Galaxy Unpacked: A Galaxy-Powered Health Tracking Smart Ring and AI-Powered Wellness Tips for Smartphones and Other Electronics Devices at the LHC
It’s a big day for the company. A health- tracking smart ring is one of eight new devices that the Korean company gave away at its biannualGalaxy Unpacked event, which took place today in Paris. There’s growing interest in the miniature trackers from Oura and Ultrahuman as well as the introduction of theGalaxy Ring at this time.
Powered by the new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip and equipped with a new dual-frequency GPS, Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 7 is faster than its predecessor and can track your location even more precisely. It is a minor upgrade, but it is notable that it supports FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection features, which is an industry first.
As with the Galaxy Ring, both watches also get Galaxy AI-powered features like Energy Score and Wellness Tips. The former is similar to readiness metrics found on other health trackers, while the latter offers personalized insights based on your health tracking data.
The most durable Wearable in the lineup is equipped with 10ATM of water resistance, a titanium case and a sapphire crystal lens. It also offers more fitness tracking capabilities, like a multisport activity profile, a loud emergency siren, a Functional Threshold Power metric for cyclists, and a Race feature so you can compare your past and current performance. There’s even a Quick Button for easy access to the workout app and other features like the flashlight.
Also like other smart rings, the Galaxy Ring puts a big emphasis on sleep. Users will get a sleep score that takes into account metrics like movement during sleep, sleep latency, and heart and respiratory rate. Although smart rings are good for sleep tracking, theGalaxy Ring does not have the new FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection feature and is only capable of irregular heart rhythm notifications. The only ones we have are theGalaxy Watches.
Given this was a hands-on, I didn’t get to actually test out the Galaxy Ring’s software, tracking accuracy, or battery life. That said, Samsung has some interesting ideas of how smart rings ought to work within its own gadget ecosystem.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring comes in nine size options and three colors: black, silver, and gold. Preordering is available from a number of retailers, but it starts at $399.99.
It was a little thinner when worn next to my Oura Ring though that may be due to the fact that the ring is slightly curved. It’s also lightweight, though not noticeably so compared to other smart rings. It can be between 2.3 and 3g. Speaking of sizes, there are nine total, ranging from size five to 13.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra: A High-performance, Low-to-Moderate Risk Watch with FDA Clearing for Sleep Apnea Detection
The premium watch in the series is theGalaxy Watch Ultra. This watch is specifically for the outdoor athlete. But whereas the Pro had its own distinct vibe, the Ultra isn’t exactly hiding where it got its inspiration from.
Speaking of new straps, there are now options that cater to runners, hikers, and swimmers. The screen is brighter, going up to 3,000 nits. It’s got dual-frequency GPS, you can take it diving, and there’s a new multisport activity profile. You can turn your watch face to red to make it easier to read at night. There are new power-saving modes that get you up to 100 hours of battery overall and up to 48 hours of exercise. There’s a new Functional Threshold Power metric for cyclists. The race feature allows you to compare performance. Did I mention there’s an 85dB emergency siren, too? (I heard it — it does get quite loud.)
The biggest thing is, this year, Samsung announced the two watches have FDA De Novo clearance for sleep apnea detection. That’s a big deal, as this is an industrywide first. The sleep tracking data used to monitor sleep disruptions is indicative of moderate to severe sleep apnea. This feature doesn’t mean it is a diagnostic tool, just because it is FDA cleared. It just means the FDA has classified it as a low-to-moderate risk device that doesn’t have a precedent and is safe for its intended use. Rather, you’re meant to take that information and consult your healthcare provider.
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