Smartwatches have long dominated the wearable space. Smart rings have been lingering on the fringes, but earlier this week, Samsung ended its Unpacked event with a teaser for the Galaxy Ring. To me, this looks like the company is eager to shake up the wearable world order.
That might sound like a bit of an exaggeration, since all Samsung does is play up a shiny ring with some visible sensors inside the band. Few details were revealed on stage. But Samsung spokesperson Amber Reaver told me in an email that the purpose of the ring is to “empower more people to manage their health through a comprehensive and simplified approach to daily health management at home.” Consistent and accurate tracking data over time—and therefore, a smaller form factor. Reaver also noted that the ring will feature “leading sensor technology” and be comfortable enough to be worn 24/7. Some over at Unpacked have also seen a prototype, and analyst Avi Greengart noted that it’s lightweight, comes in three finishes up to sizes 13, and will be available later this year.
That sounds a lot like Tamaki Oura—and Oura knows it. Shortly after the launch of the Galaxy Ring, Oura CEO Tom Hale told edge:
With new features being released regularly, Oura has the strongest intellectual property portfolio (either hardware or software) in smart ring form factors, with 100 issued patents, 270 patent applications pending, and more than 130 registrations trademark. The entry of new players into the space is validation for the category and drives us to set higher goals to serve our members and community.
Hale is right.competition yes a form of verification — Oura will soon be facing a flood of new players. Last week at CES, I thought 2024 was going to be the year of the smart ring because I saw more smart rings at the show than I’ve seen in years. However, it’s easy to dismiss a group of small companies following a trend. It’s another thing for a tech giant like Samsung to also believe that this form factor makes sense.
If you think about it, it’s easy to see why. Compared with smart watches, smart rings are more discreet and better suited for sleep tracking. (Samsung has also beefed up its sleep tracking capabilities over the past two years.) The underside of the finger is also a more accurate place to track blood oxygen and heart rate Than your wrist.As smartwatches become more popular, I’ve heard from many readers that they’re craving a simpler tracker No Act as an extension to their mobile phones. Given Apple’s monopoly on the smartwatch market, it would be smart for Samsung to try and have a newer form factor in a market where there’s only one major but still relatively niche player.
With few details, it’s hard to say how Samsung sees the Galaxy Ring fitting into its larger wearables portfolio. That said, I think it will become a Galaxy Watch accessory. For example, the Amazfit Helio is a smart ring that works as a standalone tracker or pairs with an existing smartwatch. The feature is that when it’s time to sleep, you can plug your smartwatch into the charger without worrying about missing out on sleep tracking. It’s also a natural fit for Samsung, especially since it can easily launch discounted wearables bundles. (When Google launched the Pixel Watch on Pixel phones, it worked well enough.)
This is also an area where Oura has a more difficult time competing. While the Oura Ring works with other smartwatches, you’ll need a third app like Apple Health or Google Health to bring the data from each device together. This means multiple apps can clutter your phone. You might not like being locked into an ecosystem, but the convenience of having a Galaxy phone, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Ring is being able to view everything through the Samsung Health app.
You can bet that if Samsung succeeds, other big companies will follow suit. If so, the way we think about smart rings may eventually shift from a standalone device to more of an accessory. other Gadgets. The Galaxy Ring is reportedly set to launch later this year, so we’ll have to wait and see. But personally, I’m glad to see some change in a segment that has been in slump for far too long.
