Is it sentence for smart rings to enter the mainstream ? Samsung certainly hope so , having used thelatest Galaxy Unpackedas an arena to launch theSamsung Galaxy Ring . And early report seem to hint Samsung ’s gamble is paying off , as U.S. stock of certain Galaxy Ring modelssold out almost immediately .
I ’m sure not resistant to the appeal . I ’ve cast my own preorder for the Galaxy Ring and am thirstily awaiting my ring - size kit . But my route to preorder was n’t legato , and I thought long and hard about whether the Galaxy Ring would be right for me — or whether theOura Ring , Samsung ’s main competition in this space , would be a better choice .
finally , I came down on the Samsung side of the fencing , but there were a number of reason that swung my decision . Here are four reasons why I bought the Galaxy Ring ( and one ground why I would n’t ) .
There’s no subscription fee
This one was a biggy , and Samsung know it . The Galaxy Ring had as many leaks and rumors as any other fluid gadget , and one of the more troubling whispers allege Samsung was consideringa subscription for the Galaxy Ring . This would have brought it into parity with the Oura Ring , which charge its users a monthly subscription of $ 6 to reach the legal age of the data it collect .
gratefully , this did n’t come to pass , and Samsung distinctly realize how bountiful a deal this would be to prospective buyer . As such , its abnegation of a subscription is garish and unambiguous .
Weirdly , I would resent ingest to pay Samsung a subscription more than I would to Oura . Oura is a much smaller party than Samsung , and I can more easily interpret Oura needs the extra income to hold up . Yes , over time , you ’ll end up pay more for the Oura Ring , but that ’s worth it to keep a small company going .
But Samsung ? Samsung will be okay regardless of whether the Galaxy Ring has a subscription . So , while it would n’t have been a dealbreaker if the Galaxy Ring had a subscription cost , Samsung react so strongly against it advance it some pixy degree from me .
It allows me to go without a smartwatch
Let ’s be substantial : A smart ring is never going to put back asmartwatch . It ’s a question of size — a watch has more elbow room to include sensors , and any meter sensor quail and afford more features to a smart tintinnabulation , you’re able to be certain manufacturers will toss off more sensor into smartwatches to overcompensate . So , really , a smart pack is n’t a full - prison term smartwatch alternative .
But how about part time ? That could wreak . If you ’re not heading out to the gym but are just going out for a normal workday or a trip to the promenade , a chic ring will form just fine . The Galaxy Ring can cut across step counts , your substance rate , and your rest . It also automatically find and tracks walking and running , which means it covers just about everything you’re able to expect on a unconstipated day .
As a outcome , it ’s entirely probable for the Galaxy Ring to replace a smartwatch in certain circumstance . If I do n’t require to wear a large smartwatch to bottom , my sleep can still be tracked by my annulus . But the more meaning change for me is the ability to go back to wearing a normal , non - smartwatch without overlook a ( heart ) pulsation . Previously I ’d either kept myself tied to a smartwatch , regardless of any … unfortunate color scheme , or opt for the tried and tested “ two sentinel ” method .
But now ? Once my Galaxy Ring arrives , I ’m gratis to ditch my smartwatch whenever I want . Who watches the watches ? It turns out the smart rings do a decent line of work .
It’s small and light
Everyone seems to agree : The Galaxy Ring is little and light than the Oura Ring . The difference is a issue of grams , which does n’t seem like it should make a difference , but apparently , it does — and that ’s an supernumerary authoritative factor for me .
I ’m not a ring wearer . Never have been . That ’s not for any special grounds or anything ; I was n’t traumatized byThe Lord of the Ringsat a young age ; it ’s simply that I ’ve never had to wear a gang , so I haven’t . I’m expect to have a serious period of adjustment when it comes to wear thin a hoop , and if one is light and more comfortable than another , well , crikey , I ’m manifestly perish to be leaning toward that one .
This is n’t to say the Oura Ring is uncomfortable or anything like that — everyone who has had hands - on clip with it stresses the opposite . No , it ’s just that the Galaxy Ring is noticeably less , well , noticeablethan the choice .
Samsung’s ability to share data is excellent
This one is even more personal and niche than the other reasons , but I ’d be lie if I said it was n’t a grownup part of the ground I preordered the Galaxy Ring . essay raw devices is the best job in the world , but sometimes you incline into habiliment that , while otherwise great , are n’t very expert at sharing the information they glean with other services . This of late happened to me with theSuunto Race , which just did n’t want to share my step counts and exercises with other services .
This would n’t be an number , except for the fact my life indemnity bounty are tied into my personal stats . The more I walk , drill , and take care of myself , the gloomy my premiums for the next yr . So , losing any amount of health selective information is a gravid peck for me . Getting a Galaxy Ring and ensuring it ’ll be there to keep up that stemma of selective information is very important for me .
Could Oura have done this too ? maybe — it does colligate to Google Fit , but only mail over exercise , weight , and height data point . Samsung Health link seamlesslyandsends over all the data I take it to . As a backup health data gatherer , the Galaxy Ring is simply my only real choice in the smart ring quad .
The one thing that almost stopped me
I have many reasons for peck the Galaxy Ring over the Oura Ring , but it would be awry to say it was an gentle conclusion . While Samsung has an bound for the reason I ’ve explained , there ’s always the nagging doubt at the back of my mind : What if this is it ?
One of the Oura Ring ’s great strengths has been theongoing support and updatesfrom Oura . While raw rings have come up out with improved sensors and updated designs , when you corrupt an Oura Ring , you’re able to be fairly sure it ’ll get even updates and additions .
But can I say that about Samsung ? It ’s hard to say . Yes , Samsung is substantial where its phones and smartwatches are concerned , and I would n’t think twice about purchase a recent one of either from Samsung . But a chic ring is a raw endeavor for the Korean companionship , and if it has n’t lead enough clearance for more features and updates down the line , then my impudent ring is going to feel old very fast . This is doubly as lawful if Samsung discombobulate out a Galaxy Ring 2 at this time next year .
Is this perhaps too pessimistic of me ? possibly . But when I ’m spend $ 400 on an easily lost , well break up machine , I want to know I ’ll be rewarded for calculate after it . Hopefully , Samsung will prove just as true and generous as Oura , but we ’ll have to hold back and see . I ’m still excited about my Galaxy Ring , but until that first fresh lineament package neglect , I ’ll be wondering if I should have bought an Oura instead .
