Samsung showcased its ability to deliver surprises by unveiling the Galaxy Ring at January’s Unpacked event. This brief teaser was seen as a significant endorsement for the emerging wearable category. While smart rings aren’t entirely new, the market has been predominantly led by Oura.
At Unpacked 2024, Samsung provided further details about the Galaxy Ring, marking the company’s debut in this category as a major hardware player. Samsung has managed to get ahead of Apple, Google, and others with a health and fitness device that complements its existing health initiatives. The Galaxy Ring will be available for preorder starting Wednesday at $399.
Samsung has experimented with various wearable forms before, such as the IconX earbuds with built-in heart monitoring, but has consistently returned to the Galaxy Watch. The introduction of a smart ring adds a new dimension to its wearable lineup. This move is promising for two reasons: first, there is proven consumer interest in such devices, and second, the ring enhances — rather than replaces — the functionality of existing devices like the Galaxy Watch.
Due to its compact design and lack of display, the ring takes a more passive approach to health tracking. Samsung describes it as offering “24/7 health monitoring,” with a notable battery life of up to seven days, mirroring the Oura ring’s capabilities.
The Galaxy Ring focuses initially on passive health tracking, specifically sleep. It provides a sleep “score” based on metrics such as movement, heart rate, and respiratory rate, and tracks menstrual cycles using skin temperature. Its smaller size makes it a less intrusive option compared to a larger smartwatch for sleep tracking.
Additionally, the Galaxy Ring integrates with Samsung’s AI to offer comprehensive insights and motivational feedback based on sleep, activity, and heart rate metrics. Importantly, these features are available without a subscription, which is a notable advantage over Oura’s $6 monthly fee.
The Galaxy Ring is set to launch on July 24.
