The Samsung Galaxy Ring helped carry sensible rings into the mainstream. Beyond the apparent title recognition and Samsung Health integration, Samsung gave it a light-weight, engaging design, distinctive gesture controls, and robust battery life that stand out from the competitors.
At the identical time, this first-generation sensible ring had its fair proportion of issues, with our Galaxy Ring reviewer bashing its restricted health capabilities, limitations on non-Samsung telephones, and potential accuracy points on a $399 system.
The Galaxy Ring stays the most effective sensible rings regardless of its drawbacks. But with severe opponents just like the Oura Ring 4, you’ll be able to ask whether or not it is the suitable match to your finger.
Our Galaxy Ring purchaser’s information will give attention to what you should know earlier than shopping for one, beginning with sizing, match, specs, and magnificence. We’ll run by way of the well being options and the way they examine in opposition to its sensible ring rivals like Oura and Ultrahuman. And we’ll clarify the smarts you’ll be able to anticipate when you’ve got a Samsung cellphone.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Price, availability, sizing, and colours
The Samsung Galaxy Ring was introduced on July 10 and shipped out to clients on July 24. It’s out there by way of Samsung.com, Amazon, Best Buy, and choose carriers within the United States.
Samsung hasn’t extensively marketed its listing of Galaxy Ring nations, slowly trickling it out to new nations — most not too long ago India in mid-October. Currently, it is out there or coming to about 20 nations, together with Australia, North America, a number of EU nations and the UK, China, India, and South Korea.
The unique manufacturing run of 400,000 Galaxy Rings proved insufficient for demand, particularly the medium and enormous ring sizes. Since then, Samsung introduced plans to spice up its manufacturing unit output to 1 million rings to fulfill demand in late July, and it seems to be absolutely out there since then.
You should know your Galaxy Ring dimension and which finger to put on it on earlier than shopping for it. We have a Galaxy Ring sizing information, however the gist is that Samsung makes use of its personal proprietary sizing, so your typical ring dimension could not match. Samsung recommends sporting it in your index finger for the most effective monitoring accuracy, with both your ring or center finger as secondary choices.
If you purchase from Samsung, you’ll obtain a free sizing package with 9 dummy rings in sizes 5–13. Through different retailers like Amazon, you will need to purchase the sizing package individually for $10, however as soon as you purchase the Galaxy Ring you’ll obtain a $10 credit score, offsetting the fee. If the most important dimension does not suit your finger, Samsung allegedly plans so as to add sizes 14 and 15, although we have but to see an official announcement.
At $399, the Samsung Galaxy Ring prices greater than most competing sensible rings, which are likely to fall inside a $250–350 vary. The principal exception is Oura, which technically begins at $299 however jumps as excessive as $499–549 with the extra rounded design and fancier finishes like Gold or Rose Gold.
Samsung says that it will not cost a month-to-month subscription for Galaxy Ring information (not like Oura), although it has hinted that it might cost for Galaxy AI insights sooner or later — which might apply to the Galaxy Ring’s Energy Score and Wellness Tips.
In phrases of which Galaxy Ring colour to purchase, the Black possibility is probably the most plain and delicate, whereas the Gold and Silver choices could match nearer to no matter jewellery you sometimes put on. Unlike Oura, Samsung does not cost further for its Gold end.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: specs, sensors, and battery
| Category | Galaxy Ring |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.0mm (width) x 2.6mm (depth) |
| Weight | 2.3-3g |
| Materials | Titanium grade body |
| Water resistance | 10ATM, IP68 |
| Colors | Titanium Black, Titanium Gold, Titanium Silver |
| Sizes | 5–13 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth LE 5.4 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, PPG, pores and skin temperature |
| Battery | 18mAh-23.5mAh, 40% in half-hour |
| Charging cradle | 361mAh |
The Galaxy Ring has two photodiodes, two LEDs, and two purple/infrared lasers, constructed to trace your coronary heart price, coronary heart price variability (HRV), blood oxygen (SpO2), pores and skin temperature, respiration price, and different well being and sleep information.
