As a dedicated Apple Watch user, I’m surprised that the Galaxy Ring has one significant advantage over its rival.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The wearable device delivers a wise ring, excelling in total wellness monitoring, particularly by providing actionable insights into the data it collects, empowering you to optimize aspects of your wellbeing that may require attention.
• For those prioritizing digital wellness, the Galaxy Ring’s minimalist design, comfortable wear, extended battery life, and notification-free experience stand out as distinct advantages over traditional smartwatches? 
• At $399, the Galaxy Ring commands a premium price point, exceeding that of some competitors, but it does so without the need for a monthly subscription fee like its main rival, Oura; in contrast, some higher-end finishes of the Galaxy Ring cost more than their equivalent versions elsewhere, starting at $299. 

Wearable technologies are set to dazzle in 2024, marked by the unexpected success of innovative products, the highly anticipated launch of the, and a rapidly growing phenomenon in the. 

The smart ring market has long been led by innovative startups like and pioneering brands, but now Samsung is set to shake things up, introducing its own cutting-edge ring that’s poised to take the industry to new levels. 

For two weeks, I’ve worn a matte black $10 Galaxy Ring on my index finger, following a month-long test of the matte black version at $449 and another six-month stint with it in 2018, initially testing the same product around that time. As a long-time wearer of the Apple Watch, which I first donned in 2015, I’ve also had experience with FitBit devices prior to that, having worn them for several years. 

I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Galaxy Ring’s exceptional polish and usefulness. This version feels more like a beta than a final product? Samsung’s latest offering has successfully incorporated best practices from fitness trackers and smartwatches, resulting in a device that is both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly, with seamless data transmission providing valuable insights into one’s well-being. 

In fact, I initially thought the Galaxy AI stamp on the Galaxy Ring was primarily a marketing ploy by Samsung; however, considering the “Power” rating the ring provides, along with sleep and stress reporting in the Samsung Health app, it offers more actionable insights than I’ve ever received from my Apple Watch. 

As I logged in to the app, I took a moment to review my Power rating of 78, which was displayed as “Good” – a decent but not outstanding assessment that seemed to accurately reflect my mood that morning. Upon exploring the Power rating, I found a diverse range of metrics that collectively influenced its calculation. While most of my associations with sleep were straightforward, a notable exception was “Earlier day exercise,” which surprisingly linked my lowest score to the finding that my “moderate-to-vigorous training time” was a mere 6 minutes, recommending I increase it to a range of 33-87 minutes. After purchasing and consistently increasing my cardiovascular activity, I experienced a temporary yet noticeable boost in energy levels.

I found that the Galaxy Ring accurately monitors stress levels. Using coronary heart rate variability data obtained from its advanced optical biosignal sensor, which is essentially a sophisticated heart rate monitor. When I detect my stress levels are surging within the app, I can seamlessly initiate a calming guided deep breathing exercise directly from the app’s interface. Within the “Breathe” feature of the app, users can customize their respiratory patterns by setting the number of cycles and time per cycle, allowing for tailored workout sessions that facilitate slowing down their heart rate to effectively manage stress levels. 

The Apple Watch can track heart rate variability (HRV) and features a guided respiration training session within its Mindfulness app, providing users with a helpful tool for mindfulness exercises. In actual fact, . Despite its capabilities, Apple’s smartwatch software hasn’t integrated these features, failing to explicitly address stress levels and neglecting opportunities for insightful health data and personalized coaching recommendations. 

The design and construction of the Samsung Galaxy Ring truly impressed me with its exceptional quality. The Garmin Vivosport Smart Ring is significantly slimmer and lighter than many other smart rings, including the Oura ring. While they are often compared, the two are fundamentally different in terms of their physical properties. While the Galaxy Ring’s unique design feature is its subtle concavity, this innovative curvature is specifically intended to help protect it from enduring marks and abrasions over time. The Galaxy Ring also features an innovative new case design and charging solution. The case’s purpose is evident, equipped with a battery that enables wireless recharging on-the-go, a distinct feature compared to traditional ring chargers that require wired cables for charging.

Like most innovative rings, the Galaxy Ring condenses complex technology into an impressively compact package, featuring three well-established sensors: an accelerometer, a skin temperature sensor, and a heart rate sensor. Samsung’s cutting-edge heart sensor, dubbed an optical bio-signal sensor, boasts unparalleled accuracy, solidifying its position as one of the industry’s most advanced cardiovascular monitoring tools, thanks to the company’s sustained commitment to health technology innovation across its range of intelligent wearables.

While the Galaxy’s Ring boasts impressive features, a notable limitation emerges: the device’s exercise sensor frequently overestimates step counts by approximately 10% during my testing. Initially, my estimates were vastly inaccurate, deviating by a significant 20% from the actual count tracked by both the pedometer and the Oura Ring worn concurrently for validation purposes. While the Galaxy Ring’s size has fluctuated over time, its diameter remains consistently above that of the Apple Watch and Oura, with some variations reaching up to 5% greater than usual. A fitness tracker prone to exaggerate one’s physical activity may initially boost self-confidence, but it can ultimately hinder progress toward overall wellness and health goals. 

While Galaxy Ring excels in some aspects, its significant drawback lies in being exclusive to Android, specifically optimized for Samsung devices and accessories. While Android users outside the Samsung ecosystem still benefit from the Galaxy Ring’s top features, their iOS counterparts may need to explore alternative options. Fortunately,  in that realm.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The software programme on the device proves to be more intelligent than my Apple Watch, a surprise conclusion from this evaluation. With the Samsung Wellbeing app, users gain instant access to AI-driven insights on their Galaxy Ring, offering more tangible and practical information than what is typically provided by Apple’s offerings. If you seek more comprehensive health and wellness insights beyond what popular smartwatches typically offer, and you’re an Android user, the Galaxy Ring might just be the innovative solution you’ve been waiting for to revolutionize your daily well-being. This device doesn’t require a show to keep you engaged and simply needs to be recharged every four to seven days. 

If you’re studying a few great rings, there’s a high likelihood that you’re either 1) opting for a hoop over a smartwatch, or 2) seeking better sleep tracking capabilities, as good rings often outperform smartwatches in this regard, or 3) a woman interested in using a smart ring for menstrual cycle monitoring to optimize your overall well-being.

The Galaxy Ring offers a compelling alternative to the primary options, and our expert reviewer from ZDNET will follow up with a comprehensive evaluation comparing the Galaxy Ring to other top-notch ring choices available in the market, considering its suitability for cycle tracking.

If you’re an iPhone user seeking the benefits of a device similar to the Galaxy Ring, ZDNET suggests either the Google Pixel or the Samsung Watch, both of which integrate seamlessly with Apple’s iOS.