Oura Ring Adds Cardio Effort and Automatic VO2 Max
Oura says its rings will now estimate VO2 Max without the six-minute walking test the old Cardio Capacity tool required.
Oura announced two new fitness features for its smart ring on October 20, 2026: Cardio Effort and an automatic VO2 Max estimate.
Cardio Effort assesses how much strain the wearer has put on their body during activity. It reports five ranges: light, fair, maintaining, building and reaching. The feature is based on the Training Impulse method and monitors long-term trends in cardiovascular activity.
The VO2 Max feature, previously called Cardio Capacity in the Oura Labs tool, will now be estimated automatically. The old metric was not automatic and required a six-minute walking test before it could be enabled.
The revised VO2 Max makes passive estimations from regular GPS-enabled workouts, so the walking test is no longer needed. VO2 Max stats will be available in Oura Labs for the third-generation Oura Ring and later models.
Other wearables, including the Apple Watch and Fitbit, have been able to track similar cardio metrics for some time.
Quick answers
What is Cardio Effort on the Oura Ring?
It is a feature that assesses how much strain the wearer has put on their body during activity, with five ranges: light, fair, maintaining, building and reaching.
Do I still need the six-minute walking test for VO2 Max on Oura?
No. The revised VO2 Max makes passive estimations from regular GPS-enabled workouts, so the walking test is no longer required.
Which Oura Ring models get VO2 Max stats?
VO2 Max stats will be available in Oura Labs for the third-generation Oura Ring and later models.