I Have High Expectations For The Samsung Galaxy Ring

Samsung officially confirmed the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring at its Unpacked event on January 17. The announcement follows a short promotional video from Samsung Health featuring a Neanderthal man representing "our primal instincts." At the end of the video, a character comments on Samsung Health's new AI tools and then asks, "I wonder what's next," dramatically changing what we know as Ring's presentation. If you look closely, you will realize that the answer is written in the stars; The sun he admires is not a total sun, but a circular eclipse.

While we have the answer to the next question, Samsung hasn't been generous with the details, releasing heroic images of the new device flying through space, but offering few additional details. Of course, "a picture is worth a thousand words", but I'd prefer more specific words , like hard specs or a possible release date. What exactly is included in this little fitness tracker? My hopes for the Samsung Galaxy Ring remain high.

Samsung hasn't released any details, so my expectations for the Galaxy Ring remain high.

Overall, I expect the new device to provide better health tracking despite its minimal size. Samsung calls the Ring "a powerful and affordable health and wellness device." In my opinion, this statement calls for accurate heart rate monitoring, as well as accurate monitoring of sleep, stress, SpO2 and temperature, especially for women's health. Oura has already demonstrated the usefulness of these dimensions in finger-controlled wearables, and I don't think Samsung will release a device that matches even its current smart ring competitors.

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As the ring moved through space during the presentation, we could see three oval protrusions similar to the infrared sensor found on the latest Oura model. Although they are slightly different than the Aura round terminal, I would expect these bulb sensors to provide similar data (and affect the fit of the ring in the same way). I personally completely crushed my Aura Ring trying to quickly turn it off, so PSA: make sure you keep the sensors under your finger at all times. We didn't get a demonstration of the red or green flashing lights, but it's safe to assume there will be two LEDs on the ring.

I assume the ring will have basic activity sensors like gyroscope and accelerometer. All these can already be found in Samsung Galaxy watches and represent the essential equipment of a reliable fitness tracker.

Samsung's teaser suggests that the Galaxy Ring will have the necessary sensors for advanced health and fitness tracking, including an infrared bulb sensor.

It's interesting to think what else Samsung will bring to the smart ring space in the health and fitness space. For example, support for digital payments could be a useful addition to the digital transaction market. I'd also like to reiterate the ECG capabilities of the brand's line of smartwatches.

I wish the Samsung Ring had more comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities to make it more appealing to athletes. The Oura automatically tracks your every move, but it doesn't offer the same exercise analysis that Samsung offers on its Galaxy watches. I'd love to see Samsung use the existing AI capabilities in Samsung Health to improve fitness tracking with the Ring and Smart Ring Arena sensors.

Caitlin Cimino/Android Authority

Unfortunately, the big downside to the ring is of course that space companies have to work to add more functionality. Packing the sensor unit found in the watch into a small ring is not an easy task. I'd really like to have a lighter option than what the current market offers, and I understand that asking for more features is a contradiction in terms.

However, my biggest wish for Samsung's Galaxy Ring is that it somehow has built-in GPS. Due to space and power constraints, this is not possible, but it will extend battery life. To be successful, the Galaxy Ring should offer the same battery life as the Oura Ring, which should be about a week. Smart rings don't have a screen, which is great, but it's very easy to mess up the charging app and not realize your device is dead or dead. The week's battery gives users enough time to plug in or at least charge while taking a shower. Less and I don't decorate a tenth of a finger for it.

The Galaxy Ring needs at least a week of battery life to fit perfectly on my finger.

Additionally, the Galaxy Ring will likely have wireless charging like the Ora Ring, which I expect to be efficient. During the presentation, we saw four metal touch points inside the device, similar to the same eight points found on the Ring 3. These are intended for production purposes, not collection. Again, I'd expect a charger the same size as the Aura Ring-like hubs.

What I really don't want is for Samsung to copy Ora on price. Samsung Galaxy watches have historically been priced around $300, a premium for the Classic or Pro models. I hope the company keeps prices relatively reasonable. More importantly, I'd be very disappointed if Samsung introduced a subscription fee. This practice is detrimental to the wearables market and is a major barrier to accessibility. While this is sometimes worth it for small businesses that need the extra resources to survive, Samsung shouldn't go for it. Additionally, the company should know that saving up for a new fitness tracker is one thing, but making a regular purchase is a tougher pill to swallow.

Anyway, let's hope we learn more this year. Samsung usually releases a new Galaxy Watch at the end of July every year, and that's when I expect to hear more details about the Ring (unless I see an official announcement from Ring). For now, I'm mostly focusing on leaks, rumors, and announcements.