When people think of wearables, they often imagine smartwatches. However, 2024 was a relatively quiet year for smartwatches, with iterative updates being the norm. This is not uncommon in a maturing category, where innovation slows down and companies focus on refining their products rather than pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
But it seems that the excitement is shifting to a new area: smart rings. Smart rings are not a new concept, but 2024 saw a resurgence in interest, with several new products hitting the market. I had a feeling this might happen when I visited CES in January and saw multiple smart rings on display.
The Galaxy Ring: A Game-Changer
Samsung’s announcement of the long-rumored Galaxy Ring in February was a significant move for the industry. As a major player in the smartwatch space, Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market is a big deal. It brings new ideas and features to the table, such as working seamlessly with Samsung’s Galaxy Watches to optimize battery life and sensor accuracy.
When paired with a Z Fold 6 or a Z Flip 6, the Galaxy Ring can even recognize a pinching gesture to control the phone’s camera. While this might be seen as a way to lock users into the Samsung ecosystem, it’s undeniable that these are new use cases for smart rings.
A Renaissance in Smart Rings
2024 saw a mini renaissance in smart rings, with several innovative products hitting the market. I had the chance to test six different smart rings and was impressed by the variety of ideas on display.
- The Circular Slim lets you set silent haptic alarms and attempt an in-app AI chatbot.
- Movano’s Evie Ring incorporates a distinctive open-gap design while ambitiously pursuing FDA clearance for its metrics.
- Even Casio is getting in on the fun with its take on a retro low-tech smart ring.
The Competition Heats Up
It’s refreshing to see new ideas and innovation in the smart ring space, especially considering that Oura has dominated this market for the past decade. Oura primarily focuses on sleep tracking and recovery, which means we’ve only really thought of smart rings as health trackers until recently.
But with competition comes progress, and it seems that Oura is responding to the increased interest in smart rings. The company has been launching new features at a steady clip and exploring new integrations with continuous glucose monitors.
Challenges Ahead
While there’s clearly excitement around smart rings, they still face significant challenges. They’re expensive compared to similarly priced smartwatches, and their functionality is limited due to their size and complexity.
Additionally, manufacturers have to contend with making 10-12 different sizes to accommodate a wide range of finger sizes, as well as account for seasonal swelling.
The Future of Smart Rings
We’ll have to wait and see whether the renaissance in smart rings continues into 2025. If Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is successful, especially as an accessory to other gadgets, it’s likely that Google and Apple will take notice.
What I do know is that during my summer of wearing six smart rings, I fielded a ton of questions from curious friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Some were looking for something beautiful and discreet, while others were heavily invested in sleepmaxxing – a viral trend where people try to optimize their sleep quality.
The interest is there, but the question remains whether this renaissance will continue or we’ll go back to Oura being the only game in town.
Related Articles
- We tested six smart rings, and there’s a clear winner
- The Galaxy Ring keeps you in Samsung’s orbit
- Oura Ring 4 review: still on top — for now
When people think of wearables, they often imagine smartwatches. However, 2024 was a relatively quiet year for smartwatches, with iterative updates being the norm. This is not uncommon in a maturing category, where innovation slows down and companies focus on refining their products rather than pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
But it seems that the excitement is shifting to a new area: smart rings. Smart rings are not a new concept, but 2024 saw a resurgence in interest, with several new products hitting the market. I had a feeling this might happen when I visited CES in January and saw multiple smart rings on display.
The Galaxy Ring: A Game-Changer
Samsung’s announcement of the long-rumored Galaxy Ring in February was a significant move for the industry. As a major player in the smartwatch space, Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market is a big deal. It brings new ideas and features to the table, such as working seamlessly with Samsung’s Galaxy Watches to optimize battery life and sensor accuracy.
When paired with a Z Fold 6 or a Z Flip 6, the Galaxy Ring can even recognize a pinching gesture to control the phone’s camera. While this might be seen as a way to lock users into the Samsung ecosystem, it’s undeniable that these are new use cases for smart rings.
A Renaissance in Smart Rings
2024 saw a mini renaissance in smart rings, with several innovative products hitting the market. I had the chance to test six different smart rings and was impressed by the variety of ideas on display.
- The Circular Slim lets you set silent haptic alarms and attempt an in-app AI chatbot.
- Movano’s Evie Ring incorporates a distinctive open-gap design while ambitiously pursuing FDA clearance for its metrics.
- Even Casio is getting in on the fun with its take on a retro low-tech smart ring.
The Competition Heats Up
It’s refreshing to see new ideas and innovation in the smart ring space, especially considering that Oura has dominated this market for the past decade. Oura primarily focuses on sleep tracking and recovery, which means we’ve only really thought of smart rings as health trackers until recently.
But with competition comes progress, and it seems that Oura is responding to the increased interest in smart rings. The company has been launching new features at a steady clip and exploring new integrations with continuous glucose monitors.
Challenges Ahead
While there’s clearly excitement around smart rings, they still face significant challenges. They’re expensive compared to similarly priced smartwatches, and their functionality is limited due to their size and complexity.
Additionally, manufacturers have to contend with making 10-12 different sizes to accommodate a wide range of finger sizes, as well as account for seasonal swelling.
The Future of Smart Rings
We’ll have to wait and see whether the renaissance in smart rings continues into 2025. If Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is successful, especially as an accessory to other gadgets, it’s likely that Google and Apple will take notice.
What I do know is that during my summer of wearing six smart rings, I fielded a ton of questions from curious friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Some were looking for something beautiful and discreet, while others were heavily invested in sleepmaxxing – a viral trend where people try to optimize their sleep quality.
The interest is there, but the question remains whether this renaissance will continue or we’ll go back to Oura being the only game in town.
Related Articles
- We tested six smart rings, and there’s a clear winner
- The Galaxy Ring keeps you in Samsung’s orbit
- Oura Ring 4 review: still on top — for now
Comments
- "I’m so excited about the new smart ring market! I’ve been following it closely and can’t wait to see what’s next."
- "I’m a bit skeptical about the Galaxy Ring, but I’m willing to give it a try. Has anyone else tried it?"
- "What are some of the most innovative features in these new smart rings? I want to make sure I get one with the best functionality."
