Here’s what Apple Fitness could learn from Oura

After spending a month with my Oura Ring and many more months with my Apple Watch, I have noticed a few features in both the Oura Ring and its companion app that Apple Watch and Apple Fitness could benefit from paying attention to.

I want to clarify that I will not be suggesting which health tracker, the Apple Watch or the Oura Ring, I believe is a better device overall. They both excel in their own ways, both offer subscription upgrade options ($5.99/month for the Oura Ring companion app, $9.99/month for Apple Fitness+), and both serve slightly different purposes.

Notification motivation

Both Oura Ring and Apple Fitness notifications appear on an Apple Watch, and one thing I noticed early on with Oura Ring’s notifications is that they are much gentler. While Apple Fitness notifications may command you to “Time to stand!” Oura’s notifications will ask inquisitively: “Time to stretch your legs a bit?”

The difference in approach between Oura Ring and Apple Fitness in encouraging movement is significant. Personally, I respond better to suggestions rather than commands, as imperatives are all around us in various forms. This is why I appreciate the softer approach of Oura Ring’s notifications compared to Apple Fitness.

In-depth sleep analysis

Oura Ring excels in providing detailed sleep analyses, especially for users with a monthly subscription. While Apple Watch can track your sleep as well, it lacks the depth and helpfulness of Oura Ring’s sleep analysis. Additionally, wearing an Apple Watch at night for sleep tracking may not be practical for many users, as it needs to charge overnight.

It’s interesting to note the differences in the way Oura Ring and Apple Fitness approach sleep tracking and its importance in overall fitness. I hope to see improvements in Apple Fitness to include more detailed sleep analysis in the future.

Suggestions for better days

While Oura Ring may sometimes lack in effectively communicating reasons for certain alerts, it does provide helpful suggestions based on Sleep and Readiness Scores. This is something I believe Apple Fitness could benefit from implementing as well.

If Apple Fitness could provide similar suggestions based on health metrics, it would enhance the overall user experience and promote better wellness practices.

Wrap-up

My experience with the Oura Ring and its companion app has been enlightening, offering insights into my health and wellness that Apple Fitness has not. I look forward to seeing improvements in the Apple Fitness ecosystem to enhance the overall user experience.

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