It’s been a long wait, but Samsung has confirmed it is working on a follow-up to its first smart ring.
Though it’s not been confirmed by name, the assumed Galaxy Ring 2 is on the way and the firm has even teased what kind of upgrades are in store for potential users, including one big change.
“We are working on the next generation. I can tell you that,” said Dr Hon Pak, Samsung’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team, speaking to Forbes.
The news is timely as Oura just launched the Ring 5, which is 40% smaller than its predecessor, but Samsung will want to get a new rival onto the market soon, as it has the upper hand in a couple of ways – namely, based on the current model, the lack of a subscription model, and shipping the ring with a portable charging case.
Galaxy Ring 2 upgrades and an unexpected change
In terms of what the Galaxy Ring 2 will offer, Samsung is looking into improving the sensors and battery life. However, we perhaps shouldn’t expect anything too dramatic in terms of hardware.
“If you look at the comparison of other rings, regardless of the competitor, the sensors are not that different right now,” said Pak. “It’s really about what services you create on the top layer. It’s really the software differentiation that you see.”
“One device doesn’t cover all things. Our approach is connected ecosystem, connected devices, that give people choices.”
Chris Martin / Foundry
It sounds like, once again, the smart ring will work best with Samsung’s own devices, like the way you can extend battery life by using it simultaneously with a Galaxy Watch. This does raise the question of whether Samsung will switch to a subscription model, which will allow users access to all the features, however.
One was heavily rumoured for the original Galaxy Ring but didn’t materialise, perhaps because Samsung wanted to test the waters as well as make it a key selling point against the likes of Oura.
One big change that could be introduced is compatibility with Apple devices. Currently, the Galaxy Ring only works with Android, but when asked about iOS compatibility, Pak’s answer says a lot despite outright confirming it.
“I’m smiling but I can’t say anything,” he said. “I think you’ll be very pleased with some of the releases and the upcoming news.”
Galaxy Ring 2 possible release date
As mentioned, Samsung will probably want to get the Galaxy Ring 2 out into the market as soon as possible. Oura launched the Ring 5 (below) over a year earlier than rumours suggested and there are plenty of non-subscription rivals on the market.
Mike Sawh
The Galaxy Ring went on sale almost two years ago, so the timing seems right for a successor to get an official announcement at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event.
It’s hotly tipped for 22 July in London and will be where we see the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series launched along with the Galaxy Watch 9 series and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
What makes it perhaps less likely is the lack of leaked details about the Galaxy Ring 2. Not just rumours about the design or upgrades, but it has not been spotted going through the typical process of certifications to go on sale, where devices (at least by model number) are listed publicly.
Meanwhile, a recent report by ET News in Korea states that a Galaxy Ring 2 launch this year is “virtually impossible” (machine translated), with a source saying early 2027 is highly likely, instead.
We’ll have to wait and see, but the good news is that it’s definitely on the way.