Smart rings will have something to conquer figures like the athlete Shaquille O’Neal, Prince Harry of England or the founder of Google, Larry Page. They opted for Oura, an accessory with years of experience. Now Samsung is showing off its chest and wants to compete with its first smart ring: the Galaxy Ring. EL PAÍS has tested this gem for a few days, which in addition to monitoring all types of vital signs, stands out compared to multiple smart watches because it almost lasts a week of autonomy. Although it is a ring that delivers and has great potential, it is only available for users with an Android phone and still has room for improvement. These are its pros and cons.
The best
When Cinderella lost one of her glass slippers on the palace stairs, the prince ordered his royal advisors to go from house to house trying it on all the young women in the kingdom. Having your first contact with the Galaxy Ring feels a little like being one of those young girls. In this case, there is no shoe or prince. But there is a delivery man who appears at home so that one can try on several rings.
It carries a free trial kit with nine plastic rings of different sizes. The first step is to choose the one that best fits. The ring is made of titanium, has an elegant finish and is available in three colors: gold, silver and black.
The device monitors how much the user moves – steps, minutes and calories -, heart rate and sleep. It records both the hours you sleep and your body temperature, blood oxygen levels and sleep phases. Additionally, Samsung has created a metric called energy score. It is calculated by analyzing sleep, activity and heart rate. “It helps you know when your body needs a break and helps you find the right balance between activity and rest,” he says.
The score ranges from 0 to 100 and can be excellent, good, fair, or in need of attention. The ring measurements can be consulted on your mobile phone, they are quite accurate and are accompanied by visually attractive graphs.
- A battery to fall in love with
One of the strong points of the Galaxy Ring compared to smart watches from technological giants like Samsung or Apple is the battery. When you get used to a battery that lasts just over a day, not worrying about charging the ring in six or seven days is a real luxury. Despite this, Samsung’s goal with this ring is not to dethrone smartwatches. There is a big difference between these devices: the ring is much simpler, it does not tell the time or show notifications and it lacks some advanced functions such as performing electrocardiograms.
- A premium charging case
Some smart rings like Oura They have a charging base to fill the battery. Samsung’s option to charge the Galaxy Ring is more useful – also for carrying the ring – and aesthetically pleasing. This is a transparent charging case with a premium finish. When you place the ring inside, a circular LED indicator shows the charge level. The battery is completely refilled in an hour and a half.
Worst
- A device that could be more comfortable
The Samsung Galaxy Ring costs 449 euros. In addition to being expensive, it happens like other smart rings. It’s a big ring and it shows. It measures 7 millimeters wide and 2.6 millimeters thick. Samsung recommends wearing it on the index finger, but they assure that it also works on other fingers. “Whether you’re typing on a keyboard, cooking, or even sleeping, the Galaxy Ring’s slim form factor and lightweight titanium frame are so comfortable you’ll forget it’s there,” says Samsung. For some people, this is real. But if you’re getting used to wearing thin, significantly smaller rings, the Galaxy Ring bumps into other fingers and it’s hard to forget that it’s ‘there’. Despite this, with its 2.3 grams of weight, it is a light ring.
Sometimes wearing this ring feels like wearing a disco on your finger. The Galaxy Ring has three sensors that Samsung advises placing on the bottom of the finger. It’s easy to know where they are because it’s indicated by a small line on the outside of the ring. This mark is on the inside of the palm of the hand, so it does not attract attention. The sensors have lights that turn on intermittently. During the day they go completely unnoticed.
However, in dark environments such as the cinema or when lying in bed at night, it is easy to notice how your finger lights up with green and red flashes.
- A somewhat imprecise blood oxygen measurement
In the tests carried out by this newspaper, the blood oxygen data have sometimes been somewhat imprecise. A normal oxygen saturation level ranges between 95% and 100%, depending on MedlinePlusthe United States National Library of Medicine. “Contact your healthcare professional if your oxygen saturation level is 92% or less. If it drops to 88% or less, seek immediate medical attention,” the agency indicates. In the tests carried out by this newspaper, some nights they have reached 83%. It is important to note that the Galaxy Ring is not a medical device. Samsung knows this: “Please note that blood oxygen monitoring is only intended to monitor your fitness and well-being, and not for the diagnosis or treatment of any disease.”
- Compatibility and repairability
Bad news for iPhone users. The Galaxy Ring is only compatible with phones with Android 11.0 or higher and a minimum memory of 1.5 GB and there are some functions – such as taking a photo with the phone by pinching your fingers – that are only available on certain Samsung phones. Added to this is that if the ring’s autonomy deteriorates in the future, it is not possible to just change the battery. The same thing happens if it gets scratched or damaged: it is not possible to change just the outside of the ring. As Samsung indicates, “you cannot replace the components of the Galaxy Ring.” That is, you would have to buy another completely new ring.
