Galaxy Ring, the best smart ring around opens up the future of wearables

Technology 'to wear'. There is no better term to describe what the market has been offering for some years now, particularly in the smartwatch department. The unbridled rush of companies to come up with something new is transforming wearables, or rather, giving notoriously passive objects, which we have always worn, a tech soul. What's more, it's worth it: Global Market Insights' projections estimate a market value of more than $180 billion by 2025 for wearable technologies, which for the past few months have also included smart rings. Alongside little-known names in the sector, Samsung has also entered the field, bringing its Galaxy Ring to Italy at the end of September. A product for brand loyalists and fans of futuristic novelties? Probably yes, but with meaning. The Galaxy Ring, unlike everything else on the consumer technology scene, remains an accessory that you cannot interact with. It doesn't vibrate, it doesn't light up, it has no screen or speakers, and at best it allows a glimpse of biometric readings from the sensors when, in the dark, a small green luminescence appears under your finger. Take it or leave it. The basic idea is precisely this: to give consumers something they are used to, a ring, with greater utility because it is connected to their mobile phone, capable of continuously monitoring wellness data and advising how to improve, whether the user is a street or armchair athlete.

Even the price is not for everyone: 449 euros. At that price tag you are taking home a mid-to-high-end smartphone, a recent Galaxy Watch 7, almost a Watch Ultra, which Samsung has decided to dedicate to real sportsmen and women, challenging not only Apple but also Garmin. The Galaxy Ring's merit lies in its sober and traditional shape. Only slightly thicker and heavier than a normal ring, after a couple of days of trying it out, you don't even notice that you have it with you, even at night, where it gives its best to analyse sleep quality, heart rate, respiratory rate, even to detect any criticalities. Fundamental is the presence of Galaxy AI, Samsung's intelligent ecosystem that puts together all the information to return suggestions on how to feel better, augmented also by what comes from smartphones and watches, if Samsung of course. The reference app becomes Samsung Health, which synchronises information and draws an overall picture of the individual's situation. The strong point is the 'energy score', a kind of summary of the impact on a person's state, the result of the mix of sleep, calories burned, physical activity and stress. Less understandable is AGE, the metabolic health index that reflects the biological ageing process. A tidbit that opens up intriguing scenarios: with a smartphone in the group, you can even use certain gestures to postpone wake-up calls or take a photo. A future where you can just snap your fingers to answer the phone or call someone is not so far away.

The Galaxy Ring, as if it were a precious piece of jewellery almost, implies a special way of buying. In the shop there is a measuring gauge that buyers can use to choose the right size. Online there is an advantage: after paying the full amount for the ring, you receive the whole package with the various sizes at home free of charge, so you can wear the one you want for at least 24 hours. The reason? Fingers are not always the same throughout the day and where a ring may look right it may perhaps become too tight or too wide at certain times. Following the test, one can decide not to continue with the purchase, waiting for the technical time for re-crediting. In the end, is the Galaxy Ring an indispensable item? Not until you put it on your finger.