Everything about the Galaxy Ring smart ring presented by Samsung
Everything about the Galaxy Ring smart ring presented by Samsung From smartwatches we moved to smart bracelets and now everything indicates that the next step will be rings. The Galaxy Ring, sleeping in one of the corners of the Samsung exhibition, is one of the devices that will attract cameras and eyes at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona 2024. The device is still under development and does not have final specifications, but the company expects it to go on sale in the first half of the year.
Samsung provided more details about the Galaxy Ring at a press conference . In it, journalists were able to touch and try on the ring, which will be produced in different sizes and three colors (gold, silver and black). On the finger, it looks like just an ordinary decorative ring, at least the silver and gold models. At first glance, it seems comfortable and not burdensome.
Its purpose will be to measure various physiological parameters. The Galaxy Ring will be able to record heart rate, breathing, nocturnal movements, and sleep onset time. The latter is an aspect that the company’s wearables currently don’t measure. Dr. Hoon Pak, VP and Head of Digital Health Team for Mobile Experience at Samsung Electronics, emphasized during his presentation the link between dementia, deep sleep, and lack of REM sleep. “Now we’re starting to understand the implications of good sleep. What happens when you sleep is that your body repairs itself.
Samsung’s wearables strategy is tied to personal health and well-being. For Hoonbak, the devices, including the new ring, can act as a catalyst for changes in people’s behavior and lifestyle habits. She argues that the data they collect could lead to early warnings, in order to prevent certain diseases.
The company used machine learning to create the Galaxy Ring ’s scale . “We collaborated with the University of Georgia to develop a score that tells you how prepared you are for the day ahead and how you should prepare: whether you need to sleep more, be more active or rest. We’ve validated it clinically with patients and seen a correlation between the score and, for example, actual cognitive alertness,” says Dr. Buck.
The Galaxy Ring is another option for consumers who don’t feel comfortable wearing a smartwatch or bracelet. “We came to the conclusion that sometimes comfort is more important than technology and features,” says Back. “And I think with the Galaxy Ring we’ve embarked on a journey to understand the needs of our users in a very personal way.”
The company maintains collaborations with various medical or research entities in order to validate the Galaxy Ring through clinical trials or create more valuable services. One of its features is Samsung's collaboration with Natural Cycles, a smart ring that allows women to know the moment of their menstrual cycle by measuring skin temperature.
In this case, the data measured with the new smart ring is passed to the smartphone and then sent to Natural Cycles to be returned in the form of an estimate. However, Buck emphasizes that this is an exceptional case: “Most of the data remains on the devices. It is transferred to our smartphone and a local analysis is performed on the device itself.
The Galaxy Ring wouldn’t be the first of these rings. There are already other smart rings, like the Oura Ring, which measures heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and monitors sleep. Another alternative is the Ultrahuman Ring Air, which can measure the user’s circadian rhythms or energy levels.
While MWC was a showcase for the Galaxy Ring, Back notes that the smart ring is still in development and could change. They could also add new sensors, though those remain to be clinically validated and fit the style and convenience Samsung is aiming to deliver.
