There’s a lot of buzz about Samsung’s newest wearable, the Galaxy Ring. Although it hasn’t been released yet, early details are already making waves in the tech community. Let’s dive into what we know so far and what we can expect from this highly anticipated smart ring.
Why Choose a Smart Ring?
Smart rings are becoming increasingly popular for several reasons. They passively track your stats and metrics without needing any input, have no screens to distract you, are more comfortable to wear overnight, and their batteries last much longer than those of smartwatches.
Sneak Peeks and Expected Features
Samsung has given us some sneak peeks of the Galaxy Ring, enough to paint a pretty good picture of what’s to come. It will likely be available in gold, black, or silver finishes and come in either eight or nine sizes. Initially, it will be Android-only, with a US release expected in August.
The Galaxy Ring is set to support new Samsung Health tools like a vitality score or energy score, similar to the readiness scores on the Oura Ring, Garmin’s body battery, or Fitbit’s daily readiness score. It will assess your sleep, activity, and heart rate data, and then provide you with a rating. Additionally, it will offer tips throughout the day to explain why your score was high or low.
Interactive Cognitive Tests
One of the unique features of the Galaxy Ring will be interactive cognitive tests to help verify the accuracy of your vitality score. While the exact nature of these tests is still unknown, they might resemble those used in other wearables, such as responding to colored lights on a screen.
AI Tools and Health Tracking
The Galaxy Ring will likely include several AI tools as part of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch One UI 6 update. It’s safe to assume that these tools will make it onto the ring. Samsung has hinted that the ring will work in tandem with the Galaxy Watch to provide more precise metrics, particularly for sleep tracking.
Avoiding Paywalls
For the Galaxy Ring to stand out, it needs to excel in three areas: accuracy, comprehensive health tracking features, and no subscription fees. Many smart rings, like the Oura Ring, require subscriptions to access detailed metrics, which can be frustrating for users. Hopefully, Samsung will keep all health-tracking features free, as they have with the Galaxy Watch.
Accuracy Still Needs Work
Smart rings have room for improvement, especially regarding accuracy. The Oura Ring, for example, has been praised for its accuracy in sleep tracking, aligning closely with clinical sleep studies. However, other rings, like the Amazfit Helio Ring, have shown laggy heart rate tracking for cardio activities. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, in combination with the Galaxy Watch, promises to deliver more precise metrics.
Women’s Health and ECG
The Galaxy Ring will include women’s health tracking, a common feature in most smart rings. There are even rings like the Evie Ring, designed specifically for women, that adapt to finger size fluctuations. Additionally, the Galaxy Ring might feature an electrocardiogram (ECG), a feature available in only a few other smart rings.
Beyond Health Tracking
The Galaxy Ring could offer more than just health tracking. Reports suggest it may support wireless payments, allowing users to pay by simply tapping the ring, and possibly control other devices. This would align with the functionality of other Samsung accessories like the S Pen.
Another potential feature is a built-in LED to help locate the ring if it’s lost. This lost mode feature would be a big advantage over other smart rings. There are also rumors that the ring could act as a remote shutter for your phone’s camera, similar to other Samsung devices.
A Competitive Edge
With all these features, the Galaxy Ring could significantly impact the smart ring market. Companies like Aura and others will be watching closely to see how they stack up. While the Galaxy Ring’s exact impact remains to be seen, it’s clear that Samsung is aiming high.
