Oura Ring HorizonAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
My appreciation of theOura Ring smart halo is well document , and I ’ve worn it almost ceaselessly for more than two old age . It signify I am very intimate with both its cocksure and negative aspects and have a sound estimate of where competitors ask to shine if they are blend to contend , as it remains the smart pack to buy at the import .
Samsung used its January 2024 Galaxy Unpacked event to permit the creation know therumored Galaxy Ring is realand total at some head in the hereafter . It ’s all very exciting , as Samsung definitely knows what it ’s doing when it add up to hardware and health trailing . But sassy rings are still fairly fresh devices , so it has flock to learn , too .
Oura Ring HorizonAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
This is what I cogitate Samsung will need in decree to drag me away from the Oura Ring , and also what it take to teach from its elemental competitor .
Basic fitness tracking for everyone
One of my self-aggrandising on-going gripes with the Oura Ring is its inability to actively track a canonic strength or HIIT exercising when you need it to . you may track walk , running , and cycling manually , but that ’s all . Samsung want to add more comprehensive on - need workout tracking to the Galaxy Ring correctly from the start . It does n’t have to be as complete as theGalaxy Watch 6 , but it does need to cater more than just the basics .
The Oura Ring is dear at auto - tracking different workouts that necessitate a lot of movement , and an exercise have the Oura Ring has hit late that I fuck is its machine - physical exertion trailing for housework . It sounds a bit featherbrained , but I ’d never pick out ( or remember ) to traverse housework on a smartwatch , so having the Oura Ring pick it up is really helpful . It can make up a lot of your daily calorie burn and activity , so it ’s nice to see it recognized , and it would be fantastic for Samsung to think otherwise about the Galaxy Ring , too .
Don’t try to make it a smartwatch replacement
Having say that I want to see a more comprehensive exercise trailing system , I do n’t need the Galaxy Ring to betoocomprehensive . The Oura Ring does a decent business of doing just enough exterior of sleep tracking to make it worth wear all daytime and overnight , but it never strays too far into smartwatch territory — and it ’s a skillful matter . Samsung need to see the Galaxy Ringas its own deviceand separate from the Galaxy Watch 6 .
It does not need notifications , buttons , or anything that will ruin the battery life . Smart mob are best when they are soundless partners , look out over you rather than trying to get your aid . Instead , Samsung should take itsupdated eternal sleep tracking feature and algorithmand refine it even further for use on the Galaxy Ring , as it ’s one of the Oura Ring ’s great strengths , and it require to be the best possible if it ’s going to contend .
No subscription
You pay $ 6 per month for the pleasure of using Oura ’s app for the Oura Ring , and this does not need to be a feature film on the Samsung Galaxy Ring . I have voiced myconcerns over a subscription - free-base Samsung seaworthiness tracking plan , as it ’s a definite ( and unwelcome)industry trend , and Samsung itself has made occupy noise about such a move in the past .
Oura is not Samsung and does not have Samsung ’s budget , so a subscription package is perceivable . Plus , the Oura app is brilliant , so you may at least see where some of the money goes . Samsung belike has a banging budget foreverythingand probably does n’t need extra subsidy from us to set in motion and indorse a impudent ring . I ’m sure hoping that , like the Galaxy Watch 6 , the Galaxy Ring ’s seaworthiness rooms and app will be subscription - free .
A simple, clean app
Samsung ’s Health app is adequate , but the Oura Ring ’s app is superb . It ’s so easy to receive what you ’re see for , the layout is clear and logical , and the basic daily scores — Readiness , Sleep , and Activity — are delightfully unproblematic and informative . It does n’t bother you with many presentment , you may orient your preferences for how it sets destination , and it is incredibly reliable .
People do n’t necessarily purchase smart ring as an choice to a smartwatch or physical fitness tracker , and very in - deepness data point does n’t always need to be front - and - center , which the app call for to reflect . It ’s something Oura has got exactly correct , and Samsung really needs to do the same with the Galaxy Ring . I do n’t consider it will work as well if it ’s simply the same Health app we have with the Galaxy Watch , as single necessity and the purchasers themselvesare potentially quite dissimilar for the two .
Going in a dissimilar direction to the Oura Ring is fine , and it ’s howUltrahuman is come near chic rings , but additional complexness and a big emphasis on performance and training may make an already niche twist even more recess and not work to its design strengths . I ’ll be hope the Galaxy Ring ask Oura ’s , and not Ultrahuman ’s , attack to its app .
Comfort needs to be absolutely right
If you do n’t wear a health tracking gadget , you wo n’t get any of its benefits , and sustain a sassy hoop right so you wear it all the clip is much strong than getting a smartwatch right . There ’s also the fact many the great unwashed who consider the Galaxy Ring may never have worn a ring beforeever , and it needs to not only accommodate well and be comfortable all day and night , but it demand to look unspoilt too .
The Oura Ring does all these thing very well , and it ’s the benchmark against which the Galaxy Ring will be gauge . Samsung ’s smart anchor ring needs to keep off unnecessary thickness and sharp edges , it needs to be lightweight , and you should n’t palpate the sensors on the undersurface . In fact , you should n’t notice the Galaxy Ring at all once you ’ve worn it for a few days .
It needs to establish in several different stopping point to invoke to more people , in multiple size ( providing half - sizes would be a considerable welfare , as the Oura Ring does not ) , and with a sizing kit available for those who desire it . I ’d also get laid to see a edition that ’s tough enough to defy scratch from metallic element or other hard objects and that ’s perhaps a neater solution thanOura ’s silicone case .
Ongoing support is essential
Finally , Samsung must not bury about the Galaxy Ring . It postulate on-going software support and ask to receive even feature updates and improvements . A batch of people will be introduced to smart rings through the Galaxy Ring and should feel like their investiture in “ new ” technology is being recognized over clock time . Oura hasnot always been very upright at thisbut has improved recently .
Smart rings , and fresh jewelry in general , are exciting newfangled wearable applied science that are slowly becoming more coarse , but Samsung is the first truly large name to take the plunge . The Galaxy Ring will inevitably gain plenty of attention , and Samsung needs to be at the top of its game for it . If it ’s a dashing hopes , there ’s a hazard fewer companies or buyers will be make to take the risk on one again .
I ca n’t await to see how the Galaxy Ring flex out .
