Samsung might be considering a smart ring as its next health-tracking wearable device. Samsung's health and fitness tracking wearables include the Galaxy Watch and the Galaxy Fit series. While the former has received a yearly refresh, the last Galaxy Fit was launched in 2020. Nevertheless, Samsung is reportedly planning to launch a new model this year.
Despite the popularity of smartwatches and fitness trackers, not everyone finds it comfortable to wear either device for long stretches. This category of people may find a smart ring more comfortable as it is much smaller and lighter. One of the most popular smart rings is the Oura Ring. The company's latest model is the Oura Ring 3, which starts at $299 and can measure heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature, and more.
According to Naver, Samsung is developing a smart ring of its own. The wearable should be able to track vitals such as heart rate and blood oxygen level. Furthermore, the tech giant is said to have filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Oct. 2021. The patent reveals that the smart ring has a PPG sensor for heart rate and blood pressure measurement and can also record electrocardiograms (ECG). In addition, it will also be able to control devices such as smartphones, laptops and TVs.
A Smart Ring Is Less Distracting
Size isn't the only advantage a smart ring has over a smartwatch or fitness tracker. Another upside is that it is less distracting as there is no display. The lack of a display also means longer battery life. For example, the Oura Ring 3 has a battery life of up to seven days compared to the touted 40 hours of battery life of the Galaxy Watch 5. Furthermore, smart rings are reportedly better at tracking as the finger is said to provide better readings with varying skin tones.
It is unknown how soon Samsung plans to bring its smart ring to the market as the device is still in the early stages of development. There is also the possibility that the device may never see the light of day as manufacturers can sometimes develop a product but shelve it. Nevertheless, it will be nice to see more players enter the smart ring market, especially big-name brands with years of experience making wearables.
Source: Naver