In October, Oura announced a simple but game-changing accessory: a portable charging case. It took the smart ring company long enough, especially since battery life is a bone Oura Ring users have been picking with the wellness giant for years.

The Oura Ring 4 promises up to 5-8 days of power, but all Oura Rings are famous for their quick battery degradation. Before I had a fourth-gen ring, I wore a third-gen for two years, which I’d have to charge every 48 hours. It made traveling a pain if your trip was any longer than a three-day excursion.

But even if you remembered to bring the charger, it was a hassle. It was just another cable to pack, and the charging square was easy to lose in a bag or leave on a hotel nightstand. Wireless earbuds lived in a convenient charging case, so why was my smart ring still living in cable-jail? A month ago, Oura finally answered our prayers and released a sleek silver charging case for fourth-gen rings. Better late than never, I suppose?

Shortly after it launched, I got my hands on the new charging case. Five charges later, I’m more than happy with my new portable power experience. But is it worth shelling out another whole Benjamin, or does the included cable still make the cut?

Battery

Five full Oura Ring 4 charges

Charging Port

USB-C

Charging Time

90 minutes

Weight

60g

Compatible with only Oura Ring 4 Ceramic and titanium models, the charging case allows users to take five full charges on the go for convenient travel without cables. 

Specs and compatibility

Only for the Oura Ring 4

You can buy the Oura Ring 4 Charging Case for $99 on Oura’s website or Amazon. It’s made of recycled aluminum, and has a slightly rougher texture than a MacBook’s lid. A rubbery ring on the bottom grips whatever surface it’s lying on, so it won’t slide around a nightstand or desk without a good amount of force.

It’s small enough to fit in the palm of my hand (which is smaller than average), but not small enough to lose easily in a purse or bag. The compact clamshell design has a stainless steel hinge that sits flush at the back of the case — right above the USB-C port. The charging case doesn’t come with its own USB-C cable, but you can use any USB-C charger you already have at home.

It takes 90 minutes to charge the case to 100%, which is indicated by a solid green LED light on the front. A solid amber light means that the battery is low, and a flashing white light means that charging is in progress. When the ring is in the charging case, it will display the white pulsing light when it’s charging and the solid green light for when it’s fully charged.

At full capacity, the charging case will provide up to five full ring charges. However, it’s only compatible with the Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 4 Ceramic models — if you’re a third-generation wearer, your ring will not be compatible.

You also have to use a charging case that corresponds to your ring size, just like the normal charging square. It makes sense, because the ring’s sensors have to line up perfectly with the charger to work, but it’s a little annoying if you and a family member or roommate want to share the portable charger on a trip — if you wear different sizes, you’ll each need your own.

Why a charging case is such a big deal

I haven’t used the normal charger since getting the charging case

If your AirPods didn’t have their convenient charging case, they wouldn’t be charged to 100% nearly as much. That, and they’d be a lot easier to lose. The same goes for my Oura Ring — sometimes, I’ll take it off to shower or jump into the ocean, and it’s hard not to worry it won’t get knocked off the counter or someone’s going to jostle the beach chair it’s resting on.

The portable charging is convenient, especially for someone who frequently goes on two-week trips. But I haven’t traveled at all in the last month, and the charging case has become my Oura Ring 4’s default power source. I’ll bring it to the gym with me in case I want to stow my ring away during a weight-lifting session, and I keep it in the bathroom the rest of the time so I can give my ring a safe place (and a top-off) while I’m showering off all the gym germs.

The charging case isn’t just going to make traveling with my Oura Ring easier — it’s going to make using it more convenient in general. I can use the same USB-C cable to charge both my iPhone and Oura Ring case from now on, which will make packing a duffel bag just as easy as my coffee shop purse.

Is it worth $99?

That depends on how you pay for it

If Oura pivots to the same model as wireless earbuds and eliminates its traditional charging square, I wouldn’t mind paying extra up front for the convenience that this charging case has given me in the last month. I haven’t touched my original charger since getting the case, and I don’t see myself using it ever again.

That being said, Oura Rings are already expensive wearables. The cheapest model is $349, and the Ceramic rings climb up to $499 — and that’s before you get roped into the $6 monthly subscription just to access your data. Add on $99 to the cheapest ring, and you’re looking at paying about $450 just to play.

An extra $99 isn’t quite pocket-change for most folks, even if I think the convenience is well worth that price tag. However, there’s a saving grace: most Oura purchases are HSA- and FSA-eligible, so you can use those pre-tax dollars in lieu of your own cash. If there’s one thing that’s contributed to my health, it’s the relief I feel when I remember I don’t have to pack that pesky default charger just to leave it wherever I go.

Battery

Five full Oura Ring 4 charges

Charging Port

USB-C

Charging Time

90 minutes

Weight

60g

Compatible with only Oura Ring 4 Ceramic and titanium models, the charging case allows users to take five full charges on the go for convenient travel without cables.