After a teaser at the Galaxy S24 Unpacked event earlier this year, Samsung officially launched its Galaxy smart ring at MWC 2024. Disappointingly, it doesn't appear to do anything more than the current offerings in the market.
Dominated by Oura, smart rings have long threatened to dethrone smartwatches as the most popular wearable. That hasn't happened because, from a technical point of view, smart rings are an engineering nightmare since they're just so small. Tech connoisseurs, though, aren't concerned. They hail smart rings as the next best thing and view Samsung's debut as a vindication of their stance.
"Tech giants are racing to launch smart rings because they see them as the next frontier in wearable technology," Joel Kawira, an actor and performance coach, told Tech Times in an interview.
Samsung hasn't shared many details about the Galaxy Ring. As per GSM arena, Samsung's ring will be available in sizes 5-13, with the bigger-sized rings offering slightly larger batteries.
Like other wearables with a larger footprint, a smart ring has several to track your activity and sleep. Some rings can even be used to make contactless payments. Others let you interact with other smart devices, for instance, to turn off lights with a quick gesture or by whispering commands into the ring's built-in microphone.
Currently, most engineering around smart rings isn't happening on the device itself. Companies are working on their software to contextualize the gathered data better and provide more meaningful insights to the user.
There's no denying the fact that the smart ring is a promising form factor. It's more comfortable to wear to bed than a smartwatch. The underside of your finger is also a better place than your wrist to take heart rate and blood oxygen readings.
At the same time, it's also challenging to tinker with its aesthetics and style because of its size. Also, unlike smartwatches that come in various sizes and designs, finding a smart ring that snugly fits a user's finger is a challenge. It also limits sharing the gadget with others.
One Trick Pony?
Sure, a smart ring is a lot more discreet than a smartwatch. But is that alone worth the premium you pay for them?
Leon Gordon, CEO of data and AI analytics firm Onyx Data, thinks so. He believes despite the challenges of cost, lack of features when pitted against smartwatches, and fitting issues, smart rings offer unique advantages.
"Whilst the lack of display could be seen as a negative, it actually offers enhanced privacy as they are less likely to expose personal information compared to smartwatches with screens that can be easily viewed by others," Gordon told Tech Times in an interview.
A personal development coach, Kawira swears by the smart rings' focus on health monitoring, discreet notifications, and innovative input methods. Based on his experience, he believes smart rings align perfectly with consumer demand for unobtrusive, health-focused technology even in their current form.
As things stand now, the most popular smart rings operate as nothing more than discreet, passive health trackers. Their non-invasive collection of reliable data is more helpful to researchers, who can glean more insights than everyday folks. Could they just be a fad?
"While smart rings may seem like a fad due to their current limitations and high cost, the intense interest from tech giants like Samsung and Apple suggests otherwise," says Kawira.
He believes the investment in the form factor from tech giants suggests the industry not only sees a significant potential in the wearable market but also a clear indication of the potential of the smart ring.
Kawira is particularly looking forward to the introduction of innovative interactions through gestures or pressure-sensitive controls.
Gordon is also buoyed by the fact tech giants are rushing to build smart rings. He, too, sees this as a clear indication of the smart rings' potential to be the next big thing in wearable tech.
"I don't believe they will be a fad," Gordon said. "They represent a significant advancement in wearable technology by providing users with innovative ways to interact with their digital lives."
About the author: Mayank Sharma is a technology writer with two decades of experience in breaking down complex technology and getting behind the news to help his readers get to grips with the latest buzzwords and industry milestones. He has had bylines on NewsForge, Linux.com, IBM developerWorks, Linux User & Developer magazine, Linux Voice magazine, Linux Magazine, and HackSpace magazine. In addition to Tech Times, his current roster of publications include TechRadar Pro, and Linux Format magazine. Follow him at https://twitter.com/geekybodhi
