Release date, rumors, and what we want to see

Update: September 12, 2023 (9:05 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy Ring hub with information about a possible launch date.

Original article: Samsung’s watches are among the best smartwatches available in today’s market. We even named the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro our top wearable of 2022. Despite the line’s success, however, Samsung doesn’t appear ready to rest on its laurels. Instead, the company shows signs of pivoting to a much smaller form factor and a different part of the body. Possibly sliding soon onto fingers near you, here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Assuming no unforeseen disasters hit the company’s current plans, a Galaxy Ring is very likely. At the very least, it’s certain that Samsung has a smart ring in the works. Patents for the device were reported in 2022, and a trademark for the Samsung Galaxy Ring was granted by the Korean Intellectual Property Right Information Service (KIPRIS).

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 a lot of users who just want to track their basics without distractions. Korean news outlet The Elec reported in mid-July that the Galaxy Ring is in “advanced development,” so it certainly sounds like the product is more than just a patent.

When is the Samsung Galaxy Ring release date?

Estimating a release date for Samsung’s first attempt is nearly impossible. Branching into new territory, Samsung won’t want to swing and miss. In order to compete with existing smart rings the company will need to have the device well buttoned up before launch. Given the sparse number of rumors or leaks, we think a 2023 launch is unlikely.

A report from The Elec suggests that the launch may happen in 2024 at the earliest. And if Samsung decides to seek medical approval, the timeline could be stretched out even further. “Even if Samsung Electronics starts product development in September and finishes development by April next year, it will take an additional 10 to 12 months to obtain medical device approval,” an industry source told the outlet, potentially pushing the release date to 2025.

New details from serial tipster Ice Universe suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Ring will debut alongside the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, and star in Samsung’s next Unpacked event, in January 2024.

Based on the patent filings first reported by Korean outlet Naver, the ring may offer a fair amount of health tracking. The filing suggests the integration of both ECG and PPG sensors, This would likely mean the ability to take heart rate measurements as well as monitor temperature. These features align the ring with the current capabilities of the Oura Ring 3, a current leader in the smart ring market. An even earlier patent points to potential smart home integration. It’s possible Samsung will offer Galaxy Ring users the ability to control connected devices such as a smart TV.

The mid-July report by The Elec also points to a newly filed patent by Samsung. This patent 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.

What will the Samsung Galaxy Ring price be?

In a word: expensive. The advanced tech required to turn a tiny ring into a viable fitness tracker has to cost a pretty penny. Our inclination is to expect prices similar to the company’s existing wearables.

The latest Oura Ring 3 starts at $299 and then requires a monthly subscription to access its full feature set. Samsung has yet to adopt a subscription service for its Galaxy Watch line and we’re hoping it doesn’t join the trend with the Galaxy Ring.

With so many unknowns and possibly years before we ever see the ring on shelves, we don’t recommend holding your breath for the Samsung Galaxy Ring. If a finger-based wearable is currently on your shopping list, there are a few other options. The Oura Ring 3 ($299.99 at Oura) is our top pick with fantastic sleep tracking and a holistic approach to wellness. Meanwhile, the Circular Ring ($284 at Manufacturer site) is the best Oura Ring 3 alternative. It tracks heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen, and doesn’t require a monthly subscription.

If your preference is to stay within Samsung’s ecosystem, it may be worth sticking with the company’s smartwatch line for now. The new Galaxy Watch 6 ($299.99 at Samsung) offers a well-rounded smartwatch experience with all the basics in terms of tracking health and fitness. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic ($429 at Amazon) is slightly pricier but features a useful rotating bezel and an elevated aesthetic.

For starters, we just want to see a Samsung Galaxy Ring exist. A strong alternative to the Oura Ring could turn up the gas on the entire smart ring trend and push more competitors to have a go. We’re fully expecting basic health tracking and decent battery life. Beyond that, below are a few specifics we’re also hoping to find on board.

Advanced health and training metrics

It goes without saying that we want to see detailed health metrics on Samsung’s potential Galaxy Ring. Heart rate monitoring and temperature tracking are two pillars of Oura that we find highly useful during our Oura Ring 3 review. If Samsung were to mirror these features, we hope to see a more advanced use of temperature data, especially in relation to women’s health. Where the Oura Ring falls short in our opinion is fitness tracking. Samsung could set itself apart by offering a more involved feature set for athletes.

The Oura Ring 3 has the ring market cornered and it did so by honing in on users’ Zs. A ridiculous amount of people aren’t getting enough shuteye and offering a tool to manage the problem is a home run. Samsung recently stepped up its own sleep tracking and we hope to see the company transfer the platform to our fingers. Accuracy, insights, trends, and sleep coaching are all factors we’re keen to find. Lightweight, comfortable, and without a bright screen to wake you up overnight, a smart ring is a fool-proof bedmate.

A thin design

As small as existing smart rings seem compared to wrist-based wearables, they are still quite bulky. Many resemble oversized wedding bands. We’d love to see Samsung offer a more petite form factor that won’t draw as many eyes. We’d also be open to more Samsung Galaxy Ring colors and finishes than can be found in the current smart ring pool.