Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I ’ve only worn theSamsung Galaxy Ringfor a few moments , but I can already tell you that the Oura Ring is in trouble .
It ’s not because of the technology — it seems Oura ’s still winning there — but because of the primed and the intention . When we ’re let the cat out of the bag about voguish jewelry , those are the most important aspects of all . And Samsung seems to have pass with flying colors it .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
It’s all in the Galaxy Ring’s design
I ’ve worn theOura Ringfor three long time , and am very familiar with the pattern and how it fits on my digit . It ’s splendid and never uncomfortable , but it looks and feels a bit old next to the Galaxy Ring . Samsung has cleverly gone for a concave shape for its first saucy ring , which means it ’s ever - so - slightly indented on the open , and the edge digest just a lilliputian proud . What this does is offer a degree of shelter against scuff and scratches on the main section ( while increase the likelihood of scrawl on the sharpness ) . More significantly , the pattern give the ring graphic symbol .
This really matters , and it ’s even more important here than it is in smartwatches . I ’ve got towantto wear a smart tintinnabulation . I try the Galaxy Ring in the same size of it 11 as my Oura Ring , and in a smaller size that fit another fingerbreadth , and it is noticeably thinner and light than the Oura Ring . This is quite a feat consider the seemingly hour differences involved here , and it contributes a bunch to the Galaxy Ring appearing more modernistic than the Oura Ring .
I could n’t really sense the 2.6 millimetre thick ring between my finger , and even at its heaviest , it consider just3 grams . The titanium shell looks brilliant in black , which is just the correct amount of shiny and flatness . Even the amber is n’t too eye - catching , so it wo n’t only be for statement makers .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I do n’t observe the Oura Ring on my finger all that much , but that ’s mostly because I ’m used to it . It does take a little time for it to become part of you , and I expect this menses of adjustment to be far short with the Galaxy Ring because Samsung has nailed the size of it and weight . I like that the excogitation is n’t basic like theUltrahuman Ring Airand is n’t a direct transcript of the Oura Ring either .
It ’s suitably attractive , yet not overly showy . I love that it has an actual design . Samsung is flexing its wearable plan art this year with both the Galaxy Ring and theGalaxy Watch Ultra , and I think it ’s blend in to win plenty of raw buff because of it .
No subscription, but less tech
The Galaxy Ring is an expensive piece of engineering , but Samsung made a point of telling journalists during a briefing on the product that it wo n’t saddle a subscription fee to access its app or take advantage of its Galaxy AI features . This will also be a causal agency for concern for Oura , as it continue to charge a monthly fee to see all the data in its app .
However , I really like the Oura Ring app , and I do n’t find the same way about Samsung ’s resolution . The Galaxy Ring will apply the Galaxy Health app , just like the Galaxy Watch series . It ’s notbad , but it ’s not quite as good as Oura ’s focused , simple - to - realise app .
It ca n’t quite match the Oura Ring in full term of technology and health - tracking algorithm , either , at least from what I sympathize . I gibe with Samsung about the sopor - tracking features , which is one of a smart ring ’s biggest selling period , and the Galaxy Ring matches the Galaxy Watch ’s sleep - trailing power .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Sadly , it ’s more canonical than the Oura Ring ’s eternal sleep tracking as it does not include nub charge per unit variability datum or rest heart rate , two primal system of measurement that help you empathise your overall health . The app shows your heart charge per unit and pelt temperature collected by the Galaxy Ring and conk out down sleep stages . It also records disturbances like saw wood , so it ’s not overly introductory . That said , I ’ll likely miss the insights I get from the Oura Ring ’s data .
It ’s great to see Samsung take cycles/second chase after seriously . It has work with the popular app Natural Cycles to include most of its engineering in Samsung Health when connected to the Galaxy Ring — somethingOura has done since 2022 . There ’s also an reward if you wear both a Galaxy Ring and a Galaxy Watch , where the Ring ’s battery lifetime will be extended by 30 % due to the smartwatch conduct over some of the heart pace tracking . The Galaxy Ring also pay off a gesture ascendence when link to a Galaxy smartphone , with a twofold pinch ( now , where have we seen that before ) activating phone features like withdraw a photo .
The Oura Ring has met its match
The design is a key strength of the Galaxy Ring , and Samsung ’s presentation goes a step beyond the Oura Ring , too . It comes in a transparent charging instance that reminded me ofNothing ’s case for its earbuds . It ’s also where you put in and charge the ring . Samsung approximate seven days from a individual charge and an 80 - minute recharge . The case itself has both USB - C and wireless charging . I specially liked the glowing ring around the gang itself when you place it inside , which indicates the amount of current thrill . It ’s swish and nerveless .
Why do I think the Oura Ring is in problem despite the technology perhaps not being quite as good ? It ’s because the Galaxy Ring has a different labor in front of it than the Oura Ring . The Galaxy Ring has to convince the people that smart rings are deserving wearing and deserving buying .
To do that , it require to seem and find like a suitable piece of tech - laden jewellery that someone will willingly wear 24 hours a Clarence Day and spend a considerable sum of money on . I recall Samsung has come through here , and when it advance from a visual and tactile perspective , the underlying tech being more or less behind the verbatim , but less well - fuck competition may not matter .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
However , once it has convinced you to wear and buy it , then it has to keep you around with the right technical school and app . There ’s nothing much here that ’s new beyond what you get from get into a Galaxy Watch , and its sleep trailing does seem to be a step behind the Oura Ring . We wo n’t know how Samsung ’s Health app and lineament translate over to the Galaxy Ring until we seek it out , but there ’s no doubtfulness in my head that the Galaxy Ring is off to the very good starting time .
Until now , the Oura Ring has n’t had a true competitor . But thanks to the Galaxy Ring , that has in conclusion changed .
