smart rings They are still a relatively specialized product category, but the form factor is ready to grow exponentially in the coming years. While companies like Oura have led the way for smart wearables, it should come as no surprise that companies like more conventional companies like Amazfit and Samsung entering the segment this year.
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I’ve been using smart rings since late 2023, juggling between RingConn Smart Ring and the Ultrahuman Air Ring in recent months. I’ve tried a couple more, and in my six months of using smart rings, I’d like to think I’ve developed a good idea of which features are nice to have, practical, and unnecessary.
Since Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Ring during its upcoming Unpacked event, here are the best features I’d like to see the company take advantage of.
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1. Add support for Google Find My Device
My skin is sensitive to smartwatch sensors, so no matter what smartwatch I’m wearing, I tend to get skin rashes over time. It’s one of the main reasons I prefer smart rings and consider them a better form factor for health tracking. However, smart rings lack one essential feature: Find my device support.
I realize it’s a ring; Ideally, it cannot be removed, lost or stolen. But it can be uncomfortable when you use it on the same finger (switch between two fingers) every day. I take mine off while I shower, sometimes randomly to relax my finger, and also when I eat. In fact, I almost lost a smart ring in December after misplacing it at dinner. (Turns out it was in a bin outside my apartment because I had accidentally cleaned it out along with the pizza boxes from that night.)
Also: This $299 smart ring is my new sleep tracker and it’s not from Oura
That’s why having a feature like Find My Device on the Samsung Galaxy Ring is essential and a big selling point for people like me. Even if Samsung doesn’t take advantage of Google’s location center, it can still use its in-house SmartTings Find service.
2. A charging case over a charging disk
One of the biggest problems with current portable devices is poor charging solutions. I don’t like proprietary chargers and discs (to a point). On the other hand, devices that consider universal charging supports, such as the OnePlus Watch 2 and Ray-Ban Goal, has been my preference. The former uses a detachable disk charger with a USB-C port, meaning I only need to carry one cable while traveling, while the Meta Ray-Bans case feels like a regular sunglasses case that also works. as a charger.
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Of the smart rings I’ve used to date, I’ve found the RingConn charging case to be the ideal smart ring solution for several reasons. For one, it’s not as easy to misplace as the smaller disc chargers that come with the Oura Ring. Secondly, I don’t need to worry about finding an outlet to charge my ring. And finally, a charging case serves as a storage accessory for when you’re not wearing the ring, preventing it from getting lost. (On that note, maybe implementing Find My Device in the charging case would also work.)
3. Have a free tier with basic features
The Oura ring starts at $299 and goes up to $449, but there is a $6 a month recurring subscription that increases the cost of owning one. In contrast, the $349 Ultrahuman Ring and the $279 RingConn Smart Ring only require a one-time payment. However, RingConn’s CEO confirmed in a interview Recently, the company is considering adding more features and exploring a paid tier while continuing to offer basic health tracking features for free.
Also: I tried this smart ring for fitness addicts. This is how it beats the Oura Ring
There’s no confirmation as to whether Samsung will opt for a subscription model or a one-time payment option, but I’m hoping for the latter. Or at least I hope Samsung doesn’t go the way of Oura and keep all the features behind a paywall. Instead, the company should offer a free tier with basic features and a subscription for all the extras.
4. Experience matters
To date, no smart ring has given me the frictionless user experience I desire. Both ultrahuman and RingConn They have great apps with clear information, but they are not consistent with notifications.
Also: I tested the Samsung Galaxy Ring and it beats the Oura in 2 significant ways
I am currently using the Ultrahuman Ring Air and the app consistently does not notify me when the ring is low on battery. It sends battery alert and “Phase Delay” notifications only after I open the app, which I do every morning to sync data. It does not appear to be active in the background despite having access to all necessary permissions. The same problem occurs with the RingConn app. I had at least one case where these rings didn’t track my sleep because they were downloaded or not syncing in the background.
I hope Samsung changes that. A company of Samsung’s stature should be able to offer a better and easier user experience. As someone who prefers using a smart ring over a smartwatch, I’m looking forward to the Samsung Galaxy Ring. I have high expectations and I hope that the South Korean giant does not disappoint with its foray into this new segment.