We've all been waiting for more information (mainly a release date, a full feature list, and a price) for the galaxy ring since Samsung first announced it at its January 2024 Galaxy Unpacked, but the tech giant has finally made it official.
Samsung's latest wearable is available to order now for $399 or £399 (and around AU$750, though the exact price is yet to be confirmed) and is set to launch on July 24, 2024. But since Samsung also makes a variety of watches, the team has gone the extra mile to make its wearables work together, and in fact designed the Galaxy Ring to work seamlessly with the Galaxy Watch Active. Galaxy Watch.
I had the chance to chat with Drew Blackard, vice president of mobile product management at Samsung Electronics America, at a Galaxy Unpacked event in New York, and while wearing a Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch may be for the “super enthusiasts” at first, there are other reasons for it, such as sleep tracking.
“I don't like sleeping with a watch, but I've been sleeping with the ring on and it's super comfortable,” Blackard said. And that's a common cliché among people who want sleep metrics but also don't find it comfortable to wear a smartwatch on their wrist at night. Plus, there's always the chance it could vibrate or glow and wake you up.
But perhaps even more important is the battery life benefit that Blackard described: “If you use the two together, the devices can intelligently determine which sensors to use on the ring to offset some of the power consumption. So you may actually get a longer battery life out of the ring if you use both at the same time.”
That's a big potential gain, and Samsung noted that up to 30% of power savings could be achieved on the Ring or a Watch, as it decides which sensors it needs and which device is more accurate. Blackard explained that since you have multiple readings from potential sensors on your wrist and finger, “the intelligence in the device can figure out how to balance those readings and get more accurate step counts and heart rate, among other things.”
The level of intelligence between the two devices is impressive and creates unique experiences. We'll be testing them as we go, but it could be a step up in accuracy considering Samsung might choose to use the Ring instead of the Watch or vice versa.
It also speaks to Samsung’s unique entry into the smart ring space, as they have experience with wearables. They expect some people to pair a Galaxy Ring with an existing smartwatch, or possibly the Galaxy Watch 7 or Ultra, and want to offer an engaging experience.
Between the promised higher level of accuracy for certain metrics and up to 30% longer battery life, Samsung hopes these will be two additional reasons to choose the Galaxy Ring over competitors like the Oura Ring or Ultrahuman.
In the meantime, you can read our hands-on interview with the Galaxy Ring here and TechRadar editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff's interview with Samsung's Dr Hon Pak here.
