What we know and what we want to see

Update: February 29, 2024 (5:36 PM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Ring hub with information on the battery size, weight, and compatibility with non-Galaxy phones.

Original article: Samsung’s watches are among the best smartwatches in today’s market. Despite the line’s success, Samsung doesn’t appear ready to rest on its laurels. Instead, the company is pivoting to a much smaller form factor (and a different body part). Possibly sliding soon onto fingers near you, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

It is now safe to say that Samsung is officially making a smart ring. On January 17, the company teased the ring at its Galaxy Unpacked event. Though details were limited at the time, Samsung displayed the first images we’ve seen of the device and dubbed it the Galaxy Ring. The company then showed off the ring at MWC 2024 while revealing more details about it.

Patents for the device were reported in 2022, and the Korean Intellectual Property Right Information Service (KIPRIS) granted a trademark for the Samsung Galaxy Ring. So Samsung has been eyeing this form factor for a while.

We’ve been ignoring Apple Watch ring rumors for years now, but the fact is that smart rings are gaining traction. The screen-free experience appeals to many users who just want to track their basics without distractions. Either way, Samsung’s ring is definitely coming.

Estimating a release date for Samsung’s first attempt is nearly impossible. Branching into new territory, Samsung won’t want to swing and miss. To compete with existing smart rings, the company must have the device well buttoned up before launch.

In the wake of the January 17 Unpacked event, analyst Avi Greengart went hands-on with Galaxy Ring prototypes and confirmed on Threads that it would launch in 2024. However, he didn’t give an exact timeline for the launch.

One thing seems to be certain as of February 2024, and that’s a launch in the second half of the year. A Samsung executive on LinkedIn stated in early February that the Galaxy Ring would launch in the second half of the year. This was echoed by another Samsung executive at MWC 2024.

What about a specific launch date? Korean outlet ET News reported on February 20 that the Galaxy Ring would launch at an Unpacked event in the second half of July.

Samsung confirmed a variety of Galaxy Ring features at MWC 2024. The company says the smart ring tracks several sleep-related metrics (heart rate, sleep latency, night movement), will offer fertility tracking, and will play nicely with your Galaxy Watch.

Samsung told journalists (ourselves included) at MWC that the Galaxy Ring has a battery life of more than a couple of days. However, the brand reportedly told Korean outlets to expect five to nine days of juice. Mobile chief TM Roh also apparently noted that you can’t take calls via the ring.

Speaking of the battery, Samsung told CNET that the smallest prototype present at MWC had a 14.5mAh battery. Meanwhile, the largest model was said to have a capacity of 21.5mAh. However, the company is still reportedly hammering out the details.

These prototypes that appeared at the event were notably lighter than the competing Oura Ring. Samsung told CNET, the smallest prototype model weighed 2.3g, while the largest model came in at 2.9g. For comparison, the Oura Ring weighs between 4-6 grams, depending on the size.

An early patent points to potential smart home integration. Samsung may offer Galaxy Ring users the ability to control connected devices such as a smart TV. Meanwhile, a July 2023 report by The Elec points to another patent by Samsung, which shows that a pair of XR glasses can use a smart ring to get positional information for your fingers and hands. That theoretically means accurate hand and finger tracking in XR applications, allowing for fine control over the UI and in apps. This is just a patent, though, so there’s no guarantee of this feature coming to the Galaxy Ring or any other Samsung ring.

Per analyst Avi Greengart who saw a prototype of the ring in January 2024, it will be available in sizes up to 13. The analyst also noted that Samsung planned to offer the smart ring in three finishes. Samsung would go on to confirm three finishes at MWC 2024, namely gold, silver, and black. The company also confirmed nine sizes.

The February 20 ET News report also points to the Galaxy Ring offering ECG functionality and blood flow measurement. The outlet also claimed that the smart ring would support wireless payments and let you control other devices. None of these details have been confirmed yet.

In the CNET report mentioned earlier, Samsung vice-president Dr. Hon Pak said they are working on making the Galaxy Ring compatible with other Android phones. While the smart ring will work with non-Galaxy handsets, it won’t support iPhone. “We recognize the iOS/Android challenge, and we ultimately hope that our devices are of such caliber that people will be willing to switch,” Pak told the outlet.

In a word: expensive. The advanced tech required to turn a tiny ring into a viable fitness tracker costs a pretty penny. I’m inclined to expect prices similar to the company’s existing wearables.

The latest Oura Ring 3 starts at $299 and requires a monthly subscription to access its full feature set. Samsung has yet to adopt a subscription service for its Galaxy Watch line, and I’m hoping it doesn’t join the trend with the Galaxy Ring.

There is a very good chance the Samsung Galaxy Ring will be worth the wait. On the other hand, with so many unknowns and possibly years before we see the ring on shelves, I don’t recommend holding your breath. The best wearable is always the one that helps you pursue your fitness goals now. If a finger-based wearable is on your shopping list, there are a few other options. The Oura Ring 3 ($299.99 at Oura) is our top pick with fantastic sleep tracking and a holistic approach to wellness. Meanwhile, the Circular Ring ($284 at Manufacturer site) is the best Oura Ring 3 alternative. It tracks heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen and doesn’t require a monthly subscription.

If you prefer to stay within Samsung’s ecosystem, it may be worth sticking with the company’s smartwatch line for now. The Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung) offers a well-rounded smartwatch experience with all the basics in terms of tracking health and fitness. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ($429 at Amazon) is slightly pricier but features a useful rotating bezel and an elevated aesthetic.

For starters, I’m just happy to see that the Samsung Galaxy Ring will exist. A strong alternative to the Oura Ring could turn up the gas on the entire smart ring trend and push more competitors to have a go. Samsung has already confirmed some features and reportedly dished out an estimated battery life. Beyond that, below are a few specifics I’m also hoping to find on board.

Advanced health and training metrics

It goes without saying that I want to see detailed health metrics on Samsung’s potential Galaxy Ring, and according to Samsung we should expect this. Heart rate monitoring and temperature tracking are two pillars of Oura that I found highly useful during our Oura Ring 3 review. The good news is that Samsung is supporting these two features along with women’s health tracking, which I’m really looking forward to.

Where the Oura Ring falls short, in my opinion, is fitness tracking. So Samsung could set itself apart by offering a more involved feature set for athletes.

The Oura Ring 3 has the ring market cornered, and it did so by honing in on users’ Zs. A ridiculous amount of people aren’t getting enough shuteye and offering a tool to manage the problem is a home run.

Samsung recently stepped up its own sleep-monitoring efforts, and it confirmed that the Galaxy Ring will offer sleep-tracking capabilities. But I want the company to emphasize accuracy, insights, trends, and sleep coaching. Lightweight, comfortable, and without a bright screen to wake you up overnight, a smart ring with robust sleep tracking would be a fool-proof bedmate.

A thin design

As small as existing smart rings seem compared to wrist-based wearables, they are still quite bulky. Many resemble oversized wedding bands. I’d love to see Samsung offer a more petite form factor that won’t draw as many eyes. I’d also be open to more Samsung Galaxy Ring colors and finishes than can be found in the current smart ring pool.

It’s hard to tell for sure in the released images, but it appears the ring will share similar specs to the Oura Ring. Yet, every millimeter makes a difference when wearing something around your finger so I’m still keeping mine crossed.