At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring, a groundbreaking addition to its lineup of health-focused wearables. This sleek, innovative smart ring is poised to become the centerpiece of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, showcasing the company’s commitment to integrating advanced health tracking features with stylish, user-friendly design.
A Stylish, Durable Design
Available in Black, Silver, and Gold, the Galaxy Ring caters to diverse tastes with its minimalist yet elegant design. Constructed from a grade 5 titanium alloy, the ring promises durability and comfort, offered in US sizes 5-13. The ring’s concave center and tapered sides contribute to its sleek aesthetic, while the health tracking technology, battery, and charging pins are ingeniously hidden beneath a layer of epoxy resin on the inner surface. This ensures that the Galaxy Ring maintains its stylish appearance without compromising functionality.
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Robust Build for All Conditions
The Galaxy Ring is built to withstand various environments and activities. With an IP68 rating and 10ATM water resistance, users can confidently wear the ring in any weather, even while swimming. The device’s resilience is matched by its advanced connectivity features, utilizing Bluetooth LE 5.4 to sync with smartphones running Android 11 or later via the Samsung Health app. Users can access their health and fitness data without additional subscription fees, enhancing the ring’s appeal.
Innovative Features and User Experience
The Galaxy Ring boasts several smart features designed to enhance user interaction. A simple pinch gesture with the thumb and index finger allows users to control their Samsung phone, such as taking photos or silencing alarms. Additionally, the ring integrates with Samsung Find My Mobile, using built-in LED lights to help locate the device if misplaced.
Health tracking is a core feature of the Galaxy Ring. The ring monitors heart rate using an optical sensor and tracks skin temperature, offering comprehensive sleep tracking capabilities. The comfortable design allows for continuous wear, enabling the ring to monitor sleep stages, snoring, movement, sleep latency, heart rate, and breathing rate.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is tailored to the ring size, with smaller sizes (5-7) featuring 17 mAh batteries and larger sizes (8-11) 18 mAh batteries, both offering up to six days of use. The largest sizes, 12 and 13, have 22.5 mAh batteries, extending usage to seven days. The Galaxy Ring includes a compact charging case with a 361 mAh battery, capable of fully recharging smaller ring sizes up to 20 times, ensuring users are rarely left without power.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is priced at $399 and will be available starting July 24. This price positions it competitively within the smart ring market, especially compared to other leading brands like Oura. Notably, Samsung’s ring does not require a subscription, a significant advantage for consumers wary of additional costs.
Integration into the Samsung Ecosystem
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is part of a broader strategy to integrate health tracking features across its product ecosystem. Alongside the Galaxy Watch 7 and the new foldable devices, the ring enhances the interconnectedness of Samsung’s offerings. When paired with a Galaxy smartwatch and phone, users can achieve a more detailed picture of their health, with data from multiple sources contributing to a comprehensive analysis.
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Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market is seen as a direct challenge to established players like Oura. The Galaxy Ring offers similar features, such as sleep and heart rate tracking, but distinguishes itself with a lighter weight and lack of subscription fees. Analysts believe Samsung’s global reach and marketing power will help it establish a significant presence in this niche market, potentially making smart rings more mainstream, particularly among Android users.