Update: July 6, 2024 (5 PM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Ring hub with the latest leaks, including a new leak about the ring’s European pricing.
Original article: Samsung’s watches are among the best smartwatches in today’s market. Despite the line’s success, Samsung doesn’t appear ready to rest on its laurels. Instead, the company is pivoting to a much smaller form factor (and a different body part). Possibly sliding soon onto fingers near you, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring.
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Will there be a Samsung Galaxy Ring?
It is now safe to say that Samsung is officially making a smart ring. On January 17, the company teased the ring at its Galaxy Unpacked event. Though details were limited at the time, Samsung displayed the first images we’ve seen of the device and dubbed it the Galaxy Ring. The company then showed off the ring at MWC 2024 while revealing more details about it, and you can check out our Galaxy Ring hands-on for these details.
Patents for the device were reported in 2022, and the Korean Intellectual Property Right Information Service (KIPRIS) granted a trademark for the Samsung Galaxy Ring. So Samsung has been eyeing this form factor for a while.
We’ve been ignoring Apple Watch ring rumors for years now, but the fact is that smart rings are gaining traction. The screen-free experience appeals to many users who just want to track their basics without distractions. Either way, Samsung’s ring is definitely coming.
What is the most likely Samsung Galaxy Ring release date?
In the wake of the January 17 Unpacked event, analyst Avi Greengart went hands-on with Galaxy Ring prototypes and confirmed on Threads that it would launch in 2024. However, he didn’t give an exact timeline for the launch.
A Samsung executive on LinkedIn stated in early February that the Galaxy Ring would launch in the second half of the year. This was echoed by another Samsung executive at MWC 2024.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring made an appearance on the Bluetooth SIG website on May 17 (via 91mobiles). Products usually get listed a few weeks to a couple of months ahead of launch, suggesting that we aren’t far away from a full launch.
Samsung’s lawsuit against Oura offered more insights into the timeline for the Galaxy Ring’s production and release:
Samsung has completed the design for the Galaxy Ring and expects to commence mass production by mid-June 2024. Samsung will be selling the Galaxy Ring in the United States in or around August of this year.
According to Samsung’s legal filings, the Galaxy Ring is on track for mass production by mid-June 2024. After that, Samsung plans to sell it in the US “in or around August.”
Samsung has since confirmed that it is hosting an Unpacked on July 10, 2024. We expect the Galaxy Ring to debut at this event, alongside other products like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.
What specs and features could the Samsung Galaxy Ring have?
Samsung confirmed a variety of Galaxy Ring features at MWC 2024. The company says the smart ring tracks several sleep-related metrics (heart rate, sleep latency, night movement), will offer fertility tracking, and give you a readiness score for the day.
Samsung told journalists (ourselves included) at MWC that the Galaxy Ring has a battery life of more than a couple of days. However, the brand reportedly told Korean outlets to expect five to nine days of juice. Mobile chief TM Roh also apparently noted that you can’t take calls via the ring.
Speaking of the battery, Samsung told CNET that the smallest prototype present at MWC had a 14.5mAh battery. Meanwhile, the largest model was said to have a capacity of 21.5mAh. However, the company is still reportedly hammering out the details.
These prototypes that appeared at the event were notably lighter than the competing Oura Ring. Samsung told CNET that the smallest prototype model weighed 2.3g, while the largest model came in at 2.9g. For comparison, the Oura Ring weighs between 4 and 6 grams, depending on the size.
Analyst Avi Greengart, who saw a prototype of the ring in January 2024, noted that it will be available in sizes up to 13. The analyst also noted that Samsung planned to offer the smart ring in three finishes. Samsung would go on to confirm three finishes at MWC 2024, namely gold, silver, and black. The company also confirmed nine sizes.
Samsung has revealed a fair amount of Galaxy Ring details to date, but there are still loads of unknowns.
An early patent points to potential smart home integration. Samsung may offer Galaxy Ring users the ability to control connected devices such as a smart TV. Meanwhile, a July 2023 report by The Elec points to another patent by Samsung, which shows that a pair of XR glasses can use a smart ring to get positional information for your fingers and hands. That theoretically means accurate hand and finger tracking in XR applications, allowing for fine control over the UI and in apps. This is just a patent, though, so there’s no guarantee of this feature coming to the Galaxy Ring or any other Samsung ring.
The February 20 ET News report also points to the Galaxy Ring offering ECG functionality and blood flow measurement. The outlet also claimed that the smart ring would support wireless payments and let you control other devices. None of these details have been confirmed yet.
