Samsung formally confirmed an upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring at its Unpacked occasion on January 17. The announcement arrived after a brief promo video for Samsung Health that includes a Neanderthal representing our “ancient instincts.” At the finish of the video, the character remarks on Samsung Health’s new AI instruments after which asks, ” I marvel what’s going to come subsequent,” casually transitioning to what we now know to be the Ring’s unveiling. If you had been wanting intently, you’ll have realized the reply was actually written in the stars; the solar he admires is a ring-shaped eclipse fairly than a full solar.
While we now have the reply to what comes subsequent, Samsung was not beneficiant with particulars, providing heroic photos of the new gadget spinning amongst the cosmos however few extra particulars. Sure, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” however I would have cherished extra precise phrases, like hard-hitting specs or a possible launch date. What is definitely coming subsequent on this miniaturized health tracker? Left with little to go off, my hopes for the Samsung Galaxy Ring are nonetheless in full bloom.
Samsung supplied few particulars so my hopes for the Galaxy Ring are nonetheless in full bloom.
Above all, I count on the new gadget to ship superior well being monitoring regardless of its minimal actual property. Samsung characterised the ring as “a powerful and accessible health and wellness device.” For me, that declare necessitates correct coronary heart charge monitoring in addition to sleep, stress, SpO2, and temperature monitoring, particularly for detailed ladies’s well being monitoring. Oura has already confirmed that these metrics are viable on a finger-based wearable, and I don’t see Samsung launching a tool that doesn’t at the least match the present sensible ring competitors.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
As the ring revolved in area throughout the presentation, we had been in a position to glimpse three oval bumps much like the infrared sensors discovered on Oura’s newest mannequin. Though barely completely different in form than Oura’s completely spherical bumps, I count on these bulbous sensors to offer comparable knowledge (and equally affect the ring’s match). Personally, I have completely crushed my knuckle making an attempt to get my Oura Ring off in a rush, so PSA: be sure that the sensors are at all times on the underside of your finger. We didn’t get a demo of pink or inexperienced flashing lights, but it surely’s fairly protected to imagine the ring will function each LEDs.
I would additionally wager my hat that the ring will function fundamental exercise sensors like a gyroscope and an accelerometer. All of those can already be present in Samsung Galaxy Watches and characterize the foundational {hardware} of a strong health tracker.
Samsung’s teaser suggests the Galaxy Ring will have the mandatory sensors for superior well being and health monitoring, together with bulbous infrared sensors.
What’s attention-grabbing to think about is whether or not Samsung will carry much more to the sensible ring panorama on the well being and health entrance. For instance, digital cost help could be a helpful addition to the finger-based market. Likewise, I would like to see ECG capabilities replicated from the model’s smartwatch line.
I’d additionally prefer to see Samsung’s ring supply a extra full health monitoring expertise to make it extra enticing for athletes. Oura routinely tracks all motion, but it surely doesn’t present the similar coaching evaluation Samsung at the moment provides on Galaxy Watches. I want to see Samsung leverage its ring’s sensors and the AI capabilities now out there inside Samsung Health to raise the health monitoring potential of the sensible ring area.
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Unfortunately, one main downside of the ring is, after all, the area corporations have to work with when including additional performance. Packing the sensor package deal discovered on a watch right into a tiny ring isn’t any small feat. Couple this with the incontrovertible fact that I’m dying for a extra petite choice than the present market has to supply, and I understand asking for increasingly options is a contradiction.
Still, my pie-in-the-sky dream for Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is that it’ll someway function built-in GPS. Given the limits of area and energy, that is unlikely, but it surely does carry me to battery life. To achieve success, the Galaxy Ring should supply at the least the similar battery specs as the Oura Ring, which ought to be round every week. Smart rings don’t function screens, which provides many advantages, however it may be very straightforward to mismanage your charging schedule and never understand your gadget is lifeless or dying. Week-long battery life offers customers loads of time to plug in or at the least high up whereas showering. Anything much less, and I’m not adorning one in every of my ten fingers for it.
To earn a constant place on my crowded fingers, the Galaxy Ring should supply at the least week-long battery life.
Likewise, the Galaxy Ring will most definitely function wi-fi charging like the Oura Ring, and I hope it’s environment friendly. During the presentation, we noticed 4 metallic contact factors on the inside the gadget, much like the eight similar dots discovered inside the Oura Ring 3. These are extra seemingly for manufacturing functions than charging. Again, with comparable nodes to the Oura Ring, I count on a equally formed charger.
What I actually don’t wish to see is Samsung mimicking Oura in worth. Samsung Galaxy Watches traditionally land round the 300 greenback mark, with upcharges for Classic or Pro fashions. I hope the firm maintains this comparatively approachable worth level. More importantly, I shall be extraordinarily disillusioned if Samsung introduces a subscription payment. This follow is the bane of the wearables market and a significant hindrance to accessibility. Although it’s typically justifiable for smaller corporations that want additional sources to outlive, it’s not one thing Samsung ought to ever resort to. Plus, the firm should know that saving up for a brand new health tracker is one factor, however committing to an ongoing buy is a a lot more durable capsule to swallow.
Either method, we should always hopefully know extra later this yr. Samsung usually launches its latest Galaxy Watch in late July every year, and I’d anticipate finding out extra particulars about the Ring then (if not formally see the Ring’s launch). For now, I’m holding an ear out for extra leaks, rumors, and bulletins going ahead.