At night time, it measures all the things from resting coronary heart price and sleep levels to sleep latency and the way typically you progress; then it converts your entire sleep and well being information into an Energy Score at the start of every day, utilizing Galaxy AI to interpret the outcomes (in case you’re utilizing a Galaxy cellphone).
While the Galaxy Ring lasts as much as seven days per cost, this relies completely on which ring dimension suits your hand. Samsung says that the smallest sizes (5–7) solely final 5 days, and the center sizes (8–11) final six days. Our Galaxy Ring tester discovered that his size-10 ring had 10% battery after six days, which matches Samsung’s estimates.
You can examine its present battery life by eradicating the Galaxy Ring; the built-in LEDs will flash 1–4 instances, with one flash that means 0–25% capability, two flashes equaling 26–50%, and so forth. You’ll additionally discover the precise proportion within the Galaxy Wearable app.
One cool perk is which you can cost the Galaxy Ring anyplace because of the transportable 361mAh charging case, whereas most sensible rings require an influence brick. It hits 50% energy in half-hour or 100% in an hour, which is not unhealthy in comparison with a smartwatch however is surprisingly gradual given its meager 20mAh capability. We assume that gradual charging helps the battery retain its capability for longer.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Design and accuracy
The Samsung Galaxy Ring measures 7mm by 2.6mm and weighs between 2.3g and 3g relying on which dimension you purchase. Its 2.6mm thickness is kind of near competing sensible rings, however its 7mm width makes it thinner than the competitors, as does its mild weight in comparison with the Oura Ring (4–6 grams) or RingConn sensible ring (3–5g).
While most sensible rings have a uniform, flat look, the Galaxy Ring distinguishes itself with a concave design, sinking inwards on the middle and rising alongside the perimeters. That, together with the smaller dimension total, makes it look extra like “jewellery” as a substitute of tech, even when it is nonetheless thicker than most rings.
Like most sensible rings, it has a titanium exterior body. Samsung does not specify what the inside is fabricated from, however it’s most likely a non-metallic materials designed to really feel comfy in opposition to your pores and skin and home the entire tech elements and well being sensors.
Samsung says the Galaxy Ring is licensed to final for as much as 10 minutes at 100m depth or as much as six toes of water for half-hour. You can swim with it, in different phrases, however you most likely do not need to depart it submerged indefinitely. It’s definitely not as rugged because the diving-certified Galaxy Watch Ultra and it obtained scratched up when our reviewer wore it throughout a Spartan race.
A sensible ring’s major objective is to supply extra comfy sleep monitoring than a cumbersome Android smartwatch can. Unfortunately, whereas our reviewer praised the Galaxy Ring as “so darn comfy,” he additionally complained that his information did not align together with his precise sleeping expertise and that the ring had “blips within the graph the place no information was collected in any respect.”
We’re nonetheless performing a longer-term check to see if the Galaxy Ring’s accuracy improves over time, probably because of OTA updates, however in the intervening time, it is not offering extra correct information than a smartwatch delivers, solely a extra restful expertise.
Samsung Galaxy Ring: Smarts and health
For probably the most half, the Galaxy Ring is a passive system. You put on it and it sends information to your Android cellphone, with out the smarts of a Galaxy Watch 7. But it does have a couple of options it’s best to find out about.
First, the Samsung Galaxy Ring has an computerized exercise detection mode. It acknowledges while you’re strolling or operating through its accelerometer, then begins a tracked exercise — however solely after a set time interval. Running a single onerous lap round a observe will not be detected, for instance.
Surprisingly, these are the solely two actions it could possibly acknowledge. You can set off a guide exercise for some other actions, however this did not work for our reviewer, because the ring did not file any HR information throughout an hour-long fitness center exercise. We assume Samsung will repair this situation, however even nonetheless, this can be a far cry from what the Oura Ring (with its 50+ auto-detected actions) affords.
