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Samsung made a bold move into the wearable health tech market with the launch of the Galaxy Ring at the Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris on July 10. The highly anticipated smart ring, priced at $399.99, aims to compete with established players like Oura by offering a sleek design and a suite of health-tracking features without the need for a subscription.
Design and material
The Galaxy Ring comes in three colorways (gold, silver, and black), each with a titanium frame that promises durability and a premium look. Weighing between 2.3 and 3 grams and measuring 7 mm wide and 2.6 mm thick, the ring is designed to be lightweight and comfortable. Samsung has given the Galaxy Ring an IP68 rating and 10 ATM water resistance, making it suitable for various activities and environments.
One of the most notable elements of the ring is its charging case, which features a futuristic transparent design with LED indicators. This convenient and stylish case can hold 1.5 times the ring’s charge, allowing users to keep their device powered on the go. A full charge takes about 80 minutes, and the ring’s battery life ranges from six to seven days, depending on the size.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The Galaxy Ring is equipped with a host of sensors, including an accelerometer, an optical heart rate sensor (with green, red, and infrared LEDs), and a skin temperature sensor. These sensors enable comprehensive tracking of sleep, heart rate, and physical activity. Samsung is introducing new Galaxy AI-powered metrics such as Energy Score, which assesses the user’s overall energy based on sleep, activity, and heart rate data, and Wellness Insights, which provide personalized health insights.
The ring also includes features like cycling tracks, high and low heart rate alerts, live heart rate readings, automatic workout detection, and inactivity alerts. While it excels at sleep tracking with detailed metrics like sleep movements, sleep latency, and heart and respiratory rates, it doesn’t include FDA-approved sleep apnea detection or irregular heartbeat notifications, which are exclusive to Galaxy Watches.
Ecosystem Compatibility and Integration
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is designed to work seamlessly within the Samsung ecosystem, offering enhanced features to Galaxy device users. The ring is compatible with Android phones running Android 11 or later, as long as they have the Samsung Health app. Some features, such as Energy Score and Find My Ring, require a Galaxy phone.
One of the innovative features is the ability to use a double-pinch gesture to control the phone’s camera or turn off alarms hands-free, similar to the Apple Watch’s double-tap gesture. This feature will initially be available on the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 and is expected to roll out to the S24 soon.
Competitive advantage and market impact
The Galaxy Ring is well-positioned to challenge the Oura Ring’s market dominance, thanks in part to its competitive pricing and lack of subscription fees. Unlike Oura, which charges $5.99 per month for access to its full suite of features, Samsung is leveraging its existing Samsung Health infrastructure to deliver these features at no additional cost.
There’s a caveat, though: Samsung has said that its Galaxy’s AI features will be free until 2025, leaving the future of these features uncertain. Even so, the promise of better battery life, accurate tracking, and seamless integration with Samsung’s ecosystem makes it an attractive option for existing Samsung users.
Conclusion
Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market with the Galaxy Ring marks a turning point in wearable health technology. With its sleek design, comprehensive health tracking features, and strong integration with the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Ring has the potential to become a mainstream product. As the smart ring market grows, Samsung’s latest innovation could usher in a new era of discreet and effective health monitoring devices.