Samsung Galaxy Ring: Is It Here to Replace Your Smartwatch?
Wearable technology has come a long way, and over the past decade, smartwatches have dominated the market as the go-to devices for fitness tracking and health monitoring. But now, Samsung is pushing the boundaries of wearables once again with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, a compact yet powerful health-tracking device that promises to keep tabs on your health at all times without the need for a bulky smartwatch.
This raises a big question: is the Galaxy Ring here to replace your smartwatch? Can this tiny, unassuming piece of tech deliver the same level of health tracking, convenience, and insights that we’ve come to expect from wrist-based wearables? Or is it meant to complement smartwatches rather than replace them altogether? Let’s dive into what makes the Galaxy Ring such an intriguing alternative and whether it’s the future of wearable health tech.
A Discreet and Minimalist Design
One of the biggest advantages of the Samsung Galaxy Ring is its sleek and lightweight design. Unlike smartwatches, which can be bulky and sometimes uncomfortable to wear all day and night, the Galaxy Ring is small, stylish, and easy to forget once it’s on your finger. Made from durable titanium, it is both lightweight and strong, ensuring that it can handle daily wear and tear without issue.
The ring is available in three finishes—Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gold—making it a stylish accessory that blends seamlessly with any look. At just 2.3 to 3 grams depending on the size, it is significantly lighter than a smartwatch, making it ideal for those who dislike the feeling of something strapped to their wrist all day.
Health Tracking: Can It Match a Smartwatch?
Samsung has packed an impressive array of health sensors into the Galaxy Ring, making it more than just a stylish piece of jewelry. It features a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor with three LEDs to monitor blood volume changes, an accelerometer to track movement, and a skin temperature sensor. This means it can provide insights into heart rate, sleep quality, activity levels, stress, and even menstrual cycle tracking.
Heart Rate and Activity Monitoring
The ring continuously tracks heart rate and can detect changes throughout the day, providing real-time data on resting heart rate, active heart rate zones, and general cardiovascular health. While it lacks the always-on display of a smartwatch, all the data is easily accessible through the Samsung Health app.
It also tracks activity, counting steps and estimating calorie burn. However, because it does not include a gyroscope or built-in GPS, it lacks some of the detailed motion tracking that smartwatches offer. This means that for activities like running or cycling, it won’t be as precise in measuring distance and pace unless paired with a smartphone.
Sleep Tracking That Feels Natural
One of the areas where the Galaxy Ring truly shines is sleep tracking. Wearing a smartwatch to bed can be uncomfortable, and many people avoid doing so because of the bulk. The Galaxy Ring solves this problem by offering detailed sleep tracking in a form factor that you won’t even notice while sleeping.
It measures sleep duration, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, and even subtle movements to analyze sleep patterns. With Samsung’s AI-driven sleep insights, it provides recommendations to improve sleep quality, helping users develop better rest habits.
Stress and Temperature Monitoring
The ring can assess stress levels based on heart rate variability and skin temperature changes. If it detects high stress, users can access guided breathing exercises and mindfulness features through the Samsung Health app.
The skin temperature sensor also plays a key role in menstrual cycle tracking, offering insights based on temperature fluctuations. This makes the Galaxy Ring a useful tool for people looking to monitor reproductive health.
Battery Life and Charging: A Major Advantage Over Smartwatches
One of the biggest drawbacks of smartwatches is battery life. Even high-end models often require daily or every-other-day charging, which can be frustrating. The Galaxy Ring, on the other hand, offers significantly longer battery life.
With moderate usage, it can last between five to seven days on a single charge. If paired with a Samsung smartwatch, battery life can extend even further since some tracking functions are offloaded to the watch. Charging is done via a small, clear USB-C charging case with an LED indicator that makes it easy to check battery levels.
For users who find smartwatch charging routines a hassle, the long battery life of the Galaxy Ring is a massive advantage. You can wear it 24/7 without worrying about constantly needing to recharge.
Seamless Integration with the Samsung Ecosystem
For those who already own Samsung devices, the Galaxy Ring integrates seamlessly with the Samsung Health app and other Samsung wearables. If you have a Galaxy Watch, the two devices can work together, with the watch handling some tracking functions while the ring focuses on others. This division of labor helps extend battery life for both devices and provides a more complete health-tracking experience.
Samsung has also included a “Find My Ring” feature, which makes the ring’s internal LEDs blink, helping you locate it if you misplace it. This is a thoughtful touch, given the ring’s small size.
Can the Galaxy Ring Replace a Smartwatch?
While the Galaxy Ring offers impressive health tracking in a discreet form factor, it doesn’t completely replace a smartwatch—at least not yet. There are several areas where smartwatches still hold the advantage:
- Lack of a display: One of the biggest trade-offs with the Galaxy Ring is that it has no screen. Unlike a smartwatch, which allows you to check notifications, messages, or even the time at a glance, the ring relies entirely on the Samsung Health app for data access.
- No built-in GPS: For runners, cyclists, and outdoor athletes, GPS tracking is crucial for accurate distance and pace measurements. Without a built-in GPS, the Galaxy Ring isn’t an ideal choice for those who want precise tracking for outdoor workouts.
- No real-time workout stats: With a smartwatch, you can monitor your heart rate and other stats while working out. With the Galaxy Ring, you have to check everything after the fact in the app.
That said, the ring’s advantages are undeniable. For those who don’t need real-time data on their wrist and just want seamless, long-term health tracking without the inconvenience of wearing a watch all day, the Galaxy Ring could be a much better option.
How It Compares to Other Smart Rings
The Galaxy Ring isn’t the first smart ring on the market, but it brings some notable improvements compared to competitors like the Oura Ring and Ultrahuman Ring Air.
- Oura Ring: While the Oura Ring is a popular choice, it requires a monthly subscription to access detailed health data. The Galaxy Ring provides similar features without an ongoing subscription, making it a more cost-effective option in the long run.
- Ultrahuman Ring Air: This smart ring focuses more on metabolism tracking and doesn’t integrate as well with existing smartphone ecosystems. Samsung’s offering, on the other hand, is designed to work seamlessly with Galaxy devices, making it the better choice for Samsung users.
Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy Ring?
The Galaxy Ring is perfect for those who want discreet, long-term health tracking without the bulk of a smartwatch. It’s particularly well-suited for:
- People who find smartwatches uncomfortable or annoying to wear
- Users who prioritize sleep tracking and battery life over notifications and real-time data
- Samsung ecosystem users who want a seamless health-tracking experience
- Fitness enthusiasts who don’t need detailed workout stats but still want general health insights
However, if you’re someone who relies on real-time stats, notifications, and workout tracking, a smartwatch is still the better choice for now.
Conclusion: A Complement, Not a Replacement—Yet
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is an impressive step forward in wearable health technology. It offers comprehensive health tracking, a sleek and comfortable design, and battery life that outshines most smartwatches. However, it’s not quite ready to replace smartwatches for everyone.
Instead, it’s best seen as a complement to smartwatches rather than a direct replacement. For those who want a simpler, more discreet way to track health, sleep, and activity, the Galaxy Ring is a game-changer. But if you still rely on wrist-based notifications, GPS tracking, and workout insights, a smartwatch remains the better all-in-one solution.
With future updates and refinements, smart rings like the Galaxy Ring may eventually take over the role of smartwatches. For now, though, it’s a fantastic alternative for users who want to track their health at all times—without wearing a screen on their wrist.