In the CNET report mentioned earlier, Samsung vice-president Dr. Hon Pak said they are working on making the Galaxy Ring compatible with other Android phones. While the smart ring will work with non-Galaxy handsets, it won’t support iPhones. “We recognize the iOS/Android challenge, and we ultimately hope that our devices are of such caliber that people will be willing to switch,” Pak told the outlet.
Korean outlet Chosun Biz claimed in March 2024 that the Galaxy Ring could recommend custom diet plans for users based on tracked health info. This functionality will apparently be available via integration with Samsung Food and Samsung e-Food Center. It’s worth noting that the latter service, which allows you to order grocery items, is restricted to Korea.
The aforementioned Bluetooth SIG listing also confirmed a variety of model numbers, namely SM-Q500, SM-Q501, SM-Q502, SM-Q503, SM-Q505, SM-Q506, SM-Q507, SM-Q508, and SM-Q509. This largely lines up with a Galaxy Club report from April 2024, with the exception of an extra model number (SM-Q503) in the new filing. This database listing also mentions that the smart ring has Bluetooth 5.4 support.
In an interview with CNBC in February, Samsung Electronics Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team Dr. Hon Pak mentioned that users will be able to get different health insights when they wear a Galaxy Watch and a Galaxy Ring together, indicating that Samsung is pushing for a wider ecosystem (and not a product alternative) with the Galaxy Ring.
An APK teardown we conducted in May revealed that the Galaxy Ring could have a feature called “Lost mode.” This feature would work with the Samsung Find app and use the smart ring’s embedded light to flash, making the ring easier to locate. In addition, Lost mode would allow the user to lock their Samsung account and prevent the ring from pairing with other devices.
Another Android Authority teardown in June 2024 revealed a first look at the Galaxy Ring tracking features (see images above). This includes using the ring for heart rate and stress measurements, period predictions, and skin temperature measurements. Samsung could also offer snore detection when paired with a nearby smartphone.
What might the Samsung Galaxy Ring price be?
In a word: expensive. The advanced tech required to turn a tiny ring into a viable fitness tracker costs a pretty penny. Samsung has not detailed or confirmed any pricing or subscription details for the Galaxy Ring, but we have some leaks to give us a fair idea.
Leaker Yogesh Brar claims that the Galaxy Ring could cost between $300-$350 in the US. This will put it in competition against the Oura Ring 3, which starts at $299 for its Heritage variant and goes up to $549 for its Rose Gold Horizon variant.
A new leak courtesy of Dealabs indicates that the official recommended price for the Samsung Galaxy Ring in France will be a hefty 449 euros. If the leaked European pricing is accurate, the Galaxy Ring could debut in the US with a slightly higher price tag of $350-$400.
In a conversation with us, Yogesh Brar also mentioned that the Samsung Galaxy Ring could come with a monthly subscription that is “under $10” in the US market, according to his sources. For comparison, the Oura Ring 3 also requires a $71.88/year subscription to access its full range of features.
It’s not immediately clear what could be included in Samsung’s subscription. Dr. Hon Pak mentioned in the CNBC interview that the company is “considering” a subscription service for its Samsung Health app, but the capabilities and insights it offers need to be improved before that can happen. Samsung is also working on the Galaxy Watch 7 series, which is expected to launch at the same rumored Galaxy Unpacked event as the Galaxy Ring, so a broader Health subscription across both products sounds plausible, especially if it comes with some AI features for personalized health insights and coaching.
Should you wait for the Samsung Galaxy Ring?
July 10 is only a few days away and there is a very good chance the Samsung Galaxy Ring will be worth the wait. On the other hand, with so many unknowns before we see the ring on shelves, I don’t recommend holding your breath. The best wearable is always the one that helps you pursue your fitness goals right now.
If a finger-based wearable is on your shopping list, there are a few other options. The Oura Ring 3 (
) is our top pick with fantastic sleep tracking and a holistic approach to wellness. Meanwhile, the Circular Ring (
) is the best Oura Ring 3 alternative. It tracks heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen and doesn’t require a monthly subscription.
If you prefer to stay within Samsung’s ecosystem, it may be worth sticking with the company’s smartwatch line for now. The Galaxy Watch 6 (
) offers a well-rounded smartwatch experience with all the basics in terms of tracking health and fitness. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (
) is slightly pricier but features a useful rotating bezel and an elevated aesthetic.