The Samsung Galaxy Ring connected ring is intended to compete with the popular Oura Ring (photo). Nina Raemont/ZDNET
Unless Samsung finally unveils its VR headset this year, I’m increasingly convinced that the Galaxy Ring smart ring, announced at Unpacked in January, will be the company’s most sensational product in 2024.
On the eve of Mobile World Congress, a few blocks from the Fira de Barcelona, I attended a small roundtable with MX Experience team leader Hon Pak to discuss the Galaxy Ring.
He notably explained why the company is entering the connected ring market, gave details on the fit and finish of the Galaxy Ring, explained why and how it will coexist with Samsung’s other health trackers.
But above all, I was able to test Galaxy Ring prototypes.
“64 million monthly active users”
If you’ve been following the news on the Galaxy Ring, you know that Samsung is promoting it alongside its new Samsung Health platform, to centralize the various health measurements and data collected by connected devices in order to provide accessible action plans . “There are over 64 million monthly active users of Samsung Health,” Dr. Pak explains proudly. It is therefore not a question of a solution in search of a problem, but rather of an approach that makes sense.
Samsung
One of the main benefits of the Galaxy Ring for its users is the My Vitality Score, similar to the Readiness scores of the Oura Ring and Body Battery of Garmin watches.
By tracking your sleep health, activity, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability, My Vitality Score gives users a clear understanding of their physical and mental readiness. This score is supplemented by “encouragement cards” which provide advice and courses of action that can guide users towards healthier behaviors.
How will Samsung keep its promises?
Dr Pak also believes that women’s health needs to be considered. In this regard, he cites the partnership concluded last year between Samsung and Natural Cycles, which made it possible to integrate skin temperature and fertility monitoring into the Galaxy Watch. This same technology will be present on the ring.
How will Samsung keep its promises? Through a ring that will probably be available in three colors (black, silver and gold) and nine sizes (from 5 to 13), according to the samples presented during the information meeting.
Note that the size measurement is not identical to that of the Oura ring.
Samsung
Samsung has the advantage
Once worn, this Galaxy Ring is, as I expected, light and minimalist. I felt less constrained than with the bulky connected watch I was wearing. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel this ring when you press your fingers together. The silver and gold variants are significantly shinier than the black, so if you’re looking for discretion with this ring, go for black and only black.
Even if Samsung does not admit that it wants to beat Oura with the Galaxy Ring, there is no doubt that the Galaxy Ring will compete directly the market leader in a significant way.
In two respects, Samsung has the advantage.
Of course, several questions remain unanswered
First off, the Galaxy’s outer ring has an inward tilt that, while subtle, should make the accessory easier to wear, even if the user has swollen fingers, I’m told.
And if the Galaxy Ring really works as seamlessly within the Android ecosystem as Samsung claims, then it will be the right choice for millions of users around the world.
With the Galaxy Ring, Samsung wants you to see the big picture. Beyond being a simplified health tracker (which goes against the current trend of companies making wearables more and more complicated), the Galaxy Ring is intended to help you with productivity and your well-being. be, working in tandem with surrounding Samsung/Android devices, and maybe Apple’s products in the future.
Of course, several questions remain: what products/product categories will surround the Galaxy Ring, how durable is it, how much does it cost (and will there be a subscription)? We’ll probably find out later in the year, perhaps as early as July or August, when Samsung typically holds its summer Unpacked event.
Source: “ZDNet.com”