Gadget review
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring tested: Smart, stylish, but not flawless
The innovative ring excels in comfort and battery life, but can you trust its data?
Judging by the reactions I've encountered, Samsung's Ring is generating a lot of interest—especially the question, "What does it do?" Looking at the ring itself, it's hard to understand its purpose. It has no display, indicator light, or button to turn it on or connect it to another device.
The short explanation is simple: it's like a smartwatch, but solely for monitoring metrics. There’s no display, no microphone, and no speaker for calls or other phone-connected features.
Lightweight, but not a toy
The Galaxy Ring looks like a regular ring but feels almost like a toy. It's made of titanium, yet its lightweight build (just 2 to 3 grams) gives it a plastic-like feel. The weight is barely noticeable on the finger. Though slightly thick, it remains comfortable, making it a great alternative for those who dislike sleeping with a smartwatch.
The ring comes in a compact box that doubles as a charger for its internal battery. It is available in several sizes, and before purchasing, you'll need to use a sizing kit in-store to find the right fit.
Since the ring lacks a display or indicators, you'll need two Samsung apps to access its data: Galaxy Wearable (for connecting and adjusting settings) and Samsung Health (for tracking metrics). While the Galaxy Ring is compatible with any Android device running version 11 or higher, some features are exclusive to Samsung devices. Notably, it is not compatible with iPhones.
No Samsung smartphone required
Connecting and operating the ring is straightforward: simply open the Galaxy Wearable app and follow the instructions. A short animation explains how to wear the ring correctly for accurate readings. While the ring has no buttons, a small marking helps position it properly.
With minimal exposed parts, the Galaxy Ring meets the IP68 standard, ensuring good resistance to dust and water. Samsung states that you can shower and wash your hands with it, but in the fine print, the company advises rinsing it with fresh water after exposure to seawater and drying it thoroughly. Samsung also warns that water resistance may degrade over time and recommends avoiding exposure to chemicals such as cosmetics, antibacterial sprays, and pesticides. In short, the ring is durable—but don't take that for granted.
Insights and recommendations
The data is presented in a clear and user-friendly format, and Samsung adds AI-driven insights to enhance the experience. For example, sleep tracking includes details like total sleep time, deep and REM sleep phases, body temperature, blood oxygen levels, and more. The sleep score not only summarizes sleep quality but also explains how it’s calculated, why each factor matters, and how to improve it.
Beyond sleep, the ring provides an energy score with similar detailed breakdowns and recommendations. Users can also manually check their heart rate, blood pressure, or stress levels via the app in addition to continuous monitoring. The ring helps women track their menstrual cycle and reminds users to get up and move if they’ve been inactive for an hour.
A few extra tricks
For Samsung device owners, the ring includes a fun gesture control feature. Users can take pictures or silence notifications by enabling this function in the app. The feature involves a double-pinch gesture, like making an "OK" sign in the air. While useful for selfies or quick actions, it also serves as a cool trick to show off. Samsung may add contactless payment support in the future, similar to the payment options available on smartphones and smartwatches.
Data accuracy concerns
A key issue remains: measurement accuracy. The ring tracks steps, a feature available on any smartphone, but once I put it on, my daily step count jumped by about 2,000 steps—despite no change in my walking habits. I also wore a Xiaomi smartwatch simultaneously, and its data revealed a significant discrepancy compared to the ring’s measurements.
The inconsistencies extend to sleep tracking as well. While the overall sleep duration was similar across devices, the breakdown of light, deep, and REM sleep varied significantly. This raises the question: which device is correct? While all such devices include disclaimers stating that they are not intended for medical use, large data discrepancies are concerning.
Battery life and usability
One area where the Galaxy Ring excels is battery life. It lasts about a week on a single charge, far outpacing Samsung's smartwatches. A 30-minute charge replenishes about 50% of the battery. The app displays battery status, and the ring has a small internal light that activates when it needs charging. This light can also be triggered via the app to help locate the ring if misplaced.
Is it worth it?
The price is comparable to a smartwatch. In terms of size and weight, the ring is an impressive product—it’s barely noticeable, easy to use, and has excellent battery life.
Water resistance and durability concerns can be mitigated with extra caution—for instance, I chose to remove it while washing my hands to reduce risk.
However, the main drawback is data accuracy. The inconsistencies put a big question mark over its reliability, at least for now. Ideally, Samsung will address these issues through software updates. At this price point, users should expect precise tracking—otherwise, more affordable smartwatches may be a better choice.
