Whilst speculative according to South Korean publication The Elec may be a bit of a wait for the Ring, suggests it may be launched with the Galaxy z Fold 6 and so not before July 2024 in any case.
Translation here:
Samsung Electronics' 'Galaxy Ring' is expected to be released as early as the third quarter of next year. Although Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Ring is still in the advanced development stage, the industry believes that Samsung Electronics' target launch date for the Galaxy Ring is the third quarter of next year or the first quarter of 2025. Currently, Samsung Electronics is developing one Galaxy Ring model in four sizes.
According to the industry on the 6th, Samsung Electronics is still in the process of developing the Galaxy Ring, a smart ring product. A smart ring is a wearable device that is worn like a ring. Through the various sensors mounted on the smart ring, physical and health information can be checked through a smartphone app.
Samsung Electronics is developing one Galaxy Ring model in four sizes. This is to respond to the various finger thicknesses of consumers. Oura Ring from Finland, a smart ring company, is sold in eight sizes (inner diameter 15.2 to 20.9 mm), and the Vital Ring from Korea's GT Accom is sold in four sizes (inner diameter 17.7 to 22.6 mm). Consumers can wear the smart ring on their thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger.
It is known that the size of the Galaxy Ring, which is currently being developed by Samsung Electronics, is too large for immediate commercialization. It is expected that preliminary development will be carried out in the direction of implementing as many functions as possible in the Galaxy Ring, and then in the mass production development stage, work will be carried out to reduce the product size and removing some functions.
It is known that Samsung Electronics is working on the Galaxy Ring advanced development project with several component companies, including Doosung Tech, headquartered in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, and Korea Seongjeon, which has a sales office in Suwon.
The industry predicts that the Galaxy Ring will be unveiled as early as the third quarter of next year and is likely to be released in the third quarter of next year or the first quarter of 2025. It has been reported that Samsung Electronics has been instructed to prepare to release the Galaxy Ring in the third quarter of next year when the 6th generation foldable phones Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 are released.
If Samsung Electronics wants to release the Galaxy Ring after receiving medical device certification like the Galaxy Watch, a smartwatch, it is more likely to launch in the first quarter of 2025 rather than the third quarter of next year. Typically, 7 to 8 months are required for product development and an additional 10 to 12 months for medical device approval. If a manufacturer wants to apply for medical device certification for a specific product, the product must be developed to a level where radio wave certification can be obtained.
Currently, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Ring product design has not been completed, so considering the period required for medical device approval (October to December), it may be difficult to launch a Galaxy Ring that supports medical device functions in the third quarter of next year.
The reason the industry is interested in whether Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Ring supports medical device functions is because of the Galaxy Watch's medical device functions. The Galaxy Watch series has received medical device certification for blood pressure and electrocardiogram measurement, menstrual cycle prediction, and irregular heart rhythm notification (IHRN), and has recently received approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the early detection support function for sleep apnea. The sleep apnea early detection support function is scheduled to be supported on the Galaxy Watch 5 and 6 through an update to the Samsung Health Monitor app early next year.
Smart rings without these medical device functions are classified as ‘wellness’ products. The industry believes that there is a high possibility that Samsung Electronics will launch the Galaxy Ring with medical device functions.
The Galaxy Ring is expected to be more accurate in measuring body information than the Galaxy Watch. Smart rings are more likely to be worn according to the thickness of the user's finger, which can reduce errors caused by wearing the product loosely. However, in a smart ring, the blood flow passing through the finger is weaker than that of the wrist, so information accuracy may be reduced, or the smart ring may be too tight on the finger, causing an error in blood flow measurement.
At the same time, Samsung Electronics is also considering the Galaxy Ring, which works with extended reality (XR) devices. Vision Pro, a mixed reality (MR) device unveiled by Apple in June, tracks the user's head and hand movements with 12 cameras and 5 sensors without a special controller.
(http://www.thelec.kr)
I do not work for Samsung or make Samsung Products but provide independent advice and valuable contributions.