The principal situation is that the Galaxy Ring solely measures your coronary heart price each ten minutes exterior of exercises and takes the most effective readings at relaxation. If you need extra up-to-date well being information, particularly common AFib detection, you may want a smartwatch.
Also, a few of its key insights like your every day Energy Score and Wellness Tips in direction of sure well being objectives require a Samsung cellphone and account. You can use the Galaxy Ring on a non-Samsung cellphone, however you may have to research your personal information.
If you’ve a Samsung cellphone operating One UI 6.1.1, you should use a double-pinch “Gesture” to set off particular actions on stated cellphone. Specifically, you’ll be able to snooze an alarm or take an image whereas your Z Flip 6 is in tabletop mode — pretty area of interest and restricted features, in different phrases. We assume Samsung will add different gesture features over time.
Finally, the Galaxy Ring has a Lost Ring operate that locates its final registered place within the Samsung Find app, in addition to lights up its inside LEDs in case it falls in a darkish house. Unfortunately, the map-tracking device is one more Galaxy cellphone unique; solely the LED operate works for different Android telephones.
The Samsung-Oura lawsuit
Oura has sued a number of sensible ring makers like Ultrahuman, Circular, and RingConn for alleged patent infringement. When Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring earlier this 12 months, Oura responded with a press tour, which ceaselessly talked about what number of patents it had (100 granted and over 270 pending).
In mild of this, Samsung selected to preemptively sue Oura, claiming that the corporate’s patents are for “options widespread to just about all sensible rings, such because the inclusion of sensors, electronics, and batteries.”
The lawsuit claims that Oura is an “precise, imminent danger to Samsung” and its possibilities of sensible ring success and asks the U.S. District Court to substantiate that “the Galaxy Ring has not infringed, and doesn’t infringe, immediately or not directly, any legitimate and enforceable declare.”
Oura has but to publicly reply to those claims. Oura’s CEO advised CNET in July that almost all of its clients are iPhone customers, that they “welcome the extra members of the sensible ring neighborhood,” and that Samsung’s advertising and marketing will carry extra consciousness to the class. He did not point out the lawsuit.
We have not seen any information about this lawsuit since July, so it seems that, for now, the Galaxy Ring will not have any authorized troubles or counter-suits disrupting its gross sales. But we do not know the way this lawsuit will shake out and the way it’ll have an effect on the sensible ring market.
Should you purchase the Samsung Galaxy Ring?
You cannot use the Galaxy Ring with an iPhone, and its performance could be very restricted for non-Samsung Android telephones. You will not get AI insights just like the Energy rating, Gestures, or any strategy to observe the ring within the Find My community.
That apart, whether or not you can purchase the Galaxy Ring really relies on (A) whether or not you are already glad sporting a smartwatch to mattress at night time or (B) whether or not one other sensible ring will fit your wants higher for much less.
To the primary level, a smartwatch beats a wise ring for well being monitoring as a result of it has the battery life to measure coronary heart price (and different metrics) extra ceaselessly, and extra room for further LEDs to unfold throughout extra a bigger pores and skin floor. A sensible ring’s principal profit is that it stays securely in your finger for sleep monitoring, whereas a smartwatch would possibly get dislodged and really feel burdensome at night time.
To the second level, you’ll be able to take a look at our information on the Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring will show you how to examine Samsung’s possibility in opposition to the most well-liked and well-reviewed sensible ring amongst its rivals. The Ultrahuman Ring Air and RingConn Smart Ring are two different robust sensible ring choices that may price you much less.
If you do determine to go together with the Galaxy Ring, bookmark our information on the primary 13 issues to do along with your new Galaxy Ring, so you understand the place to start out!
Petite well being monitoring
The Samsung Galaxy Ring lasts as much as 7 days per cost, tracks your well being and sleep information with Galaxy AI insights, auto-detects your walks and runs, and comes with a transportable charging cradle for days of battery in simply half-hour.
