The smart ring market has so far been largely dominated by the Oura Ring, but that is set to change with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The ring was first unveiled at Samsung’s Unpacked event in January and later at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February.
The Galaxy Ring is said to come with various health sensors to help users track their physical fitness and daily activities, supported by Samsung Health. It’s one of the most eagerly awaited new releases of the year. Here’s everything we know about it so far.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Release date
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Ring at its next Unpacked event, which will take place in Paris, France on July 10. It is expected to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 smartphones.
Since Samsung has teased the Galaxy Ring numerous times now, we expect it to be fully launched either at Unpacked on July 10th or shortly thereafter.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Price
Little is known about the Galaxy Ring’s price, but at least one rumor suggests that Samsung has no plans to undercut the price of two popular competitors. This suggests that the Galaxy Ring will cost around $300 in the US, which is the same price as the Oura Ring. Other smart rings like the Ultrahuman Ring Air and RingConn Smart Ring have similar prices – $349 and $279, respectively.
One area where Samsung could outdo Oura is that there may be no subscription fee. As a reminder, the Oura Ring has a $6 per month subscription. Samsung doesn’t currently offer subscriptions on its Galaxy Watches. Some rumors suggest the Galaxy Ring could change that, but of course we hope that’s not the case.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Design
Much more is already known about the Galaxy Ring’s design, as some samples were shown at MWC. It is safe to assume that Samsung will sell the models in at least three colors: black, silver and gold, each with a shiny, reflective finish. Previously, it was leaked that Samsung would offer the ring in sizes 5 to 13.
Joe Maring, editor of Digital Trends, expressed hope that more designs will be released for the Galaxy Ring, including models in additional finishes and colors. He also noted the lack of an indicator on the outside of the ring to help users determine the best way to wear it. At MWC, it was not clear whether the Galaxy Ring has this feature.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Health tracking features
According to the latest information, the upcoming Galaxy Ring is expected to offer several features that will improve the health and well-being of users. A new Samsung patent spotted by Wareable seems to suggest that Samsung is trying to implement continuous monitoring of heart rate data and signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) using a generative AI system. Currently, most smartwatches collect heart rate data through electrocardiogram (ECG) scans, but it is not continuous monitoring as the user has to actively initiate the scan.
That’s all set to change with Samsung’s new patent, which “translates PPG signals into corresponding ECG waveforms.” Essentially, Samsung is continuously taking data it already collects and using AI to translate it into ECG data. This feature could be available not only for the Galaxy Ring, but also for older wearables with ECG functionality, such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3.
Other features we’re expecting include the “My Vitality Score,” which aims to give users a comprehensive snapshot of their overall health based on key health metrics like sleep, activity, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). The score is similar to Oura’s popular “Readiness” score, which users have praised for its accuracy and usefulness.
In addition to the My Vitality Score, the Galaxy Ring is also said to offer sleep monitoring insights to help users understand the quality and duration of their sleep each night. This feature should be useful for people who struggle with sleep issues or want to optimize their sleep habits for better health.
Another exciting feature of the Galaxy Ring is cycle tracking, made possible by Samsung’s partnership with Natural Cycles. This feature can help users track their menstrual cycles and fertility so they can better understand their bodies and plan accordingly.
All of this is in line with what we expect from a smart ring in 2024. It’s possible that Samsung will offer more health/wellness features, but at least as of today, it sounds like all the bases are covered.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Battery life
Samsung has hinted that the Galaxy Ring will have remarkable battery life. Larger sizes are expected to offer “long” battery life, which isn’t surprising given the Oura Ring’s impressive battery life.
At the end of February, Samsung confirmed in an interview that the Galaxy Ring will have a battery life of five to nine days. Simply put, this is terrificThe Oura Ring, for example, can last up to four days without charging. If Samsung can squeeze more than a week out of the Galaxy Ring’s battery life, we’ll be impressed.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: What’s the killer feature?
We don’t yet know of any special feature that will set the Galaxy Ring apart from other devices on the market. We hope Samsung offers something innovative and unique to stand out, especially as the smart ring market becomes more crowded. Rumors suggest that the new Oura Ring will offer features like measuring cardiovascular age and cardiovascular capacity, so Samsung will have to try harder to stay competitive.
Samsung can achieve this in a number of ways. The battery life claims are worth noting. Samsung also has the opportunity to make the Galaxy Ring a more affordable smart ring option, whether through a lower MSRP and/or the lack of a subscription.
We should learn more about the Galaxy Ring on July 10th, so stay tuned.
