The Galaxy Ring: Тhe new must-have gadget or another ecosystem gimmick?

The Galaxy Ring: Тhe new must-have gadget or another ecosystem gimmick?،

Rings with super powers have always captured my imagination. Whether in fantasy tales or superhero epics, these rings made me dream of having one. Although I'm still waiting for rings that can make me invisible, grant my wishes, or cut glass with a laser, technology has given us the next best thing: smart rings, the latest trend in wearable technology. And with Samsung entering the scene with its Galaxy Ring, I can't help but wonder: are smart rings the next big thing? Is this a passing trend or the future of wearable technology?

It's time to dive into the world of these little technological marvels and find out what they're all about.

First of all: what can they do?

Oura ring in pink gold (Image credit – Oura) - The Galaxy ring: the new must-have gadget or another gadget from the ecosystem?

Oura ring in rose gold (Image credit – Oura)

Existing smart rings like the Finnish company's Oura Ring Oura and the Helio Ring of Amazon offer a range of health tracking features. From monitoring your sleep patterns to tracking your heart rate and activity levels, these devices collect valuable data to provide insights into your overall health and fitness. By analyzing this data, you can better understand your well-being, which can, in turn, motivate you to make healthier lifestyle choices.

With a smart ring you can also pay your bill. They've come a long way since the first, RingPay, in 2013, which has only one functionality: contactless payment. The next Galaxy Ring is also expected to offer contactless payment, as well as full health and fitness features, making it a more versatile option than RingPay.

Speaking of Galaxy Ring again, it's said that it might be able to wirelessly control other devices, like your Samsung TV. It can also support ECG and blood flow measurements, making it definitely more than a wellness product.

Reports indicate that Apple is also exploring the development of its own Ring. This iRing (or whatever the company chooses to name it) is rumored to integrate the health tracking features of the Apple Watch onto your finger.

Meanwhile, rumors suggest Samsung is developing its own VR headset to compete with Apple's Vision Pro. So, in the future, future smart rings could potentially serve as controllers for AR/VR headsets. It's entirely possible that the two tech giants could design their small wearable devices to work well with their respective headsets.

Picture this: improved hand tracking that lets you type more realistically, instead of just pressing buttons like we do with the VisionPro, which currently only detects your pointer finger. However, only time will reveal the extent of these developments.

Alternative to the smartwatch or locking in the ecosystem?

The Galaxy Ring at MWC in Barcelona (Image credit – PhoneArena) - The Galaxy Ring: the new must-have gadget or another gadget from the ecosystem?

The Galaxy Ring at MWC Barcelona (Image credit – PhoneArena)

With the recent announcement of Galaxy Ring, Samsung is getting into the smart ring game. While all details are still under wraps, we can expect features like:

Health Monitoring
activity monitoring
contactless payment
smart home integration.

This entry from a major tech player highlights the growing interest in this technology. And I'm glad I did because, honestly, I really want to get the most out of all the features that rings bring. Some might say, “OK, why not just get a smartwatch since it offers the same features and more?” » But you see, for me, rings have a unique charm and appeal (I'm a huge jewelry fan, what can I do).

According to the figures, more guys wear smartwatches than girls, but that may not be the case with smart rings. Of course, the smart ring market is still too specialized to have data, but with the entry of large technology companies, it will undoubtedly grow.

And hey, who said you have to choose one over the other? Having both a smartwatch and a smart ring could be the ultimate combination to increase the accuracy of your health and activity data.

In the future, when your Galaxy Ring Sync seamlessly with all your Galaxy devices or your iRing effortlessly connects to your Apple gadgets, it could become the ultimate engagement ring for your tech ecosystem. Let's be real, even without ringing, people rarely switch from one system to another. But with a ring in the mix, things are about to get seriously stuck.

But are smart rings the future?

Image credit–Samsung

Overall, it's still early days and predicting the future is always a bit of a gamble. But there's definitely a reason to be excited about smart rings. They offer a subtle and convenient way to stay connected. Unlike connected watches, they are discreet and comfortable to wear every day. This makes it a great choice for people who find traditional wearable devices a bit cumbersome, especially when it comes to tracking sleep habits.

Smart rings offer the ability to obtain more precise data because they are closer to the skin, allowing sensors to gather information more accurately than wrist-worn devices. Plus, the lack of a screen in these tiny wearable devices could be a game-changer in terms of battery life.

Imagine not having to use the charger every day – a huge plus, in my opinion. The Oura Ring offers a respectable 7 days of battery life on a single charge, and rumor has it Galaxy Ring this is said to potentially extend it to an impressive 9 days.

As you've probably noticed, technology is evolving quickly, so there's a good chance we'll see even more features appear in the future. AI is likely to make its way into smart rings, and we could see evidence of this as soon as the official launch of the Galaxy Ringpossibly in July, with some form of integration with Galaxy AI.

As exciting as the future of this wearable technology may seem, there are some hurdles to overcome, and one of them is price. Right now, rings are often more expensive than smartwatches. Take the Oura Ring, for example, starting at around $350 – that's more than a brand new Galaxy Watch 6.

The purchase price is no longer the only element to take into account these days. Oura, for example, introduced a subscription model, meaning you pay for the technology up front and then keep shelling out money forever if you want to keep using it (kinda crazy, right ?). Now the big question is: Could Samsung or Apple follow suit? This is probably unlikely, given that they don't offer subscription plans for their other wearable devices. But hey, strange things have happened! What is your opinion on this? Let me know in the comments below.

As more companies enter the market, fingers crossed that pricing becomes more wallet-friendly. Right now, smartwatches dominate the wearables market, and it may be a while before smart rings become the next big thing. But you know what? They will lead nowhere and the tech giants are well aware of this.

Whether or not they become the next big thing, smart rings offer a glimpse into the future of wearable technology. They are innovative, practical and hold immense potential for further development. With big tech companies like Samsung and Apple eyeing the market, there's no doubt they'll have a bigger presence in the future. So keep an eye on this space – the future might just be in your fingers!