Samsung Galaxy Ring review: Premium but pricey

Overview

Expert Rating

Price Upon Review

$399.99

Best Prices Today: Samsung Galaxy Ring

Samsung has launched its inaugural smart ring, poised to popularize the category.

This raises the questions: What functionality does a smart ring offer? How does Samsung’s model stack up against competitors like the Oura Ring Gen 3, RingConn Smart Ring, and Ultrahuman Ring Air?

After spending several weeks wearing the Galaxy Ring, here are my insights.

Update October 2025: It’s notable that some Galaxy Rings have experienced battery issues, causing swelling that can lead to removal complications, as highlighted in a recent incident involving a tech YouTuber. Samsung is currently looking into this concern, which may impact potential buyers.

If you own a Galaxy Ring and notice battery deterioration, it’s advisable to discontinue use immediately and contact Samsung for a replacement or refund.

Design & Build

• Available in three colors
• Nine size options
• Crafted from titanium and waterproof

In terms of aesthetics, the Galaxy Ring is among the most visually appealing smart rings on the market.

Its design features a concave outer shape, while the inner side is mostly flat except for three sensor bumps. This design minimizes scratches, aided by the Grade 5 titanium construction. After two weeks of use, my ring still appears brand new, a feat not many competitors achieve.

I opted for the Titanium Silver variant, which has an attractive matte finish, but Titanium Black and Titanium Gold options are also available.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

However, the Galaxy Ring doesn’t possess the high-quality feel I expected given the materials used. Comparatively, my initial titanium wedding band felt far more substantial; I would’ve assumed the Galaxy Ring was made of plastic.

This perception stems from both its texture and weight (weighing between 2.3g and 3g, based on size). Consumers might prefer a bit more heft, as heavier jewelry is often associated with quality. While the weight contributes to comfort, a chunkier design might enhance the luxurious feel.

Choosing the correct size for smart rings can be challenging; a proper fit is crucial, necessitating a sizing kit (or visiting a Samsung store as needed) to avoid guesswork.

In the UK, a sizing kit costs around £10, which is redeemable upon purchasing the Galaxy Ring. The US offers this service free of charge.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

With nine sizes available (5-13 US), there are no price variations based on size. Larger finger sizes come with a more substantial battery, so consider this when deciding where to wear it.

I chose to wear it on my index finger to avoid conflicts with my wedding band, as it’s not advisable to wear a smart ring on your dominant hand.

Additionally, the Galaxy Ring has an IP68 rating and is rated for 10ATM, making it fully dust resistant and sufficiently water-resistant for swimming.

Setup

• Setup process could be smoother
• Requires several apps

When evaluating products from Samsung, I anticipate a more refined user experience compared to lesser-known brands.

While I didn’t encounter the connection difficulties of other models like the Circular Ring Slim, the setup for the Galaxy Ring was also not without its issues.

Lacking a screen for guidance, I relied on the quick start guide in the box, which primarily instructed me to open the case with the ring inside and wait for a notification on my phone.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

When the notification didn’t appear (possibly due to my non-Samsung phone), I resorted to connecting the ring via Bluetooth, similar to pairing headphones, which was successful on the first attempt.

Afterward, I downloaded the Samsung Health app to begin setup; however, I found no option to add the ring. Ultimately, I discovered that I also needed the Galaxy Wear app, requiring both for functionality.

Despite navigating through a long and cumbersome process, I finally completed the setup, although it involved more trial and error than one would hope for. Consolidating these apps would significantly improve user experience.

Related: Samsung’s Galaxy Ring beats Oura in these 4 key ways, but loses in 1

Fitness & Tracking

• Heart rate sensor
• Skin temperature sensor
• Comprehensive sleep tracking

Functioning primarily as a fitness tracker, the smart ring features heart rate and skin temperature sensors, including an accelerometer for activity tracking.

Users receive expected data such as daily step counts, heart rate monitoring, active minutes, and calories burned. Sleep tracking encompasses various metrics, including blood oxygen levels during sleep.

Despite its compact form, the Galaxy Ring doesn’t provide the most thorough tracking due to limited internal space, lacking features like GPS or an altimeter for tracking elevation.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Similarly, advanced features such as ECG and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for body composition analysis are absent, along with NFC for contactless payments, a feature you might expect in a device at this price point.

Provided you’re not looking for independent GPS tracking or ECG features, the Galaxy Ring fulfills basic fitness tracking needs.

Notably, the tracking system is accurate and useful, including a feature called ‘Energy score’, akin to Google/Fitbit’s ‘Readiness score’. This compiles various health data (mainly sleep, activity, and heart rate) into a score out of 100, reflecting your readiness for exercise.

This feature accurately represented my energy levels after events like meals, advising rest the following day when needed.

Sleep tracking tends to be slightly generous, often suggesting I fell asleep sooner than reality; however, I’d rather receive favorable scores, even if it’s inexact.

Transitioning from other sleep tracking devices, the Galaxy Ring didn’t negatively impact my perception of sleep quality.

<pAfter using the ring for a week, users are assigned a 'sleep animal'; mine was noted as a Lion, though this label might differ based on my circumstances during testing.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The device also tracks heart rate and provides blood oxygen data, although the latter is only available during sleep. Though my health status is generally good, I found this data not particularly beneficial in isolation.

Significantly, the stress tracking feature has been quite inaccurate. I often recorded fluctuating levels of stress throughout my daily routine, with the device misreading times of activity as high stress, despite feeling relaxed.

According to Samsung, the app notes that readings may not always correlate with perceived stress levels, as various factors can affect readings. This may be the case for many users who consume beverages like tea and coffee.

Fortunately, notifications about stress levels aren’t intrusive; however, I would prefer to disable them to avoid unnecessary concern about inaccurate readings.

While the ring pauses stress assessments during activities, this feature wasn’t always reliable and auto-tracking was inconsistent. Sports activities need manual activation, which I learned the hard way during a swim.

Menstrual cycle tracking is available, although I couldn’t test it.

All metrics are visually appealing in the Samsung Health app, which presents data in a colorful and organized manner without overwhelming users.

Users can track metrics like hydration and food intake, along with tracking social interactions through the Together and Fitness tabs.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Chris Martin / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry