The Oura Ring ( leave ) and Samsung Galaxy RingAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Samsung late unveiled its young product batting order at its July Galaxy Unpacked effect . Alongside some new foldable phones and smartwatches , arguably the most exciting drvice is theSamsung Galaxy Ring . The Galaxy Ring is Samsung ’s smallest gadget yet , measuring just 2.6 mm wooden-headed and count as small as 2.3 grams .
But despite the low size of it , the Galaxy Ring is a expectant quite a little . This is the first fourth dimension a smartphone maker has created a impertinent ring . The segment has risen in popularity in late eld and has been largely dominate by the Oura Ring , though many other names have pop up — from theRingConn Smart Ringto theUltrahuman Ring Air .
But a big question remains : When is Apple going to finally make its own overbold ring ?
It’s the perfect opportunity for Apple
One of the bad disappointments of the Galaxy Ring is the fact that it is not compatible at all with the iPhone . relatively , anyone with an Android telephone can use the Galaxy Ring just fine . Certain feature — such as the pinch motion to control your headphone ’s camera or alarm — do involve that you have a Samsung phone . For almost everything else , though , any forward-looking Android phone will do .
But iPhone users are left out in the cold when it come to the Galaxy Ring . This is not surprising in the least , because it does seem like Samsung is creating its own fence in ecosystem with its equipment , just like how Apple has been doing for years .
The Apple Watch only works with an iPhone , for example , and features like AirDrop , Handoff , and Continuity ( to name a few ) only work among other Apple devices . AirPods form best with Apple twist , too , though they can technically work with non - Apple devices , but have more special feature article .
The same can be said for Samsung ’s intersection . The Galaxy Watch does not function with iPhones , while Samsung ’s Galaxy Buds cantechnicallypair with an iPhone , though their feature are greatly circumscribed .
Now that Samsung has created its own fresh ring , it ’s prime time for Apple to do the same . And it ’s not like it would be out of the question for Apple to do so — Apple has had a few various smart ring patentssince 2019 at least , if not to begin with .
Why an Apple Ring makes sense
Yes , Apple is already prevalent in the wellness and wearable food market with the Apple Watch . So you may be wonder : Why would Apple cannibalize itself with an Apple Ring ? There are a few reason .
Though many people wear a smartwatch , whether it ’s an Apple Watch or a rival , not everyone wants a smartwatch . After all , it ’s very clean that you ’re wearing a smartwatch and not a even timepiece , which would be consider a piece of jewelry . Traditional lookout man are timeless , refined , and classic . As much as I fuck myApple Watch Ultra , I would n’t say that it ’s classy by any means .
With a fresh mob , it ’s treated more like a bit of jewellery than wearable technical school . Of course , smart rings still involve to be a spot more chunky than a distinctive mob ( especially for womanhood ) because they postulate to house a battery and all those sensors . But even so , rings are much less intrusive to wear than a watch , especially at dark when you go to sleep .
in person , I do n’t wear my Apple Watch Ultra to bed , even though Apple has made improvements to kip tracking with watchOS . rather , I rely on myOura Ringfor my eternal rest metrics because it is barely noticeable when I sleep . It does take some time to get used to , but I ’ve been using it for three years and hardly notice it .
There was alsoan Apple Ring conceptearlier this class , which shows a metal ring with an OLED display that is practically inconspicuous when it ’s not in economic consumption . The conception exhibit this diminutive petty OLED panel display weather and exercise data , and it would even have capacitive button integrated into that small presentation . fundamentally , think of it like a mini Apple Watch for your fingerbreadth .
I have been an iPhone substance abuser since the beginning , and I also have been wearing an Apple Watch for almost a 10 . I have years of wellness data point in my Health app , and well , that ’s not going to change anytime before long . Though I wo n’t be supersede my Apple Watch with only a sassy ring , I think a overbold ring complements the Apple Watch nicely — that ’s why I ’ve been have on an Oura Ring for several years now .
The ball is in Apple’s court
Though the iPhone was definitely a product that defined the time to come of smartphones , Apple has n’t always been the first to market in other production class . For example , Apple Vision Pro come years after VR headsets exist — and its astronomically high damage still prevent it from becoming a mainstream merchandise .
Right now , Samsung has beaten Apple ( and all the other smartphone competitors ) to the lick with a smart band . And though I ’m interested in the Galaxy Ring , the fact that it simply wo n’t work with the iPhone is a big hand ledgeman for me . It really is clock time for Apple to start thinking about making smart jewelry like a ring . After all , the Apple Watch changed wearables like the iPhone did for smartphones .
It ’s difficult to say when Apple will make the Apple Ring a reality — if ever — but the Galaxy Ring has put a whole new level of pressure on the company to do so . And I really hope it works .
