In addition to the new foldable smartphones, Samsung Unpacked 2024 was an opportunity to discover and touch the other devices that complete the Korean company’s ecosystem, which is one of the reasons that explains the company’s leadership, the only one that on the mobile side has been able to challenge Apple‘s dominance at the top end of the market. It is thanks to the innovation that the Koreans are pushing, the first to bring AI to phones, but also among the best in finding inspiration to develop new products.

Foldables are one of the most recent examples, while the latest arrival is the Ring, the health-monitoring device that Samsung unveiled during the presentation held at the Louvre Museum. It has to be said that this is not the first example, as the Oura model has been on the market for some time, while more recent was the launch of Amazfit’s Helio Ring.

However, Samsung’s arrival in this fledgling market segment is significant because it could open up a new frontier for tech manufacturers, an attractive scenario for a sector that has not been growing at a fast pace for several years, the COVID-19 pandemic period aside.

Galaxy Ring

Lightweight and seemingly ‘simple’ in design, the Galaxy Ring has a titanium finish and can be worn on any finger, although the index finger seems the most suitable. It weighs between 2.3 and 3 grams and is designed to be worn 24 hours a day. Moreover, the inconspicuous aesthetics and the seven-day autonomy make the task easier, although it is necessary to choose the right size (there are 9 of them, ranging from 5 to 13) to avoid discomfort when wearing it or difficulty in taking it off.

The mission of the Galaxy Ring, which integrates a series of sensors, is to analyse sleep to understand the quality of sleep and try to improve it. An interesting feature is the Energy Score, which analyses sleep, activity, heart rate and variability of the latter during sleep by indicating a numerical value, with personalised suggestions via AI for improvement. For women, Samsung’s Ring is an assistant that monitors the menstrual cycle, thanks to night-time skin temperature detection. Resistant and able to go down in the water up to 10 ATM, Ring does not emit sounds, send notifications, or vibrate to facilitate use during the night.

All the data it produces can be found in Samsung’s Health app and can be viewed free of charge as there is no subscription fee. In addition, photos can be taken via Gesture, and in case of loss, it can be tracked with Find My Ring on Samsung Find. Available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium, the Galaxy Ring is on sale for €449, but it is only available in the UK, France, and Germany. It will arrive in other European countries by the end of the year.

Galaxy Watch Ultra

Samsung is updating its smartwatch with a surprise card: the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Apple’s namesake is also similar in mission and target audience, as it is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts and professionals on the hunt for a high-end wristwatch companion. It costs less than its rival (€909) but shares strength, robustness, and the orange strap chosen for the launch. Titanium case, water resistance to 10ATM, and the ability to function 500 metres below sea level and up to 9000 metres above sea level. The 1.5-inch AMOLED display has a peak brightness of 3000 nits to facilitate reading in sunlight and dark environments, while Android’s Wear OS 5 promises more efficient management of energy consumption.

Among the health parameters monitored, Watch Ultra tracks heart rate and oxygenation, while multi-sports spots tracked include triathlon and an advanced feature to calculate the user’s maximum cycling power. Available only in a 47mm case version in Titanium Gray, Titanium White and Titanium Silver, the Watch Ultra retails for €699, and the next generation will arrive in two years.

Galaxy Watch7

The smartwatch catalogue also includes the Watch7, while the Pro model no longer appears, replaced by the Ultra. With the latter, the company’s smallest model shares several specifications and features on the health and fitness side. With the De Novo FDA-authorized Sleep Apnea feature, the smartwatch detects sleep apnea, alerts in the event of heart rate abnormalities, and electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring. The BioActive Sensor Watch7 sensor monitors advanced glycation end products (AGEs) directly from the wrist with an AGEs index. Influenced by diet and lifestyle, AGEs reflect the overall biological ageing process and indicate metabolic health.

There is dual-frequency GPS to track your location more accurately, and the watch allows you to monitor more than 100 workouts and create routines by combining exercises with Workout Routines. Like the Z Flip6, with the Watch7 you can reply to messages without touching the device, because with Suggested replies the Galaxy AI will find the right answers in relation to the tone and content previously exchanged with the interlocutor.

The Galaxy Watch7 is available in a 40mm size in Green and Cream and a 44mm model in Green and Silver. It is also on sale in Bluetooth and LTE versions, with prices ranging from €319 to €399.

Buds3 Pro and Buds3

Buds are nothing new, but Samsung has completely revamped them by offering two models: Buds3 Pro and Buds3. The differences lie in the shape, with the first model in-ear and the second open-type generating different effects in listening and comfort for the ear cup. Combined with the new foldable, the Buds activate Interpreter, translating conversations in foreign languages in real-time.

The other highlight is automatic noise cancellation, with the three microphones cancelling out the external sound and analysing the internal sound to adjust the volume in relation to what is happening in the surrounding environment. Thus, in a noisy scenario, the level of noise cancellation increases, which is reduced if the Buds detect the sound of a siren. Similarly, if the wearer of the Buds starts talking, or receives a question from someone, the sound volume drops to make it easier to hear. Available in Silver and White, Buds3 Pro costs 249 euros, and Buds3 179 euros.  

*Prices vary from country to country. The prices shown here are those for Italy.