When people think of wearables, they often conjure up images of smartwatches. However, 2024 was a relatively quiet year for this category, with iterative updates dominating the scene. This is not surprising, as it’s common in maturing markets to see innovation slow down in favor of refinement.
A New Player Enters: Samsung and the Galaxy Ring
But in 2024, something exciting happened – smart rings began to gain traction. I had a feeling this might be the case back in January, when several smart rings made an appearance at CES. And then, in February, Samsung shook things up by announcing its long-rumored Galaxy Ring.
A Major Player Enters a New Category
Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market is significant, as it marks a major player expanding into an entirely new wearable category. This move propels what was previously a niche form factor into the mainstream. The Galaxy Ring can work in tandem with Samsung’s Galaxy Watches to optimize battery life and sensor accuracy. When paired with a Z Fold 6 or a Z Flip 6, it can even recognize a pinching gesture to control the phone’s camera.
A New Era of Innovation
This newer crop of smart rings is exciting because they offer some truly innovative ideas. The Galaxy Ring’s features, for example, are not something we’ve seen from smart rings before. But Samsung isn’t the only company pushing boundaries in this space.
The Circular Slim and Evie Ring: Two Other Notable Players
I had the opportunity to test several of these new smart rings, including the Circular Slim and the Evie Ring. While I didn’t enjoy my time with the Circular Slim, I have to give credit where credit is due – this company is thinking big. The Circular Slim lets you set silent haptic alarms and attempts an in-app AI chatbot.
Movano’s Ambitious Approach
The Evie Ring, on the other hand, caught my eye for its distinctive open-gap design and ambitious pursuit of FDA clearance for its metrics. It’s exciting to see new ideas emerging in this space, especially when you consider that Oura has pretty much dominated the smart ring market for the past decade.
Oura: The Dominant Force
For context, Oura primarily focuses on sleep tracking and recovery. While it’s very good at what it does, this means we’ve only really thought of smart rings as health trackers – until recently, that is. With Oura launching new features and exploring integrations with continuous glucose monitors, the company has been keeping pace with emerging competition.
The Challenges Ahead
Of course, there are challenges to consider when it comes to smart rings. They’re expensive, and when compared to similarly priced smartwatches, they don’t do quite as much. Making them precisely is also a challenge due to their small size and the need for smaller components. And then there’s fit – manufacturers have to make 10-12 different sizes to account for varying finger sizes and seasonal swelling.
Will the Renaissance Continue?
For all these reasons, I’m not sure how smart rings will fare in the year ahead. We don’t yet know how Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is doing in terms of sales, but if it does well – especially as an accessory to other gadgets – you can bet it’ll pique the interest of Google and Apple.
The Future of Smart Rings
While we wait to see whether this renaissance will continue, I do know that during my summer of wearing six smart rings, I fielded a ton of questions from curious friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Some wanted something beautiful and discreet, while others were interested in the sleep-tracking capabilities of these devices.
The Verdict
The interest is there – but will this renaissance continue? Only time will tell. As we look to the future of smart rings, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be an exciting ride.
What to Expect in 2025
With Samsung’s Galaxy Ring and other innovative devices emerging on the scene, I’m excited to see what the future holds for this category. Whether it’ll continue to gain traction or go back to Oura being the only game in town remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure – with new ideas and technologies on the horizon, smart rings are here to stay.
Key Takeaways
- The rise of smart rings marks a new era for wearables.
- Samsung’s entry into this market is significant and will likely propel the category forward.
- Other companies, like Movano and the Evie Ring, are pushing boundaries with innovative designs and features.
- Oura remains a dominant force in the space, but emerging competition may change this dynamic.
Conclusion
The future of smart rings looks bright, but it’s not without its challenges. As manufacturers navigate these complexities, one thing is clear: consumers are interested in something new and exciting – and that’s exactly what smart rings offer.
