Samsung unveils AI-powered Galaxy Ring to take on Oura

If you hate wearing a bulky smartwatch to bed, smart rings feel like the obvious answer. For years, Finland-based Oura has dominated this corner of the tech world, holding over 52% of the market. Now, a heavyweight tech giant is finally crashing the party.

At its Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday, Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy Ring, marking the company’s first foray into the category. The device is feather-light at just 2.3 to 3 grams depending on the size, packs up to seven days of battery life, and carries a $399 price tag. Pre-orders are live now, with retail availability kicking off on July 24. According to CNBC, Samsung has set an ambitious target of shipping 4 million rings in 2025.

Tiny hardware, built-in AI insights

The appeal here is continuous, invisible health tracking. Tucking Samsung sensors into a tiny titanium band, the Galaxy Ring tracks biometrics around the clock. Those data points feed into Samsung’s Galaxy AI algorithms to generate personalized daily insights and wellness recommendations.

Beyond sleep and health metrics, the ring comes with practical hardware touches that users care about: a dedicated charging case rather than a finicky puck, and the ability to track down the ring’s location via an app if it ever slips between the couch cushions.

The real threat to Oura: Zero subscription fees

Oura pioneered the modern smart ring, selling over 2.5 million units since launching in 2013. But Oura’s biggest friction point has always been its recurring subscription model. You buy the hardware, and then you pay monthly to unlock your own biometric data.

Samsung is taking the opposite route: no subscription required. You pay $399 upfront, and that is it.

On top of that, the Galaxy Ring slides neatly into Samsung’s wider hardware ecosystem. It links with newer Galaxy devices, supporting perks like double-pinch gestures to control features on your phone or smartwatch, and working in tandem with the Galaxy Watch to keep biometric tracking going even when you swap devices.

Why it matters

For consumers, especially those already using Galaxy phones, this is the most seamless way to monitor recovery and sleep without a screen buzzing on your wrist all night. The lack of a monthly fee makes the $399 pill easier to swallow, though that upfront price remains a steep barrier for casual users.

For the wearable industry, Samsung’s entry signals that smart rings are moving from niche Kickstarter territory into standard consumer tech. Aiming for 4 million shipments in 2025 is a massive statement—it would essentially eclipse Oura's lifetime unit sales in a single calendar year. That kind of pressure is bound to force Apple and Google to show their hands.

We think dropping the subscription fee is Samsung’s smartest move here. It immediately turns the biggest consumer complaint about Oura into Samsung's primary selling point. The real challenge, however, will be whether the Galaxy AI health insights feel genuinely actionable. Without a screen to deliver dopamine hits, the ring lives or dies by how smart its software feels over months of daily use.