims are misleading since the ring estimates sleep stages based on heart rate, temperature, and movement with about 50% accuracy.
• Oura disputes the allegations, stating that its ring uses multiple physiological signals to estimate sleep stages and citing peer-reviewed studies supporting its accuracy, while acknowledging it is not a substitute for clinical sleep studies.
• The suit was filed on behalf of a plaintiff who purchased an Oura ring for over $500, and it seeks to stop the company’s allegedly deceptive advertising practices and obtain restitution for customers who overpaid based on the disputed claims.
• This case highlights broader concerns about the reliability and impact of wearable health devices, which can both encourage better habits and cause anxiety due to potentially inaccurate health data.