Would you say ‘I do’ to a union if the ring involved is a Samsung Galaxy Ring? In the world of wearable technology, Samsung, the tech giant, seems to be venturing into a new product category – smart rings. Recently, there have been strong indications that Samsung has accelerated the development of its first smart ring, the Samsung Galaxy Ring. We’re aware that Samsung registered the Galaxy Ring with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the 20th of July.
Galaxy Ring: Development and Launch Timeline
According to reports from The Elec, a Korean website well known for its insights into production lines, Samsung has finished the development phase of its smart ring, and mass production might kick off as early as August 2023. The Elec stated, “The preliminary development of the Galaxy Ring is now at the stage of concept realization. When mass production is launched in August, serious product development will begin.”
However, the actual product launch may be delayed. Even if mass production starts in the next month, the smart ring is expected to be launched only in the course of next year.
Medical Device Certification
One of the reasons behind this delay could be the necessary certifications for some of the features. Samsung intends to offer specific measurements on the Galaxy Ring that will make it a medical device. Like its Galaxy Watch, which can perform electrocardiograms and monitor blood pressure, the Ring is expected to offer similar functionalities. The Elec reports that the certification phase could last another 10 to 12 months, pushing the Galaxy Ring’s launch to next summer, likely alongside the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 6.
Samsung’s move towards a health-oriented smart ring comes after years of development. The rumours surrounding a Samsung smart ring go back to 2015. The company seems to be pushing a health-focused device with heart rate monitoring capabilities.
Features and Competition of Galaxy Ring
This ring is expected to deliver more precise health data than Samsung’s smartwatches. The current market leader, Oura, offers heart rate, sleep quality, activity level, recovery, stress level, and temperature measurement features. However, The Elec cautions that Samsung is still in the early stages of Galaxy Ring development and works intensively with partners to develop suitable prototypes. Meanwhile, other brands in the smart ring market, such as Oura, Circular, and Noise, will likely face new competition.
As early as 2015, the Korean manufacturer had obtained patents for such a device. More recently, in October of last year, the Korean site Naver reported on the development of a smart ring by the chaebol, suggesting it would offer blood flow measurement and an ECG directly on its ring.
Scepticism and Anticipation
Despite the anticipation, only some people are sold a smart ring from Samsung. Concerns about the possible overlap of features between the ring and Samsung’s existing smartwatches have been raised, potentially making one of the two product lines redundant. However, others are optimistic, arguing that the Samsung Galaxy Ring might carve its own niche in the market by offering similar functionalities as a smartwatch but in a more compact and discrete form factor.
Given Samsung’s proven ability to produce smart products, there is considerable interest in the Ring. If the rumours are true, and the product does launch in 2024, it could be a game-changer in the smart ring market. Regardless of the scepticism, anticipation for the Samsung Galaxy Ring is high. Introducing a significant tech player into this market could revive interest in smart rings and bring innovation and competition to the next level. As with any new product, time will tell whether the Samsung Galaxy Ring will meet the high expectations set for it.
