In a recent briefing behind closed doors, we got our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Ring. From a global perspective, this isn’t a new product but for Malaysia, it just arrived in official capacity since our country is one of the places that missed out on its initial release. Without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
Samsung Galaxy Ring Unboxing
The Samsung Galaxy Ring comes in a similar packaging as their Galaxy Buds, with it being a small black box that is minimalist in nature. There’s an illustration of the ring, along with the exact model name, listed on the front, and that’s pretty much all you’re going to get. I expect it to be the same with future iterations, with the exception of the illustration changing slightly such as varying angles or highlighting a key feature / sensor. Inside the box, we found the following items:
- Documentations
- USB-C cable
- Charging case
- The Samsung Galaxy Ring itself
Samsung Galaxy Ring 1st Impressions
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is the most excited I’ve ever been for a wearable since the first year of smartwatches like the old Pebble Watch from over a decade ago. For such a small item to be able to do so many things, albeit not all, that a smartwatch can do is an exciting prospect to me. When you first get one, you’ll get see a charging case reminiscent of the ones for the Galaxy Buds Live. The key differences are that it’s not as rounded and that it’s mostly transparent, which gives it a more futuristic look.
Using it is just like any earbuds charging case as you need to open it to put back / take out the ring, and there’s a USB-C port in the rear for charging. Do keep in mind that you can’t simply place the ring and expect it to charge as it needs to be aligned properly. Fortunately, Samsung has made it relatively simple as there’s a groove on the charging area. This specific part is where the ring’s sensors should align with, and if you’re not sure where that is, it’s the bumpy area on the inside and it’s also where the “I” symbol is located on the outside.
Appearance-wise, there isn’t really much that can be said about the Samsung Galaxy Ring since it’s just that…a ring. It’s practically empty on the outer part but you can see its sensors and the Samsung logo on the inner part. Thankfully, they didn’t put the logo on outside as that would make this look rather tacky. The Korean giant does offer it in three colors; Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gold. To my muslim brothers out there, it’s not made from actual gold so you can wear it perfectly fine but if you’re still feeling a little hesitant, the other two colors will work just fine.
Unlike smartwatches where you can practically buy any of the units on the spot, you do need to get a finger measurement to ensure the right fit for the Samsung Galaxy Ring. Using the string method has been a failure, not just on my end but many of my industry colleagues as well, but Samsung Malaysia has mentioned that they will have a set of sample rings at official Samsung Experience Stores in Malaysia for an easier, more accurate measurement. Interestingly, the battery capacity can differ depending on the ring size, with the largest one starting from size 12 of which I happen to be using.
From my understanding, it can be used on any finger but for the most accurate readings possible, you will need to use your index finger. It’s a bit odd for me as I would immediately think that it should go on the ring finger but they likely wanted to avoid taking the space away from engagement / wedding rings. One great thing here is that it doesn’t need a Samsung smartphone as it can work with any Android smartphone running Android 11 OS and above along with the Galaxy Wearable app. if you’re an iPhone user, you’re out of luck, at least for now.
| Color | Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, Titanium Gold |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & Weight | 7.0mm x 2.6mm, 2.3g (Size 5) ~ 3.0g (Size 13) |
| Sizing | 9 sizes (Size 5 – 13) |
| Memory | 8MB |
| Battery |
Galaxy Ring: 18mAh (Size 5) – 23.5mAh (Size 13) Charging Case: 361mAh Battery Life: Up to 7 days Fast Charge: 30 mins for 40% |
| Sensor | Accelerometer, PPG, Skin Temperature |
| Connectivity | BLE 5.4 |
| Durability | 10ATM, IP68 / Titanium Grade 5 |
| Charging Case |
Size: 48.9mm (W) x 48.9mm (L) x 24.51mm (H) Weight: 61.3g Materials: PC, SUS (hinge) Battery: 361mAh (portable charging) |
| Compatibility | Android 11 or higher with more than 1.5GB of memory |
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is currently in the midst of our review process so for now, stay tuned to Pokde.NET.
