An FCC (Federal Communications Commission) listing for Samsung's long-awaited Galaxy Ring has been discovered, providing new insight into the wearable device. The documents reveal that nine different models will be available at launch, not eight as previously reported.
The series consists of models SM-Q500 to SM-Q509, although they skip the SM-Q504 if the list is to be believed. Ring widths range from US size 5 to US size 13. SM-Q505 appears to be the smallest of the Galaxy Ring family in size 5, and SM-Q502 is the largest model currently known in size 12.
SM-Q503 does not appear in Samsung's test report, so it is unknown how big it will be. Logic dictates that the model will be a size 13, but nothing is confirmed. At one point, images of the SM-Q503 were listed with the FCC, but have since been removed from the website.
News site Droid Life saved them in their coverage, and the Galaxy Ring shown in the photo looks a little different from the silver prototype seen in February. The exterior appears to have a matte black coating, while the interior is glossy. You can even see some of the sensors sticking out.
All of these details about SM-Q503 line up with what industry analyst Avi Greengart said in January. He said ring sizes will increase by 13 and will be available in “three finishes.”
Size Matters
The most interesting fact from the FCC list is that the battery size may correspond to the ring size of the wearable device.
SM-Q505 to SM-Q507 will have the smallest 17 mAh battery, while SM-Q508, Q509, Q500 and Q501 will have the mid-range 18.5 mAh battery. Lastly, SM-Q502 and SM-Q503 are said to have the largest size at 22 mAh.
So does this mean that users with thicker fingers will be able to have a Galaxy Ring with longer battery life than everyone else? Possibly.
In early March 2024, Dr. Hon Pak, head of Samsung's digital health team, stated that the Galaxy Ring can last “five to nine days” on a single charge, depending on how it is used. The Q503 could be the unit that lasts more than a week, although it's hard to say for sure since the listing doesn't mention battery longevity or charging speeds.
However, they show drawings of what appears to be the portable device's charging base. Each one has the model number of its corresponding Galaxy Ring engraved, although it is unknown if its size will differ from that of the accompanying device. Additionally, the base is square and has a USB port on the side, presumably for a USB-C cable.
That's pretty much all that appears on the FCC list. You can read it in full here, but keep in mind that most of it is boring paperwork, apart from the label document and two reports.
Be sure to check out TechRadar's roundup of the best smart ring for 2024.
