by Samsung might be developing its own smart ring, a wearable that could monitor your health and fitness data in a similar way to one of the best fitness trackers.
Like the Galaxy buds, the Galaxy S23, and Galaxy Watch 5, the new smart ring would probably use the brand’s usual naming convention and be called the Galaxy Ring. Not many details are known about it yet, other than the trademark filing (opens in a new tab) which revealed its existence, described Galaxy Rings as “smart devices for measuring health indicators and/or sleep in the form of a ring” (which is translated from Korean).
This description sounds a lot like existing smart rings like the Oura ring. In our four-star Oura ring review, we praised its impressive range of health sensors, although it’s relatively expensive compared to a typical smartwatch at $299 (around £230 / AU$420) – and that price tag can feel on a very tough pill. to swallow when you consider that smartwatches are more useful than rings thanks to their screens.
However, rings also have their advantages. For one, they tend to last longer on a single charge than a smartwatch, and they tend to be more of a fashion item.
As much as I love the capabilities of my Fitbit, it’s not the prettiest wearable – especially compared to my favorite analog watch. So, whenever I need to dress smart, it’s not hard for me to find a reason to swap out my fitness tracker for a less high-tech option.
However, while I’m unlikely to need fitness stats while wearing a suit – a suit is hardly suitable for a 5km run or 99% of sports – fitness trackers and watches are now packed with sensors that monitor a variety of health figures and other data. , and some of them could save lives.
Electrocardiogram technology in wearables allows them to pick up if you have an irregular heart rhythm – an early sign of some serious health issues – and the Apple Watch 8 includes crash detection, which can automatically send an alert to emergency services if you’re in contact with. an accident.
With a smart ring, we can have the best of both worlds – we can wear a more traditional watch that suits our style, and still monitor our vital health data. Additionally, if Samsung enters the smart ring market we may see the technology drop in price, making rings an even more attractive option.
Trademark filings don’t guarantee we’ll ever see the product in question—it’s possible Samsung is simply claiming the name before some other brand tries to make its own Galaxy Ring—but the growing interest in fitness and health. wearables, we wouldn’t be surprised if Samsung (along with other device makers) has a smart ring on the way.
