In January, Samsung unveiled its latest wearable device, the Galaxy Ring. Now, it looks like we know more than ever about what is coming and when. August looks like being the moment we can get our hands, I mean our fingers, on the Ring.
Samsung Galaxy Ring in gold finish.
Production And Release Dates
According to a new report in Korean website TheElec, Samsung is planning to start mass production of the Galaxy Ring in May this year.
Then, the site says, it will be released in August, it seems after being announced in July alongside Samsung’s next folding phones. The July date has been teased already, so an August onsale date is a perfect fit with that schedule.
Health Features
According to the report, the accuracy for measurements on the Galaxy Ring is “superior to the watch”. That’s intriguing. Dr Hon Pak, who’s running the project, told me that measurements were on par with the Galaxy Watch, but not ahead of it. So, I’m taking this detail with a pinch of salt.
How Many Rings?
Not how many colors (there are three of those). And not how many sizes—there are nine. No, I mean how many will Samsung manufacture? According to TheElec, Samsung is going to build 400,000 Galaxy Rings in the first production line run. And since there’s “no shortage of special parts,” the site predicts that “there will be no disruption… even if the demand exceeds expectations.”
Healthcare Clearances
The report predicts that the Ring, although it will have health measurement capabilities, will not have a medical device function, because of the certifications needed for this.
That’s fair enough, but Samsung sought, and won, such clearances and approvals for the Galaxy Watch, so it can record ECG measurements, measure blood pressure and track sleep apnea in some countries. I’d be surprised if Samsung isn’t seeking clearance for medical features here. These may not arrive with the Ring’s debut, but, as the report points out, the company “will continue to pioneer the smart ring market by adding medical device functions in the long term.”
Design And Price
The report concludes that the look and cost of the Ring will be crucial. The market will be dominated by “the forecast that the design and price will determine.” More features could make the ring more bulky, but also more sophisticated, so Samsung may need to balance the two.
There’s no news on the price, yet, although I’d have thought it would match or beat that of the brilliant Oura Ring, which starts at $299. That said, Oura charges a subscription, so Samsung can increase the purchase price and not charge a monthly fee.