Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: Is This the Ultimate Wearable for Health and Fitness?
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by Unboxify,
4 min reading time
Our Hands-On Review of the Samsung Galaxy Ring 📿
The long-awaited journey to getting our hands on the final version of the Samsung Galaxy Ring has finally culminated. After wearing the Samsung Galaxy Ring for over a week, there’s a lot to unpack. Is it good? Is it comfortable? Is it better than the Oura Ring? Let’s dive in and find out.
Value for Money 💰
Samsung's entry into the smart ring market comes at a price. Clocking in at $399, £399, and around $750 AUD, it isn't the cheapest option available. For this price, you get:
The Ring
A Charging Case
Access to a Sizing Kit
One of the biggest competitors, Oura, also charges a premium subscription fee of $55.99 after the first six months to get the most out of the ring. So, while Samsung’s upfront costs are higher, it works out cheaper in the long run compared to Oura. However, it’s not as economical as some other offerings like Ultrahuman and Ringcon.
Whether it's the one ring to rule them all, only time will tell.
Compatibility: A Samsung Affair 📱
A significant barrier to owning the Samsung Galaxy Ring is its compatibility requirements. The device is designed to work seamlessly with the Samsung Health app. So, you’ll need either one of the best Samsung phones or an Android phone running Samsung Health, like my Oppo, to make the most out of it. Unfortunately, iPhone users are out of luck here.
Design and Features 🎨
Samsung has put significant thought into the design of the Galaxy Ring. The ring comes in sizes ranging from US size 5 to size 13, and weights range from 2.3 to 3 grams, depending on the size you choose. The bigger the ring, the longer the battery will last. However, the size doesn’t dramatically affect the Galaxy Ring’s performance. It can last at least 5 days or up to 10 days if you pair it with a Galaxy Watch.
It comes in three colors but shares the same robust, scratch-resistant titanium build:
Black
Titanium Gold
Titanium Silver
One unique design feature is its concave shape, which helps protect the majority of the surface from damage.
Here’s what the Galaxy Ring tracks:
Heart Rate
Sleep Quality
Skin Temperature
Blood Oxygen Levels
The ring uses Galaxy AI to intelligently monitor for unusual heart rate data and flag inconsistencies. The energy score each morning is based on the quality of your sleep and activity levels, similar to what Fitbit and Garmin offer.
Added Features ✨
The Galaxy Ring has additional features outside of health tracking, including:
Gesture Controls: Pinching the air can dismiss alarms, control your phone’s camera shutter, and more.
Menstrual Cycle Tracking: Predict cycles based on overnight skin temperature.
Performance and Usability 🚀
I’ve been impressed with both the longevity of the Galaxy Ring and the level of insight it offers. It can endure sleep, showers, workdays, and strenuous exercise without much need for charges. The only time I’ve had to recharge was when placing it back in its case. To date, its battery hasn’t dropped below 50%.
The ring’s step counter and heart rate monitor perform admirably, even when you're away from your phone. The data syncs back to your phone as soon as it reconnects. The device also provides fantastic graphs for your sleep information and heart rate, while also offering real-time blood oxygen levels.
Though the energy score is less useful if you don’t also wear a Galaxy Watch, it still provides decent insights.
Limitations of Use 🛑
For gym enthusiasts, the ring isn't super suitable due to its risk of scratching against exercise equipment like dumbbells. Additionally, it doesn’t automatically log structured workouts other than walking or running. These limitations could be critical if fitness tracking is your primary use case.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It? 📏
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is an impressive, well-rounded device. It offers a great “set and forget” experience for those looking to passively monitor their health. Its software doesn’t quite match up to market leader Oura right now and is missing a few minor features. However, its hardware is equally impressive.
Its price tag is steep, especially when you consider that it offers fewer functionalities compared to a smartwatch which often comes at a lower cost. That said, the Galaxy Ring is shaping up to be the real Lord of the Rings in the wearable tech world.