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Samsung unveils Galaxy Ring: Key features, price, and everything you need to know
Six months after announcing the Samsung Galaxy Ring at its winter Unpacked event, Samsung took to the stage once more to mark the official launch of the smart ring that has tech enthusiasts eager to learn more. This release marks the first smart ring by a major smartphone manufacturer, as Apple and others have yet to produce a similar device.
Also: Everything announced during Samsung Unpacked July 2024
"The latest additions to our wearables portfolio integrate Samsung's most advanced technologies and innovations, enabling you to take control of your health and wellness with preventative healthcare solutions," Samsung Electronics President TM Roh said. "The intelligence, guidance, and insights offered with Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch7, and Galaxy Watch Ultra will help users turn data into meaningful insights and create a whole new era of expanded intelligent health experiences."
What is the Samsung Galaxy Ring?
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a new smart ring compatible with Android devices and that works especially well with Galaxy smartphones.
The Galaxy Ring has various health and sleep-tracking features, with more capabilities to be added later. It is a water-resistant fitness device that can track sleep, oxygen, heart rate, and skin temperature to give you insights into your wellness.
The ring is available in three colors and nine sizes, and, like Samsung's Galaxy Watch, is incompatible with the iPhone. The Galaxy Ring includes a square-shaped charging case that looks and works like an earbuds case.
We first reported on a Galaxy Ring a year ago, when rumors intensified that the tech giant was working on a smart ring. The company's announcement in January made it official.
According to a patent filed by Samsung in February 2023, the Galaxy Ring is "intended to cover the categories of wearable smart devices in the nature of a smart ring for tracking, measuring, monitoring, and uploading health, fitness, and sleep-related information."
When will the Galaxy Ring launch?
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is now available for preorder at Samsung.com, Samsung Experience stores, and select retailers, with general availability beginning on July 24.
Also: The best smart rings of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed
This spring, a new lawsuit filed by Samsung inadvertently revealed that the company was planning to begin shipping orders for the smart ring in August, following production in mid-June. We now know that the Galaxy Ring will be widely available and shipping on July 24.
What will the Galaxy Ring do?
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is an unobtrusive fitness tracker that records health data and translates it into digestible information through the Samsung Health app. The device works similarly to other smart rings and smartwatches on the market.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring features three sensors: an accelerometer, a skin temperature sensor, and a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. The combination of the data captured by these sensors results in actionable data about sleep quality, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, heart rate monitoring, and cycle tracking.
Also: Oura unveils AI health advisor a day before Samsung Galaxy Ring's likely debut
"The ring represents that community of people who want health tracking that is more comfortable and less obtrusive," Samsung Mobile Digital Health Chief Hon Pak said during a recent interview. "It's meeting a need of a specific population of people who want to track and measure, but in a different way."
The new Samsung Health experience also offers medication reminders, with helpful insights about potential interactions with foods or other medications you take.
How much does the Samsung Galaxy Ring cost?
Samsung announced that the Galaxy Ring costs $400, higher than the Oura Ring Horizon at $350 and the Oura Ring Heritage at $300.
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Unlike the Oura Ring, the Samsung Galaxy Ring doesn't require a monthly subscription. Instead, the device integrates into the Galaxy ecosystem.
When will I be able to buy a Samsung Galaxy Ring?
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is now available for preorder for $400. The smart ring will be generally available on July 24.
What are the Galaxy Ring's health scores?
When Samsung announced the Galaxy Ring during its Unpacked event in January, the company also teased "My Vitality Score," a way to intelligently track your physical and mental preparedness to tackle the day based on your sleep, activity, and heart rate data.
Also: The best waterproof smartwatches of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed
According to ZDNET editor Kerry Wan's interview with Pak, this score is created by combining health-tracking data from your activity, heart rate variability, and sleep habits. Your score is meant to reflect your physical and mental readiness.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring also offers a Sleep Score complete with snoring analysis, movements during sleep, and other biometric data. A new AI-powered Energy Score gives you recommendations based on your physical state to make daily improvements.
How many colors and sizes will the Galaxy Ring have?
The Samsung Galaxy Ring will be available in three colors (black, silver, and gold) and nine sizes ranging from 5 to 13.
Also: I tested this smart ring for fitness junkies. Here's how it beats the Oura Ring
According to an FCC filing, the smaller ring sizes from 5 to 7 will boast the smallest battery, at 17 mAh. Medium sizes, ranging from 8 to 11, will have an 18.5 mAh battery. Sizes 12 and 13 will have the largest battery, at 22.5 mAh.
Will the Galaxy Ring have ECG?
Although there were rumors that the Galaxy Ring would support ECG functionality, this does not appear to be the case.
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According to Samsung's Pak, the Galaxy Ring has various health and sleep-tracking features, with more capabilities to be added later. The ECG functionality, currently available in the Galaxy Watch 7, could be one of those future capabilities.
Does the Galaxy Ring monitor for sleep apnea?
The Samsung Health app includes the ability to monitor for potential sleep apnea symptoms by tracking sleep patterns and blood oxygen changes and maintaining heart rate alerts during sleep.
Also: 10 settings I changed on my WearOS smartwatch to improve battery life
The Galaxy Ring doesn't appear to monitor for sleep apnea, but this could also be added later, as the smart ring already tracks many sleep apnea indicators.
Will the Samsung Galaxy Ring track steps?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Ring will count your steps. Using its built-in accelerometer sensor, the Galaxy Ring can track activity, count your steps, and give reminders through "Inactive Alerts."
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The ring also features automatic walking and running detection to log workouts without your intervention.
On which finger should wear a Samsung Galaxy Ring?
Smart rings, including the Samsung Galaxy Ring, are recommended to be worn on the index finger, although Samsung says measurements are accurate on any finger.
The index finger has strong blood flow and pulse signals for more accurate health readings. The Galaxy Ring also supports Gestures, which lets you control your Galaxy devices through a pinch motion with your index and thumb. This action allows you to pause music or even trigger your smartphone camera to take a photo.
When was the Galaxy Ring announced?
The Galaxy Ring was announced by Matthew Wiggins, a clinical research scientist at Samsung Research, on January 17, 2024, after a segment demonstrating a new Samsung health experience that Galaxy AI powers. The announcement was short and sweet, followed by closing statements at the end of the Samsung Unpacked 2024 event.
What are smart rings used for?
Smart rings are wearables that incorporate sensors and other types of technology to track health measurements, such as heart rate variability and blood oxygen levels. They give you a simple way to measure and track health and sleep-related information.
Also: Oura Ring users can now sync data with Strava - here's how to turn it on
Smart rings are worn on your finger. These devices have a series of sensors always in contact with your skin. The array of sensors on the Galaxy Ring is visible on the inner band when you view the ring from above.