Samsung teased its latest smart product, the Galaxy Ring, which is rumored to feature health-tracking capabilities, which would be the tech giant's first reach into the category.
There was talk last year regarding Samsung planning to launch a smart ring to compete against the likes of the Oura ring. Last month, this became a reality when the Korean tech giant teased the Galaxy Ring in a video at the end of its Unpacked event.
Samsung's New Galaxy Ring
In a message that was shared on Sunday, Samsung announced that the Galaxy Ring will be "publicly displayed for the first time" during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event. The event will be held this week in Barcelona, Spain.
What is notable about the announcement is the term "displayed," which suggests that there will be no hands-on time for the people who attend the event. The Galaxy Ring could instead be placed inside a glass cabinet under lock and key to be gazed upon by attendees, as per Digital Trends.
However, in a later update, it was found that the Galaxy Ring that will be displayed at the MWC event is a non-functioning prototype that visitors will be allowed to handle.
The tech giant could also use the occasion to offer potential Galaxy Ring customers a few more details about the product that could persuade them to hold off on buying one of the currently available alternatives.
A prototype of the latest product was made available to a select few before the MWC event, who shared that the product is very light and comes in three colors. However, Samsung did note that the final product is still subject to change depending on their decision.
Teasing Potential Health-Tracking Features
The Galaxy Ring prototypes came in platinum silver, ceramic black, and gold, but the first people who tried it out were not allowed to take any pictures. The ring itself had a slightly concave shape, and each available color was offered in sizes from five to 13, which is a slightly wider range of options than normal. They were marked S through XL on the inside of the band.
On the other hand, Samsung's Vice President of Digital Health, Dr. Hon Pak, did not specifically say what sensors were built into the Galaxy Ring. However, according to The Verge, there could be sleep insights based on heart rate, movement, and respiratory indicators.
Pak also noted that Samsung's partnership with Natural Cycles will extend to the Galaxy Ring as well, which would put it in direct competition with the Oura Ring. For the Korean tech giant's product, the battery size increases slightly in the larger band sizes, but Pak was unable to share any exact battery life estimates.
The VP of digital health said that the Galaxy Ring is fitted with various sensors and added that it could give readings on various information regarding its wearer. He added that the ring will also be able to give a "vitality score" that collects data about physical and mental readiness to see how productive a person can be, said CNBC.
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