Samsung Lunches Galaxy Smart Ring

Samsung has ventured into a new product category with the formal launch of its smart device, Galaxy Ring, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The company is betting on this new market segment to address new business niches related to health-focused technology and consolidate this growing market opportunity. 

"Galaxy Ring will offer users a whole new way to simplify daily wellness, giving them more information and more ways to understand themselves day and night," said Hon Park, Director of MX Digital Health, Samsung Electronics.

Smart rings appeal to consumers due to their convenience, accuracy in data collection, and  lightweight design particularly for tracking health metrics throughout the day. While Samsung has not disclosed detailed specifications of the smart ring, emphasis has been placed on its design tailored for monitoring health-related functions such as physical activity, sleep quality, and stress levels.

Although specific sensor details have not been revealed, Samsung has indicated that the ring includes sensors for measuring heart rate, movement, and respiratory indicators. Additionally, Samsung's ecosystem of connected devices positions it uniquely for collecting user health data.

Recently, Samsung obtained clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the sleep apnea feature, enhancing its utility for wearable users by identifying early warning signs of this chronic condition.

Allison Johnson, Industry Specialist at The Verge, highlighted Samsung's plans to introduce a new metric, My Vitality Score, within the Health app. This metric, based on a model from the University of Georgia, incorporates factors such as sleep quality, activity level, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability. 

"With Samsung Health, we connect different devices and solutions from our partners within a unified platform, which simplifies health tracking from a Galaxy wearable," said Pak. In this regard, he explains that this data collection enables "deep and comprehensive insights, with better insights and integrated third-party health data."

While Samsung has not disclosed the pricing for the Galaxy Ring, it is expected to compete directly with existing smart rings such as Oura Ring, Evie Ring, and Ultrahuman Ring Air, with estimated prices ranging from €299 to €349 euros (US$324 to US$378), aligning with the average prices of similar devices. The Galaxy Ring is anticipated to be compatible with Android cell phones and capable of monitoring heart rate and blood oxygen levels.