The Galaxy Ring, which has been anticipated for several months, is a lightweight device equipped with sensors for continuous 24-hour health monitoring, as announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event last week in Paris. This new product category comes at a time when smartphone sales are stabilizing, but consumers are keeping their devices longer, prompting manufacturers to introduce additional electronic products.

The Galaxy Ring expands Samsung’s portfolio by offering a device that tracks health metrics alongside its existing smartphones and smartwatches. In recent years, Samsung has emphasized its health applications as a major selling point for its products, and the Galaxy Ring is positioned to complement its smartwatches and smartphones, using artificial intelligence to provide a comprehensive health overview, potentially boosting sales across its product range.

Key features and pricing

The Galaxy Ring boasts several health monitoring capabilities, including:

• Sleep Tracking: Monitors movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart and respiratory rates, and provides sleep quality analysis.
• Menstrual Cycle Tracking: Utilizes skin temperature to help track menstrual cycles.
• Heart Rate Monitoring: Alerts users to unusually high or low heart rates and offers real-time heart rate checks.
• Exercise Detection: Identifies various workouts and activities.

Weighing between 2.3 grams and 3 grams depending on the size, the Galaxy Ring comes in three colors and features a battery life of up to seven days, with a portable charging case similar to wireless earbuds. The device will be available from July 24, starting at $399.99.

Samsung’s ecosystem strategy

In addition to the Galaxy Ring, Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, the latter being the company’s first “Ultra” smartwatch model aimed at athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. These watches include new sensors and sports tracking features. Samsung also revealed its latest foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.

Samsung’s strategy with the Galaxy Ring is to strengthen the connectivity within its ecosystem of products. For instance, when connected with a smartwatch, users can perform actions like answering calls or taking pictures with a “double pinch” gesture. Pairing the Galaxy Ring with a smartwatch and phone provides a more detailed health picture, especially during sleep, by gathering data from multiple sources. The ring’s battery life is also extended when used with a smartwatch.

“The expansion of the ecosystem, particularly with the integration of AI technology, will enhance the data collected from various devices, making digital assistants more effective. This comprehensive and personalized experience is likely to drive users to choose devices from one brand,” Francisco Jeronimo, IDC’s vice president for devices research for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, told CNBC.

Samsung, like Apple, has been emphasizing the interconnectivity of its devices to maintain user engagement over the past years.