Competitors within the good ring market is heating up, and Oura’s lengthy interval of dominance is lastly being challenged. Samsung, one of many world’s largest firms, has stepped as much as the plate with the Samsung Galaxy Ring — its personal stab at wearable tech that slips onto a finger.
The Galaxy Ring is smaller and lighter than the Oura Ring, however does it have the options to compete? Does the Galaxy Ring’s increased worth imply it’s not value shopping for? Or does the Oura Ring’s insistence on a subscription imply it’s hard-pressed to carry as much as Samsung’s onslaught?
Sensible rings are so new that looking for one generally is a sophisticated expertise. This could possibly be your first good ring, and also you’re going to need to be sure you purchase a very good one. So, you’re probably poring over lists of specs and stats and making an attempt to determine which of the 2 high fashions — the Galaxy Ring and the Oura Ring — is your best option for you. Effectively, we’ve completed all of the laborious work and damaged that down for you. Right here’s how the Galaxy Ring compares to the Oura Ring and which one may be your best option for you.
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: specs
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Oura Ring
Dimensions
Thickness: 2.6mm
Width: 7mm
Thickness: 2.5mm
Width: 7.9mm
Weight
3 grams (or much less, relying on ring dimension)
4-6 grams
Colours
Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, Titanium Gold
Heritage: Silver, Black, Stealth, Gold
Horizon: Silver, Black, Stealth, Gold, Rose Gold, Brushed Titanium
Well being monitoring options
Power Rating, Sleep Rating, Wellness Suggestions, coronary heart charge, excessive and low coronary heart charge, inactive alerts, cycle monitoring
Readiness Rating, Sleep Rating, Exercise Rating, coronary heart charge, sleeping coronary heart charge, common coronary heart charge variability, cardiovascular age, cardio capability, cycle monitoring
Health and auto-workout monitoring
Working, strolling
40+ routinely tracked actions
Sturdiness
Grade 5 titanium, 10 ATM, and IP68 water resistance
Titanium, 10 ATM
Compatibility
Android-only
Apple iPhone, Android
Battery life
18mAh (sizes 5-11)
23.5mAh (sizes 12 and 13)
15mAh (sizes 6-12)
22mAh (dimension 13)
Charging choices
Transportable charging case
Charging dock
Worth
$399
Heritage: $299
Horizon: $349
Subscription value
None
$6 a month
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: design and sturdiness
1.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
2.
Oura Ring
Shock shock: These good rings are each ring-shaped. Nevertheless, the design similarities largely finish at “they type a whole loop,” as each embrace very completely different designs. Oura’s Horizon Ring is a extra conventional ring form, and it has a small nub on the backside of the ring, so you may hold the sensors on the backside of your finger. The Heritage is a barely completely different model and has a flat edge on the highest finish, much like a signet ring. Each are very snug and look nice, too.
The Galaxy Ring has studied on the similar faculty however clearly selected a distinct main. It has a barely concave form that dips within the center, which implies the sides stand a little bit increased and may, in idea, defend it from scratches. It’s additionally extraordinarily snug, maybe much more so than the Oura Ring. That is because of the burden, which is round half of that of the Oura Ring, in addition to a decrease width. You would possibly assume it doesn’t make a distinction on units this small, but it surely actually does.
What about sturdiness? Each are constructed from titanium, so that they’re very sturdy, and each have 10 ATM scores for water resistance. In brief, they’ll take a beating and may face up to dips into water.
Plenty of this may come all the way down to your private model, however taking a look at it from a much less fashion-forward perspective, now we have to provide it to the Galaxy Ring for its thinner and lighter design.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: well being and health monitoring
The gold Samsung Galaxy Ring. Andy Boxall / Digital Traits
This can be a crucial class as a result of, nicely, it’s what these units are all about. As traditional, we’ll begin with what’s shared between the 2 rings. Each have all of your primary well being and health monitoring choices, so steps, coronary heart charge, and sleeping are all included. Each additionally embody temperature sensors, and each are capable of monitor durations.
The Galaxy Ring contains the Power Rating from the brand new Galaxy Watch fashions, and this makes use of readings out of your sleep and the prior day’s exercise to estimate your private battery for the day — and that is mirrored by the Oura Ring’s Readiness Rating, which does a lot the identical factor.
Samsung’s Power Rating characteristic Joe Maring / Digital Traits
So it’s fairly even, proper? Probably not. Oura has been busy introducing new options, they usually’re ones the Galaxy Ring doesn’t have but. Included within the Oura Labs in the mean time is the power to measure your cardio capability and even gauge your coronary heart’s age. Samsung’s ring isn’t missing in comparable options, however the implementation isn’t nice. We discovered the blood-oxygen studying was significantly unreliable, and infrequently claimed SpO2 ranges dipped to harmful ranges at night time.
