Samsung is ushering in a new era of AI-powered wearable technology to help people meet their daily health needs through intelligent health experiences. Features range from monitoring sleep patterns to tracking menstrual cycles.
The South Korean tech company unveiled an expanding range of wearable products at its “Galaxy Unpacked” event in Paris on Wednesday, including the highly anticipated new Galaxy Ring, which can be worn 24/7 and is end-to-end compatible with the company’s smartphones and smartwatches.
Introducing the Samsung Galaxy Ring
The Galaxy Ring is Samsung’s latest foray into wearable products for health enthusiasts and tech-savvy consumers.
The sleek, compact ring has it all. It offers advanced health monitoring capabilities and seamless integration into the Samsung ecosystem.
Key Features of Samsung Galaxy Ring
Advanced health monitoring: This lightweight device is equipped with an array of sensors that monitor key health indicators like sleep patterns, heart rate variability, activity levels, and more around the clock. This data is then analysed using Samsung’s proprietary AI and algorithms to provide users with a new Energy Score that gives them personalized insights into their overall health.
Biofeedback and Stress Management: One of the standout features of the Galaxy Ring is its real-time biofeedback capability, which rivals similar technology products from Apple. It uses sensors built into the ring to detect stress levels and provide users with actionable insights and guided breathing exercises to effectively manage stress.
Sleep Monitoring: Built on Samsung’s sleep monitoring expertise, the Galaxy Ring provides detailed sleep analysis, including sleep stages (REM, deep, and light sleep), and insights to improve sleep quality over time.
Fitness and Activity Monitoring: Whether you’re running, cycling, or yoga, the Galaxy Ring can accurately track a range of activities. Providing users with real-time stats during workouts and a post-workout summary helps keep them motivated and achieve more of their fitness goals.
Integration with the Samsung Health ecosystem: The device seamlessly syncs with the Samsung Health app, allowing users to see all their health and fitness data in one place. This integration also enables users to set goals, track progress, and receive personalized recommendations based on their activity and health metrics.
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs Oura Ring
Now let’s see how the Samsung Galaxy Ring compares in terms of price and basic features to Oura Health’s Oura Ring, which comes in several versions.
Material and color: The Galaxy Ring is made from grade 5 titanium and comes in three versions: titanium black, titanium silver, and titanium gold.
The Oura Ring is made from aerospace-grade titanium and comes in two styles. The first is the Horizon, a “sleek, circular design” available in six finishes including brushed titanium, silver, black, stealth, gold, or rose gold. Heritage, Oura Health’s “classic platform design,” comes in silver, black, stealth, or gold.
Price: With a starting price of $399.99, the Samsung Galaxy Ring has a competitive position in the market, reflecting its advanced features and integration options.
Pricing for the Oura Ring starts at $299 for the Heritage style and $349 for the Horizon style. However, one key difference is that the Oura Ring requires an additional membership. Membership is free for the first month and increases to $5.99 per month thereafter.
Water resistance: Both devices are water resistant to 10 ATM, meaning they are safe up to a depth of 100 meters, making the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring suitable for showering, surface swimming, and snorkeling, but not for deeper depths like scuba diving.
Size and weight: The Galaxy Ring comes in nine size options. The device is 7mm wide, 2.6mm thick, and weighs 2.3-3 grams depending on the band size. A size kit is provided at the time of purchase to help you find the perfect size.
The Oura Ring weighs 4-6 grams depending on the size, and has similar dimensions of 7.9mm wide and 2.55mm thick.
Battery life: According to Samsung, the Galaxy Ring’s battery lasts up to seven days of continuous use. It comes with a portable charging case and wireless Air Buds.
According to the Oura Ring’s FAQ page, a fully charged ring “may last up to seven days,” but the company notes that battery life can vary depending on how old the ring is and how often you use certain features, and that all rechargeable batteries “have a limited lifespan, so their capacity and performance will gradually decline over time.”
User Experience: While both rings prioritized comfort and aesthetics, the Samsung Galaxy Ring may appeal to users looking for a multi-function wearable that goes beyond just sleep and activity tracking, as it offers a wider range of health metrics, including stress management, biofeedback, and and comprehensive fitness tracking.
The Oura Ring focuses primarily on sleep tracking, giving you detailed insights into your sleep stages, recovery, and readiness. It also offers some activity tracking capabilities, but is less comprehensive than the Galaxy Ring when it comes to general health metrics.
Oura activity tracking is integrated with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Strava.
The Galaxy Ring is currently available for pre-order in select markets, along with the new Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch Ultra, with general availability starting July 24.