What we know and what we want to see

Updated: February 27, 2024 (5:00 a.m. ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Ring hub with tons of information, including features, quoted battery life, and real-life images.

Source article: The Samsung Watch is one of the best smartwatches on the market today. Despite the series’ success, Samsung doesn’t seem ready to rest on its laurels. Instead, the company is moving toward smaller form factors (and different body parts). Likely to be rolling onto a finger near you soon, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

It’s safe to say now that Samsung is officially making a smart ring. The company teased the ring at the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17. Although details were limited at the time, Samsung showed off the first image we’ve seen of the device, calling it the Galaxy Ring. The company later showed off the ring at MWC 2024, while revealing more details.

The patent for the device was published in 2022, and the Korean Intellectual Property Information Service (KIPRIS) granted Samsung the Galaxy Ring trademark. So Samsung has been focusing on this form factor for some time.

We’ve ignored rumors of an Apple Watch ring for years, but the fact is that smart rings are gaining more and more attention. The screen-free experience appeals to many users who just want to keep track of essential information without interruption. Regardless, the Samsung ring is definitely coming.

Estimating a release date for Samsung’s first attempt is nearly impossible. When entering new fields, Samsung does not want to miss out due to hesitation. In order to compete with existing smart rings, the company must be prepared before launching the device.

After the Unpacked event on January 17, analyst Avi Greengart personally experienced the Galaxy Ring prototype and confirmed on Threads that the product will be launched in 2024. However, he did not give a specific release timetable.

As of February 2024, one thing seems certain, a launch in the second half of the year. A Samsung executive said on LinkedIn in early February that the Galaxy Ring would launch in the second half of the year. Another Samsung executive at MWC 2024 agreed.

What is the specific launch date?Korea Outlets eastern news It was reported on February 20 that the Galaxy Ring will be launched at the Unpacked event in late July.

Samsung confirmed various features of the Galaxy Ring at MWC 2024. The company says the smart ring will track multiple sleep-related metrics (heart rate, sleep latency, nighttime activity), will offer fertility tracking, and will work perfectly with your Galaxy Watch.

Samsung told reporters at MWC (ourselves included) that the Galaxy Ring’s battery life will last more than a few days. However, the brand reportedly told Korean stores to expect the juice to last between five and nine days. Mobile chief TM Roh apparently also pointed out that you can’t answer calls through ringtones.

An early patent points to potential smart home integration. Samsung may offer Galaxy Ring users the ability to control connected devices such as smart TVs.Meanwhile, a July 2023 report electricity company Another Samsung patent shows that a pair of XR glasses could use a smart ring to obtain finger and hand position information. In theory, this means accurate hand and finger tracking in XR apps, allowing fine-grained control over UIs and apps. This is just a patent, though, so there’s no guarantee that the Galaxy Ring or any other Samsung ring will come with this feature.

Analyst Avi Greengart saw a prototype of this ring in January 2024, and according to him, the ring will be available in sizes up to 13. The analyst also noted that Samsung plans to offer the smart ring in three looks. Samsung will confirm three looks at MWC 2024, namely gold, silver and black. The company also confirmed nine sizes.

February 20 eastern news The report also states that the Galaxy Ring offers electrocardiogram functionality and blood flow measurement capabilities. The outlet also claims that the smart ring will support wireless payments and let you control other devices. These details have not yet been confirmed.

In a word: expensive. The advanced technology required to turn a small ring into a viable fitness tracker costs quite a bit of money. I’d be inclined to expect a similar price to the company’s existing wearables.

The latest Oura Ring 3 starts at $299 and requires a monthly subscription to use its full feature set. Samsung has yet to adopt a subscription service for its Galaxy Watch range, and I hope it doesn’t jump on the Galaxy Ring bandwagon.

There’s a good chance the Samsung Galaxy Ring will be worth the wait. On the other hand, with so many unknowns and the fact that it could be years before you see this ring hit store shelves, I wouldn’t recommend holding your breath. The best wearables are always the ones that help you achieve your fitness goals. If finger-based wearables are on your shopping list, there are a few other options. The Oura Ring 3 ($299.99 at Oura) is our top pick for its excellent sleep tracking and comprehensive approach to health. Meanwhile, the Circular Ring ($284 from the manufacturer’s website) is the best alternative to the Oura Ring 3. It tracks heart rate, sleep and blood oxygen, and doesn’t require a monthly subscription.

If you’d rather stay within Samsung’s ecosystem, it might be worth sticking with the company’s range of smartwatches for now. The Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung) offers a comprehensive smartwatch experience with all the basics for tracking health and fitness. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ($429 at Amazon) is slightly more expensive, but has a functional rotating bezel and better aesthetics.

First of all, I’m happy to see the existence of the Samsung Galaxy Ring. A strong alternative to the Oura Ring could boost the entire smart ring trend and push more competitors to try it. Samsung has confirmed some features and reportedly given estimated battery life. Beyond that, here are some of the details I’d also like to find on board.

Advanced health and training metrics

Needless to say, I’d like to see detailed health metrics for Samsung’s potential Galaxy Ring, which, according to Samsung, we should expect. Heart rate monitoring and temperature tracking are two pillars of the Oura, and I found them very useful in my Oura Ring 3 review. The good news is that Samsung is supporting both of these features as well as women’s health tracking, which I’m really looking forward to.

Where the Oura Ring falls short, in my opinion, is fitness tracking. Therefore, Samsung can differentiate itself by offering athletes a more sophisticated feature set.

The Oura Ring 3 has cornered the ring market, and it does so by honing the user’s Z. Huge numbers of people don’t get enough sleep, and providing a tool to solve this problem is a home run.

Samsung has recently stepped up its sleep monitoring efforts and confirmed that the Galaxy Ring will offer sleep tracking capabilities. But I wish the company emphasized accuracy, insights, trends and sleep guidance. Lightweight, comfortable, and without the need for a bright screen to wake you up at night, a smart ring with powerful sleep tracking capabilities will be a foolproof bed companion.

Thin design

While existing smart rings may look small compared to wrist-based wearables, they’re still quite bulky. Many resemble oversized wedding rings. I’m glad to see Samsung offering a smaller form factor that won’t draw as many eyes. I’d also be open to more Samsung Galaxy Ring colors and finishes than are currently available in the smart ring pool.

It’s hard to tell for sure in the released images, but it appears the ring will have similar specifications to the Oura ring. However, when wearing something on your finger, every millimeter makes a difference, so I still keep it crossed.