FIRST LOOK: Samsung Galaxy Ring – health data at your fingertips

Straight after CES this year Samsung held their first Unpacked event of the year in San Jose to reveal the Samsung Galaxy S24, but at the same event they teased an all new device – a Ring – some sort of wearable health device. While we still know very little, today we got our first real look at the Samsung Galaxy Ring here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Showcased behind glass the Galaxy Ring comes in three colours, and appears to also come in nine different sizes – that’s a solid 27 different variants of the device.

EFTM understands the device will have a week-long battery life and will track both movement and data based on your heart rate. Critically, it fills a void for people who want valuable sleep data but are unwilling to wear a smartwatch to bed.

With sleep being a strong contributor to good health and wellbeing it’s the one metric that current devices have struggled to measure for those unwilling to change their habits – like wearing a watch to bed.

Dr. Hon Pak, Samsung’s VP & Head of Digital Health Team says “Samsung recognises that gaining a deep understanding of one’s personal health can result in significant long-term wellness benefits for our users. As we look to deliver on our vision of providing users with a comprehensive yet simplified approach to everyday wellness, we realize choice is a big factor. Obtaining accurate, detailed and advanced information on personal health conditions is the foundation of helping better track and action change.”

“Mobile devices will become the primary access point for AI, and through Samsung Galaxy — with our broad and comprehensive product portfolio, heritage of innovation and philosophy of open collaboration — we’re well positioned to accelerate its global expansion.”

“That’s why we’re thrilled to be introducing Samsung Galaxy Ring later this year — bringing Samsung’s accumulated innovations to the smallest form for comfortable 24/7 wear. As a new addition to our wearables portfolio, Galaxy Ring will offer users an all-new way to simplify everyday wellness, empowering them with greater insights and more ways to understand themselves day and night. With Galaxy Ring, users can embrace an unrivalled experience during every step of their wellness journey, all while being delivered in lockstep with Samsung’s broader vision for a more connected, integrated and seamless digital wellness platform.“

There’s no word yet on the pricing or availability for the ring, but it’s expected to be well into the second half of the year. One key challenge Samsung will need to overcome is the actual purchase process – picking the right size isn’t easy, so how will they manage the process of selling in retail or online a device that needs to be “tried on”. Time will tell.