Samsung Galaxy Ring: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors

Samsung is expanding its wearable options with a fitness-focused Galaxy Ring. Here's what we know so far.

When Will the Galaxy Ring Be Released?

We got a peek at the Galaxy Ring at the end of Samsung's Unpacked event on January 17. Considering the reveal, we expect it out this year. It will likely formally debut at the expected Unpacked showcase in late July, in which case it would come out in the summer or fall this year.

A report from Forbes offers more specifics, thanks to a lawsuit Samsung has filed against Oura, the dominant smart ring maker.

"Samsung has completed the design for the Galaxy Ring and expects to commence mass production by mid-June 2024," the filing says. "Samsung will be selling the Galaxy Ring in the United States in or around August of this year."

Galaxy Ring Price Rumors

Speculation is all we have to go on here, but we can get an idea from other smart rings on the market.

Oura Rings, for example, currently run between $300 and $550, depending on material and features, and other offerings like the Circular Slim ($297), Circular Pro ($409), and Evie Ring ($269) fall basically into that range.

Samsung could undercut Oura with a $250 Galaxy Ring, but they'll more likely match it.

We might also be able to guess based on Samsung's smartwatch, which has built-in health features. Depending on size and features, the Galaxy Watch 6 and 6 Classic cost between $239.99 and $369.99.

With the Ring being all sensors and no screen (that we know of), it could cost less than the Watch. But we'd be surprised if that happened. According to leaker Yogesh Brar, the price will be $300-$350, which would be pricy but not surprising.

Brar also says (via Android Authority) that some features of the Galaxy Ring could also sit behind a monthly membership. Oura already has one of these, which runs about $6 a month or $70 a year. The report says that Samsung's membership will run "under $10" a month.

Samsung hasn't mentioned anything officially about a subscription for either the ring or the upcoming Galaxy Watch 7, but the present Galaxy Watch 6 has no such add-on.

Pre-Order Information

Samsung hasn't opened pre-orders yet; we'll add a link here when they do.

Galaxy Ring Specs and Features

The quick look at the Galaxy Ring that we got at Unpacked revealed three sensors on the inside of the wearable, and given existing offerings in both other health-tracking rings and Samsung's own Galaxy Watch, we can guess what some of them do.

The Galaxy Ring will certainly measure heart rate; that's the most basic functionality of most wearable devices, along with steps. Whether this device will include advanced cardiological functions like blood pressure, atrial-fibrillation detection, or blood pressure may depend on Samsung's ability to secure the Ring FDA authorization as a medical device.

The two-by-two array of sensors on the Galaxy Ring are likely optical sensors for pulse and blood oxygen. We couldn't quite make out the others, but the bump on the side is likely to be a temperature gauge.

A skin temperature sensor seems likely, especially if you're meant to wear the Galaxy Ring all day. Changes in skin temperature can accompany illness or stress, and they're also part of the regular sleep process. It makes sense that the Galaxy Ring would also track sleep using other sensors.

Samsung has confirmed some features in that suit it's filed against Oura, saying, "The Galaxy Ring monitors heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, movement, and sleep to provide users valuable insights and offer guidance to improve their health and wellbeing."

Is this an exhaustive list? Probably not; it's more likely that these are just the features that the Galaxy Ring shares with the Oura. The basis of the lawsuit is to get a judgment before Oura can claim that Samsung is infringing on its patents, and other features aren't relevant to that cause.

Unlike the Oura, the Galaxy Ring makes its sensors slightly less noticeable. It doesn't really matter how visible they are when you're wearing it, but Samsung looks to have incorporated them more into the case. It doesn't have the "circuit board" look of other smart rings, and its glossy finish is less interrupted.

The Galaxy Ring is also expected to include Lost Mode. Just as it sounds, you'll be able to use the Samsung Find app to locate the ring if you've lost it. An LED light built-in to the Galaxy Ring will blink to help you find it.

Another rumor about the Galaxy Ring, this one from SuperRoader on X, claims the ring might let you trigger your phone's camera shutter. Instead of asking someone else to snap a photo, you could do it yourself from afar. We're not sure exactly how it would work, but it's probably as easy as swiping or tapping the ring since it doesn't have a screen.

Finally, thanks to a leaker on X, we might know what the Galaxy Ring case looks like. It appears to have a reset or pairing function in the center where the smart ring sits, and possibly some pairing or charging indicator lights along the bottom.

The Latest News About the Galaxy Ring

You can get more news about wearables and other smart gadgets here on Lifewire. Here's the latest about Samsung.