My exactly 2 weeks experience with the new Samsung Galaxy Ring
I’ve always had a soft spot for fitness trackers. Anything that gives me real-time updates on my health and well-being? I’m in. But let’s be honest—some of these devices come with quirks that wear you down fast. The incessant nudges to stand up, clunky designs that clash with your fits, flashy screens, and relentless buzzing every time your group chat gets rowdy? Not exactly ideal.
Then came the announcement that the Samsung Galaxy Ring was landing in Malaysia. That’s when I knew—I had to give this sleek little number a go.
What is Galaxy Ring?
In case you’re wondering, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is a wellness wearable that ditches the screen and slips discreetly onto your finger. It’s subtle, smart, and effortlessly cool—like the tech equivalent of quiet luxury. And because your finger is actually a more accurate spot for biometric data, it gives you round-the-clock insights without the bulk of the noise.
Samsung’s latest innovation tracks everything from your daily movement to sleep quality, heart rate, and even your menstrual cycle. All that data feeds into the Samsung Health app, which then serves up personalised insights to help you stay on top of your game—without having to lift a wrist.
How does it work?
Crafted from durable titanium, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is built to take whatever life throws your way—and yes, that includes your daily shower and the occasional dip in the pool. It’s water-resistant, stylishly minimal and available in three sharp finishes: gold, silver, and black. On the underside, raised sensors press gently against your finger, tapping into your arteries for real-time data with impressive precision.
The tech under the hood? Subtle but sophisticated. An accelerometer, optical heart rate monitor, and temperature sensors work together to collect biometric data, while AI steps in to do the heavy lifting—analysing your sleep patterns, generating daily energy scores, and serving up comprehensive health insights that go well beyond your basic step count.
And if you're imagining some chunky piece of sci-fi jewellery, think again. The Galaxy Ring is lightweight, low-profile, and designed to disappear into your daily look—more Bond than Borg. It even arrives in a clear, compact charging case that looks like a sleek ring box. Power it up via USB-C or drop it on a wireless charger. A subtle LED glow around the case gives you a quick read on your battery levels.
Once paired with the Samsung Health app—note that it only works with Galaxy AI and requires a phone running Android 11 or above—the Ring starts feeding in data: sleep duration and quality, heart rate through the night, step count from the day before. The result? A personalized Energy Score that sums up how ready you are to take on the day ahead.
What we like about it
First things first: she’s chic. While the smartwatch boom has been going strong for years, ring-based wearables are still rare—and the Samsung Galaxy Ring might just be the game-changer for anyone who wants to track their health without compromising on style.
As someone who’s borderline obsessive about 24/7 health tracking, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to toss my smartwatch into my going-out bag last minute—or hand it off before a photo because, well, it clashed with the fit. I love the tech, but let’s be real: it’s not always giving fashion.
The Galaxy Ring, on the other hand, is a far more discreet—and dare I say, elegant—alternative. Roughly the same size as the Oura ring, it features a subtle concave design that feels a bit more refined and less bulky on the finger. Available in matte black, gold, and silver, it slides easily into your jewellery rotation. You could even stack it with your go-to rings and no one would clock it as a fitness tracker.
It’s surprisingly comfortable, too—especially for sleep. I’ve never fully adjusted to wearing a smartwatch to bed, but the Ring? Practically forgettable. Though I will admit, I did wake up with a couple of red marks after a long night’s wear—nothing dramatic, but worth noting.
What really blew me away, though, was the battery life. I’m used to the nightly routine of plugging in my smartwatch just to make it through tomorrow’s morning run. But this little guy lasts close to a full week on a single charge. That alone felt revolutionary—it meant I could finally track my sleep and go about my day without constantly babysitting a battery percentage.
This brings me to sleep tracking—a feature I genuinely love. It was oddly satisfying to wake up, check my “sleep score,” and get personalized coaching tips courtesy of Samsung’s AI. The breakdown of sleep stages—light, deep, REM—was interesting too, though not wildly different from what I’ve seen on other fitness trackers.
That said, I might’ve enjoyed it more than usual because, well, I love being flattered. According to the Galaxy Ring, I’m a “lion” sleeper—level 4, the top tier in Samsung’s sleep animal kingdom. I’ll take that. Had I tested it during a busier stretch, I might’ve ended up as a penguin (alert and watchful), mole (frequent waker with a love for darkness), alligator (nocturnal predator energy), or worst of all… a shark. In Samsung’s sleep zoo, sharks rank at the bottom—they literally never stop moving. Brutal.
Another standout feature? Stress tracking. It was fascinating (and slightly confronting) to see my stress levels spike exactly when I hit deadlines or got trapped behind a coupon-wielding shopper in a packed grocery line. The real-time data felt like a mirror held up to my nervous system—useful if occasionally humbling.
And one more thing I appreciated: the Galaxy Ring automatically tracked my runs and walks without asking me to press start. Sure, the distance and timing felt a touch less precise than my smartwatch, but the hands-free convenience? Worth it. Sometimes, it’s nice not to think—just move.
How much does it cost?
The Galaxy Ring is priced at RM2,099, putting it in the same ballpark as the aluminium Apple Watch Series 9 and just a touch above the base price of the Oura Ring. Whether it’s worth the splurge? That really comes down to what you want out of your wearable.
If your priorities lean toward sleep insights, stress tracking, and low-effort fitness data—and you're already in the Samsung ecosystem—then the Galaxy Ring makes a strong case for itself. It’s sleek, smart, and doesn’t scream for attention. In other words: the kind of tech that works hard in the background while you just keep doing you.
