Your Oura Ring can't measure what's going on in your skull

A class-action lawsuit filed against Oura, the maker of the Oura Ring, alleges the company misled customers by claiming its smart ring can accurately track different sleep stages. The suit argues that because the device does not directly measure brain waves, its AI-based estimates for REM, deep, and light sleep are no more accurate than a coin flip. The complaint characterizes the marketing as targeting desperate consumers who struggle with sleep and selling faulty inference as reliable science.

The Verge’s wearables expert initially dismissed the suit, noting that all wearables rely on sensors for motion and other physiological signals, then use algorithms to estimate health metrics. The article points out that while no wearable directly measures brain activity, changes in heart rate, body temperature, and muscle paralysis during REM provide indirect indicators. Oura has published a rebuttal linking to peer-reviewed validation studies and an op-ed from a sleep researcher supporting its sleep-tracking algorithm.

The piece argues that accuracy is something of a red herring, since the primary purpose of consumer sleep trackers is to monitor long-term trends rather than serve as diagnostic tools. It notes that independent reviews generally find wearables reliable for detecting when users fall asleep and wake up, but sleep stage breakdowns remain estimates that can be affected by factors like sleep position or battery life. The article suggests the real value is acting as a check-engine light, prompting users to reflect on lifestyle habits or consult a doctor if patterns seem off.

The lawsuit could be seen as a good-faith effort to push health tech companies toward more precise marketing, the article says, while acknowledging that some companies do engage in science-washing. However, the author contends this is not one of those cases, citing Oura’s aggressive publication of scientific research. The piece also notes that wearable apps frequently include disclosures clarifying that features are for wellness, not medical diagnosis, and that a quick search turns up explanations that sleep stages are only estimates.

The article places some blame on tech journalists for not consistently providing the necessary context to help consumers understand wearable limitations. It resists blaming users, describing the space as genuinely confusing, but notes there is a limit to how much education can help if users choose not to read the material provided. Ultimately, the piece says, the responsibility falls on companies to ensure consumers grasp product limitations, and the lawsuit’s strongest point is that broad marketing claims could lead to misunderstanding.

The takeaway, the article concludes, should not be that Oura or wearables in general are scams. It points to Apple’s annual smartwatch releases featuring life-saving testimonials and to researchers using wearables to study illness detection during the covid-19 pandemic as evidence of their value. The piece frames the lawsuit as a missed opportunity to reinforce the proper context for how these devices are meant to be used.

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