Samsung galaxy ring 3

Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: Time to Ditch Your Smartwatch?

Rob Edwards
By Rob Edwards - News

Published: Last Updated: 

Readtime: 7 min

Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.

I feel obligated to start this review with a confession: I’ve never loved wearable tech. As a fan of old-fashioned analogue watches, I’ve never found space on my wrist for a smartwatch or any similar device over an extended period of time. Lord knows I’ve tried my fair share in this line of work, and I can see why these products have been so broadly embraced, but they’ve never been for me. 

Part of the issue is that I’ve always been one for taking my watch off at night. I just can’t sleep when I have something with that much presence strapped to my wrist, so I’ve always found smartwatch sleep-tracking functionality to be a hollow offering, despite thinking it would be a handy thing to monitor. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which has allowed me to comfortably and consistently track my sleep (and a bunch of other stuff) for the first time. 

Samsung galaxy ring 2
Samsung Galaxy Ring | Image: Rob Edwards / Man of Many

Galaxy Ring Design

Samsung’s Galaxy Ring sees the Korean tech giant muscling in on territory occupied by the likes of Oura, but surprisingly, the device doesn’t come across as a first-generation piece of technology. Don’t get me wrong, Samsung has long been capable of making polished high-end smart technology, but the brand’s first-gen efforts can come across as ambitious yet undercooked—the original Galaxy Z Fold, I’m looking at you. 

Not so here. The Galaxy Ring feels well-considered and offers a premium feel right out of the box. Its matte-finished titanium frame is available in gold, black, and (my choice) silver, and it features a concave design that’s intended to maximise comfort. I certainly have no complaints in this regard after extended wear, which means the three sensors contained within the Galaxy Ring have been free to track my health around the clock without the device becoming a nuisance. More on that later. 

While I would have preferred a polished finish option to better fit with other accessories I own, the use of matte feels like a more understated and, thereby, universally appealing choice. Even if it has the propensity to appear a touch plasticky in certain lights, Samsung’s latest effort just looks like a regular ring that doesn’t draw too much attention to itself, which is, of course, the whole point. 

More: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Review: A New Standard for Foldable Phones with a Price Tag to Match

Samsung galaxy ring 5
Samsung Galaxy Ring Charging Case | Image: Rob Edwards / Man of Many

Galaxy Ring Charging Case

Surprisingly, perhaps the most visually impressive element of Samsung’s Galaxy Ring offering is its charging case. Despite looking like some kind of futuristic lip gloss container, it manages to be quite eye-catching in the best way.

Boasting a robust build of clear plastic, the charger’s hinged lid opens to provide access to a cradle around which the Galaxy Ring sits while charging. Atop the cradle is a single button that can be pressed to reveal the level of charge contained within the Galaxy Ring when it is cradled or the charger itself when it is not. This is indicated by a ring of light that flashes a greeting when the case is opened and swoops a clockwise loop from the six o’clock position around the cradle to show the level of charge. For example, if your Galaxy Ring’s battery sits at 50 per cent, the loop will stop at the 12 o’clock position. 

Samsung claims the Galaxy Ring offers up to seven days of battery life, which aligns with my real-world experience, and the case contains an additional full charge, so you should be able to wear your Galaxy Ring for about two weeks without having to plug it into an outlet. The compact case also slips easily into your pocket if you’re not sure the Ring will make it through the day.

Samsung galaxy ring 6
Fully charged | Image: Rob Edwards / Man of Many

Galaxy Ring Fitness Tracking

Going hand in hand with my long-held apathy towards wearables is my disinterest in tracking each and every element of my “fitness journey”. While I don’t doubt that a more diligent approach to this would yield better fitness results, I just never wanted it badly enough to wear a smartwatch. However, given the Galaxy Ring is the kind of device you can just wear and forget about, its tracking functionality has been more than welcome to just tick along in the background of my day. 

The device packs an optical bio-signal sensor to monitor your heart’s rate and condition, an accelerometer to track movement and activity, and a skin temperature sensor to track skin temperature changes during sleep. Throughout testing, whether I’ve been running, walking my dog, or reluctantly putting in some time at the gym, the Galaxy Ring has done a respectable job of recognising my activity and tracking my progress. All of this data is neatly presented via the Samsung Health app, with stats like calories burned, average speed, and average heart rate to tell you how you’re progressing. 

Curiously, using the Galaxy Ring and reviewing the data it collects has actually incentivised me to up my game when it comes to pursuing a (slightly) less slovenly frame, so perhaps I’m on a fitness journey after all. 

More: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: A Polished, Premium, AI-Powered Masterclass

Samsung galaxy ring 1
Comfortable enough to forget it’s there | Image: Rob Edwards / Man of Many

Galaxy Ring Sleep Tracking

From my point of view, the most compelling element of the Galaxy Ring’s offering was always the sleep tracking. As someone who tries to be disciplined about sleep and yet feels perpetually sleep-deprived, I was curious to see what wearing the Galaxy Ring might reveal.

In a move that’s borderline too cutesy, Samsung Health assigns users a ‘sleep animal’ that represents the kind of sleeper they are. It turns out I’m a hedgehog, which means I get enough total sleep time, but spend too much of that time awake. I also have inconsistent sleep times from day to day. Sounds about right. 

This information has enabled me to put in place measures that have improved my sleep and I’m hopeful will continue to do so. Time will tell, but without the Galaxy Ring I’d have a more fuzzy understanding of my sleep issues. And like the Galaxy Ring’s fitness tracking, its sleep tracking has provided a level of accountability that has helped to incentivise my pursuit of a better night’s sleep.

Samsung galaxy ring 4
Samsung Galaxy Ring | Image: Rob Edwards / Man of Many

Final Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is the first wearable I can see myself wearing for an extended period of time. Its unobtrusive design has enabled it to fold into my day-to-day life without feeling shoe-horned in. 

Before I wrap, I should make a quick note for smartwatch fans that the Galaxy Ring does, in fact, work hand in hand with other devices like the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung claims that using them together can even extend the battery life of such companion devices by relieving some of the data-tracking burden. 

Whether you’re a smartwatch fan or—like myself—never found them particularly compelling, the Galaxy Ring is a welcome alternative for when you want to go completely watch-free or create space on your wrist for a more traditional watch. At AUD$699, it’s not cheap, but I’d argue that it’s worth it. After all, what price can you put on a really good night’s sleep?

DISCLOSURE: The author of this article, Rob Edwards, was provided the product by Samsung for the purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are those of the author. For more information on our independence, testing and review guidelines, you can read our full editorial policies here.

Rob Edwards

Branded Content Editor

Rob Edwards

Rob Edwards is Man of Many’s Branded Content Editor. As a former editor of consumer technology and lifestyle publications like T3, Official Nintendo Magazine, Official Windows Magazine, and TechRadar, Rob has honed his expertise in consumer technology and lifestyle products ...