Samsung surprised everyone at January’s Unpacked event with the unexpected reveal of the Galaxy Ring. This brief teaser marked a significant milestone for the emerging smart ring category, which has been largely dominated by Oura until now.
Unveiling the Galaxy Ring
At Unpacked 2024, Samsung provided a closer look at the Galaxy Ring, its first venture into this innovative wearable form factor. By introducing this health and fitness device, Samsung has outpaced tech giants like Apple and Google. The Galaxy Ring seamlessly integrates with Samsung’s existing health ecosystem and is available for preorder starting Wednesday at $399.
Image Credits: Samsung
A New Addition to Samsung’s Wearable Lineup
Samsung has experimented with various wearable form factors over the years—remember the IconX earbuds with built-in heart monitoring? Despite these efforts, the focus often returns to the Galaxy Watch. The addition of a smart ring to Samsung’s wearable portfolio is promising for several reasons. First, it validates the customer interest already demonstrated by Oura and similar devices. Second, it complements—rather than replaces—the functionalities of devices like the Galaxy Watch.
Design and Functionality
The Galaxy Ring’s design, with its smaller footprint and lack of a display, necessitates a more passive approach to health tracking. Samsung describes it as offering “24/7 health monitoring,” thanks to a generous battery life of up to seven days—on par with Oura’s ring.
Image Credits: Samsung
Starting with sleep tracking, the Galaxy Ring provides a sleep “score” based on various metrics, including movement, heart rate, and respiratory rate. It also tracks cycles based on the wearer’s skin temperature during sleep. The ring’s compact size makes it a more comfortable and less intrusive option compared to larger smartwatches.
Holistic Health Insights
Leveraging Galaxy AI, the ring compiles metrics from sleep, activity, heart rate, and heart rate variability to offer “holistic insights and motivational encouragement.” Notably, all these features are available without a subscription fee, giving Samsung an edge over Oura’s $6 monthly fee. However, future subscription models cannot be ruled out.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Ring represents Samsung’s bold step into the smart ring market, offering a sleek, passive health-tracking device that fits seamlessly into its existing wearable lineup. With a competitive price point and no ongoing fees, it sets a new standard in the wearable tech space. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is set to ship on July 24—don’t miss out on this innovative addition to your health and fitness toolkit.