Each rings are additionally able to monitoring workout routines by means of automated detection. The Galaxy Ring can detect if you’re working or strolling, however Oura actually blows it out of the water on this regard, boasting an unimaginable automated detection of over 40 exercises. Heck, the Oura Ring even is aware of if you’re doing house responsibilities and provides you credit score for it. It’s clear Samsung meant for the Galaxy Ring for use alongside a smartwatch for train monitoring, however Oura had no such choice, so it needed to push it to the restrict. Oura wins right here.
Winner: Oura Ring
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: apps and compatibility
Oura app Joe Maring / Digital Traits
Since good rings don’t have shows (but), you’re depending on the companion software program in your telephone to crunch the numbers your good rings present. Fortunately, each have strong apps. The Oura app and Samsung Well being app are each good apps to flick through, as they current your information in a pleasant manner, however with out sacrificing further element if you’d like it. Beneath the large numbers and graphics are all of the in-depth graphs you may want, so you may get as deep or mild as you need to. Neither is a professional-level app (they’re not Polar), however most individuals will probably be pleased with how each apps current information.
Samsung Well being app Joe Maring / Digital Traits
Compatibility is one other issue, although. The Galaxy Ring requires an Android telephone to work, and a few options, like utilizing Samsung Discover or the gesture system to snooze an alarm in your telephone, will solely work if the ring is paired with a Samsung telephone. It’s a little bit of a disgrace Samsung didn’t open the ring out to Apple’s iPhones, however at the least it’s not restricted to Samsung telephones solely.
There aren’t any such restrictions with Oura. The Oura Ring will connect with Android telephones and iPhones. That alone wins it this class. If you happen to’re an iPhone fan, then the Oura Ring is your solely actual alternative on this comparability.
Winner: Oura Ring
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: battery and charging
The Samsung Galaxy Ring in its charging case. Andy Boxall / Digital Traits
For a small machine with a fair smaller battery, good rings are inclined to final a comparatively very long time. The Oura Ring lasts round 4 to 5 days on a single cost based mostly on our time with it, which is lower than the marketed seven days, however nonetheless has a very good battery life. Samsung claimed its rings would last more, and whereas battery life is sweet, it’s not sufficient to point out up the Oura Ring. On common, the Galaxy Ring lasted round 4 to 5 days earlier than needing to be charged — about the identical as Oura.
The Oura Ring has a little bit charging plinth it’s popped onto to recharge, and it’s handy. It nonetheless must be plugged in to cost, although, and that’s an space the place the Galaxy Ring has it beat. The Galaxy Ring has the same association, together with a plinth, however as an alternative of being a dock-style that must be plugged in, it’s a charging case as an alternative. So you may pop your ring into the case and carry it round or tuck it away. It’s a a lot handier charging methodology and one Oura may study from.
Battery life isn’t a giant win for the Galaxy Ring as we had hoped — however the Galaxy Ring’s charging case nonetheless offers it a strong win right here.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: worth and availability
Oura Ring (left) and Galaxy Ring Kenn Maring / Digital Traits
The Oura Ring begins from $299 for the Heritage mannequin or $349 for the Horizon mannequin. It’s out there from Oura’s web site. The Galaxy Ring can also be out there for buy and prices $399, making it fairly a bit costlier than the Oura Ring.
Nevertheless, it’s vital to notice the Oura Ring has a subscription charge, which the Galaxy Ring doesn’t. The $6 a month charge isn’t big, however it’s required to entry every thing however essentially the most primary information from the wearable. That charge will construct up over time, so the $100 distinction between the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring will ultimately be bridged by the prices from the subscription charge, so it’s value holding that in thoughts.
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Oura Ring: verdict
Oura Ring (left) and Samsung Galaxy Ring Kenn Maring / Digital Traits
This can be a story of two good rings, and there’s no proper reply. Each of those units have their advantages, and each have explanation why you’d desire one over the opposite. The Oura Ring has extra options than the Galaxy Ring, and whereas it’s not a full substitute for a smartwatch, it’s nearer than some other kind of wearable. The Galaxy Ring, alternatively, is a triumph of slim, smooth design. It’s smaller and lighter than the Oura Ring, making it simpler to get used to, and the charging case is a characteristic Oura must ape.
It comes all the way down to what you need from a sensible ring. If you wish to change a smartwatch completely, the Oura Ring could also be higher for you. However when you’re going to proceed sporting a smartwatch — particularly a Galaxy smartwatch — then the Galaxy Ring is the right complement.
