The Galaxy Ring is one of Samsung’s most significant new products this year. In addition to being a completely new offering from the firm, the Galaxy Ring also marks Samsung’s debut as the first smartphone brand to join the hitherto untapped smart ring market, which smaller players like Oura dominate.
A little garment that fits on your finger is called the Galaxy Ring. It employs AI algorithms to measure your heart rate and sleep patterns while you wear it, and it also provides you with health indicators like an energy score and a sleep score.
To use the Galaxy Ring, you don’t absolutely need a Samsung Galaxy smartphone because it can be used with any Android phone that has Samsung Health installed. Still, what if you use an iPhone? You’re pretty much screwed as the Galaxy Ring isn’t compatible with iOS. And in my opinion, it’s the worst error made by the Galaxy Ring.
My main device is an iPhone 15 Pro, but I’ve also been using an Oura Ring for the past few years (I previously used the Evie Ring for a while). In addition to those two choices, there are other smart ring options such as the Ultrahuman Ring Air, RingConn Smart Ring, Circular Ring Slim, and others.
All of the rings I’ve described are compatible with both iOS and Android, with the exception of the Evie Ring. Furthermore, it has been announced that an Android app would eventually be released for the Evie Ring.
But with the Galaxy Ring, it appears that Samsung has no intention of making it work with iOS, which begs the question: why?
A wearable without a screen is called a smart ring. It isn’t running software like a Galaxy Watch 7 with Wear OS, in contrast to a smartwatch. While it makes sense for Apple and Samsung to limit the compatibility of their smartwatches to their own platforms, what about smart rings? There is no proprietary software on the ring itself; instead, they link with your phone over Bluetooth.
By arbitrary exclusion of iPhone users, Samsung is cutting off half of the Galaxy Ring’s possible market. Once more, I have worn the Oura Ring for a number of years, but I really want to try the Galaxy Ring. I’m stuck with Oura though, as its incompatibility with iOS makes it much less tempting.
It begs the question, “What’s really stopping Samsung from making a Samsung Health app for iOS?” even if it’s probably easier said than done. Since Google’s Fitbit app is still available in the App Store, wearables like the Fitbit Charge 6 are compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems. The Galaxy Watch Ultra’s incompatibility with iPhones makes logical, but what about the Galaxy Ring? That doesn’t sit well with me. Additionally, an iPhone user may ultimately look into other Samsung devices and might even convert to a Samsung phone, wristwatch, etc. if they find the Galaxy Ring to be sufficiently appealing.
It simply seems off to me that iPhone owners aren’t able to test the Galaxy Ring without an Android phone. Unfortunately, there was no chance to persuade iPhone owners that the grass is indeed greener there.
It goes without saying that I doubt Apple will ever provide an Apple Ring for Android customers to test. After all, within each of their distinct walled gardens and ecosystems, Apple and Samsung currently have their own devoted user bases.
Customers lose out when we have such restricted ecosystems, where even peripherals like smart rings are limited to working on particular platforms.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is Great and All But…
