Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: A Stylish Wearable for Health-Conscious Individuals

The Samsung Galaxy Ring introduces a fresh approach to wearable technology. This sleek device combines style and functionality, offering users comprehensive health tracking without the bulk of traditional wearables. It is priced at $400 and provides a unique value proposition for health-conscious users. Let’s dig into the design, ergonomics, performance, sustainability, and overall value of Samsung’s latest innovation.

Designer: Samsung

Aesthetics and Design

The Samsung Galaxy Ring impresses with its minimalist and elegant design. The ring is available in titanium black, titanium silver, and glossy titanium gold and caters to diverse style preferences. The concave shape enhances its aesthetic appeal and helps prevent scratches, ensuring durability. Constructed from high-grade titanium, the ring is resilient against daily wear and tear, promising longevity.

Weighing between 2.3 to 3 grams, the Galaxy Ring feels almost weightless, making it comfortable for all-day wear. This is particularly beneficial for those sensitive to the weight of traditional wearables. The sleek profile ensures it doesn’t catch on clothing or other objects, adding to its practicality. I don’t mind wearing an Apple Watch to track my sleep and other health metrics at night, but I prefer to wear a nice timepiece during the day. Having the best of both worlds is obviously wearing a ring.

Samsung recommends wearing the Galaxy Watch in conjunction with the Ring since they determine which is more suitable for activities and could increase battery life. For me, on the other end of the extreme, I find myself going watchless – and I love the sense of freedom that the Galaxy Ring affords me that opportunity.

The charging case, reminiscent of those used for earbuds, adds a touch of elegance and practicality. It is designed to be compact and efficient, providing a secure place to store the ring when not in use and ensuring multiple charges without needing a constant power source.

Ergonomics

Comfort is a significant selling point for the Galaxy Ring. Its lightweight design ensures it remains unobtrusive, even for sensitive sleepers. The ring is available in various sizes, providing a snug fit that enhances its ability to track health metrics accurately. Users have noted the occasional distraction from the ring’s LEDs in dark environments, but this minor issue does not overshadow its overall comfort. The device is water-resistant, surviving hand washes and lotion exposure without losing functionality.

With Samsung’s Sizing Kit, finding the Galaxy Ring’s size is straightforward. Upon ordering, if you choose the option indicating you don’t know your size, Samsung will send you a sizing kit with nine sample rings in different sizes. This kit costs $10, which is credited towards your final purchase. The recommendation is to wear the sample ring for at least 24 hours to ensure it fits comfortably and accurately. This ensures that you select the best size for your needs before confirming your order.

I have been wearing the black titanium ring in a size eight on my pinkie finger. It is about a half size too big 70% of the time but fits well enough to get accurate readings. I have requested a size seven from Samsung to see if a tighter fit will change the readings and provide a more secure fit. As someone who doesn’t usually wear rings or jewelry, this has been a new experience for me.

Samsung shared that it doesn’t matter which finger or hand you wear the ring on as long as you avoid the thumb. However, wearing a ring that is too large can pose issues, such as slipping off in the shower or while swimming, and due to its loose fit, it can more easily get snagged on objects.

Performance

The Galaxy Ring excels in health tracking, offering detailed insights into sleep patterns, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen levels, and skin temperature. It synchronizes with the Samsung Health app, providing a user-friendly interface for viewing data. The ring generates an Energy Score, guiding users’ daily activity and recovery needs. This score is useful for understanding how well you’ve recovered overnight and what to expect from your day ahead.

Regarding sleep tracking, the Galaxy Ring offers impressive accuracy. It monitors different stages of sleep, providing detailed feedback on REM, light, and deep sleep cycles. The app offers helpful context, explaining the significance of each sleep stage and providing personalized tips for improvement. For those who struggle with sleep, these insights can be incredibly valuable. Despite some features requiring a Samsung phone, the ring’s sleep tracking and general activity monitoring performance is commendable, making it a reliable health companion.

The Galaxy Ring provides comprehensive metrics for analyzing a specific day’s tracking data using the Samsung Health app. For instance, my sleep score for one night was 49, categorized as “Needs attention,” with 3 hours and 52 minutes of sleep time. The ring detailed my physical recovery at 34% and mental recovery at 48%, based on the amount of time spent in different sleep stages, including REM and deep sleep. It also tracked my skin temperature, which ranged from 92.9 degrees Fahrenheit to 97.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and my blood oxygen levels, which dipped as low as 81%. Additionally, it logged 1 hour and 36 minutes of snoring. This level of detail helps users like me, who have unorthodox sleep schedules, understand and improve our sleep quality. However, it’s worth noting that the app does not factor in nap times, which is a limitation for those with irregular sleep patterns.

The Samsung Health app provides additional metrics, including stress levels. During a typical day, my stress level varied but remained within the app’s “normal” range, which helped me gauge my daily mental well-being. This feature, along with others like water intake, medication tracking, and cycle tracking, adds to the comprehensive health insights provided by the ring.

Activity tracking is effective, automatically logging steps, walks, and runs. The data presentation clearly shows metrics like distance traveled, calories burned, and average speed. Although some smartwatches offer extensive exercise options, the Galaxy Ring’s simplicity is part of its charm. The absence of a screen reinforces the ring’s “set and forget” philosophy, allowing you to focus on your day without constant notifications.

The battery life of the Galaxy Ring varies by size. The battery life is rated up to six days for a size eight ring. Larger sizes, like 12 and 13, can last up to seven days on a single charge. This variance ensures that larger-ring users can enjoy extended usage without frequent recharges. Something that I’m accustomed to doing with the Apple Watch is tossing it on the charger when I jump in the shower. I did that the first few days with the Galaxy Ring but then stopped. Now, I take it off before I take a shower. I suspect this is because the ring size is too big right now. I’m sure I won’t be taking it off as often once I go down a size. Additionally, I have noticed that hair products can get caught under the ring, which can block the sensors. To avoid this, I take it off and clean it regularly. This is something to note for those who frequently use hair products.

The Galaxy Ring is water-resistant up to 100 meters, which makes it safe to wear while swimming or in the shower, provided it fits securely.

Furthermore, the Galaxy Ring features the “Find My Ring” function through Samsung Find, which tracks the ring based on its last connected location. This feature is handy for those prone to misplacing small items, providing peace of mind and an easy way to locate the ring.

Sustainability

Samsung’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the Galaxy Ring’s design. Durable, scratch-resistant materials like titanium ensure a long product lifespan. Additionally, the ring’s charging case, reminiscent of those used for earbuds, is practical and eco-friendly. It offers multiple charges without a constant power source, reducing the overall environmental footprint.

The ring’s battery life is impressive, lasting up to seven days on a single charge for larger sizes. This reduces the need for frequent recharging, contributing to a lower environmental impact. The charging case is designed to be compact and efficient, providing a secure place to store the ring when not used. While the Galaxy Ring does not boast any groundbreaking sustainability features, its durable build and efficient energy use contribute positively to reducing electronic waste.

Value / Verdict

At $400, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is positioned at the higher end of the market but does not require a subscription fee, adding to its long-term value. The initial cost might be a consideration for some, but the Galaxy Ring provides seamless connectivity and valuable health insights, especially for users integrated into the Samsung ecosystem. Its lightweight design and comprehensive health tracking make it ideal for those seeking a sophisticated and discreet wearable. For Samsung users, the Galaxy Ring offers insightful health data without the bulk of traditional wearables, making it an excellent addition to their suite of devices.