Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10 in Paris is just days away, and the anticipation for the potential launch of the Galaxy Ring is growing.
Until recently, I never thought I’d be interested in a smart ring. But on January 17, during the Galaxy Unpacked event at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, Samsung’s teaser for the Galaxy Ring caught me off guard. As someone who doesn’t like smartwatches, I was surprised by my own reaction, thinking, “I want this and I don’t know why.”
The Galaxy Ring promises to be discreet and packed with sensors that track your heart rate, movement, and sleep. It doesn’t have a screen, which makes it a subtle yet powerful device. After some introspection, I realized that the Galaxy Ring might be the smart device I’ve been looking for, without the bulk and complexity of a smartwatch.
I’ve always been reluctant to wear jewelry, including watches and rings. My background as a carpenter building sets for operas, museums, and even a zoo enclosure for monarch butterflies made me wary of wearing anything that could get damaged. There’s nothing quite like having butterflies land on you while you’re fixing a leaky fiberglass waterfall, but it also made me cautious about wearing watches after scratching one during a project.
The Galaxy Ring, unlike smartwatches, offers a simpler and more elegant solution. While there are other smart rings like those from Oura, Ultrahuman, and Evie, the Galaxy Ring’s minimalist design could be the perfect companion to my phone. However, for Samsung to make the Galaxy Ring a success, it needs to appeal to people like me who prefer simplicity and efficiency over flashy tech. If Samsung misses this mark, the Galaxy Ring might end up being just another accessory for existing Samsung users.