Before you pounce on me, I admit that this might seem like an unfair comparison. But I would urge you to read it all the way through and then think about it. Samsung surprised us with three new wearable gadgets: the Galaxy Watch 7, the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Ring. Well, that’s how Samsung finally entered the slowly growing smart ring market. Of course, this got many people thinking about upgrading or buying a smartwatch or trying out a new smart ring.
In the US, the Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $299 and goes up to $379, while the Galaxy Ring will cost $399. This puts them in a similar price range, although the Galaxy Watch 7 (base model) is slightly easier on the pocket.
When your aim is to track and monitor your health, it is natural to choose one of these two – Galaxy Watch 7 or Galaxy Ring? It is a tough decision. I will try to make it easier for you. Let’s take a closer look at the similar and different features of both products.
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs Galaxy Watch 7: Specifications
| Samsung Galaxy Ring | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| form factor | Sleek, Minimalist Smart Ring | Traditional smartwatch with a circular display |
| Display | no display, Depends on the paired smartphone | 1.3″ (40mm) and 1.5″ (44mm) Super AMOLED displays |
| Processor | not specified | Exynos W1000 |
| to hit | 8MB | 2GB |
| storage | not specified | 32GB |
| features | Health tracking (heart rate, sleep, skin temperature during sleep, other activity) | Health tracking, notifications, apps, NFC payments, voice assistant, apps and more. |
| Sensor | Bioactive sensors, accelerometers and infrared temperature sensors | Bioactive sensors (including BIA), dual-GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, ambient light sensor, and infrared temperature sensor |
| Battery | Size 5-7: 17mAh, up to 6 days Size 8-11: 18mAh, up to 6 days Size 12-13: 22.5mAh, up to 7 days Charging case: 361mAh, up to 20 times full charge |
40mm: 300mAh 44mm: 425mAh Can last up to 40 hours |
| DIMENSIONS | 7.0mm x 2.6mm (ring) 48.9 x 48.9 x 24.51mm (charging case) |
40mm: 40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7mm 44mm: 44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7mm |
| weight | 2.3 grams (smallest size 5) 3 grams (largest size 13) |
28.8 g (40mm) 33.8 g (44 mm) |
| Tolerance | Grade 5 Titanium Alloy IP68 + 10ATM waterproof |
IP68 + 5ATM water-resistance |
| price | $399 | $299 – $379 |
| Availability | Available for pre-order in the US and South Korea | widely available |
Samsung Galaxy Ring vs Galaxy Watch 7: Form factor, design
The form factor is where the biggest difference lies: the Galaxy Watch 7 is a traditional smartwatch with a circular display and physical buttons. The Galaxy Ring, on the other hand, is a small, titanium-made ring designed for your finger.
The Galaxy Ring is more comfortable and discreet. It doesn’t distract you as you can’t physically do anything to the ring. It simply stays on your finger and tracks your health. But, you will have to use your phone to check your health data regularly. While the Galaxy Ring doesn’t have a vibration motor, its flashing green and red LED lights help you find it if you lose it.
The Galaxy Watch 7, like any other smartwatch, rests on your wrist. It has a display to interact with to view notifications and other details on your wrist. Yet another screen can be distracting. While it is not a lightweight gadget at all, carrying it around can be inconvenient initially.
The Galaxy Watch 7 is available in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. You can customize the different color options (beige, silver, and green) by combining them with a number of aftermarket straps.
The Galaxy Ring comes in nine different sizes based on the U.S. standard (ranging from 5 to 13) and three titanium finishes: gold, silver, and black. If you pre-order it from Samsung, the company sends you a sizing kit to help you find the right fit. While any finger works, Samsung recommends wearing it on your index finger for better accuracy with health data.
Memorization: If you like automatic or mechanical analog watches, you can wear them with the Galaxy Ring. The Galaxy Watch is a great option for everyday wear, and you can switch to a “non-smart” watch whenever you want. But, you will miss out on tracking your health data for the day.
Galaxy Ring vs Galaxy Watch 7: Multiple features
The Galaxy Ring focuses entirely on health tracking. It can track your heart rate, steps, sleep, and other activities. Sleep data includes how long it takes you to fall asleep, sleep stages, your skin temperature while sleeping, heart and respiratory rates, activity during sleep, and sleep continuity.
Samsung has also integrated Galaxy AI into its smart ring. It uses AI for menstrual cycle tracking, sleep analysis, and personalized insights based on your health data. These insights can include suggestions to improve sleep quality, optimize workouts, and manage stress.
Apart from the health features, the Galaxy Ring offers a double-pinch gesture as an added bonus. You can use it to remotely control the camera shutter on Samsung phones or trigger other actions.
In comparison, the Galaxy Watch 7 has almost all the features of the Galaxy Ring, including heart rate, step, sleep, and automatic activity tracking. It has additional health tracking capabilities like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, blood pressure tracking, and body composition analysis – features not available in the ring.
The Watch 7 also includes GPS to navigate Google Maps and accurately track outdoor activities. You can interact with all your data in real time directly on the watch. In addition, it offers notifications, app access, NFC payments, Google Assistant or Bixby support, and hundreds of customizable watch faces.
Wear OS means you can even do some unusual things like watch YouTube videos on the watch. Basically, you get a tiny smartphone on your wrist. Forget your phone at home, pair your Bluetooth earbuds to the watch and go for a jog, especially if you opt for the LTE version, which also lets you make and receive calls without your phone.
Galaxy Ring vs Galaxy Watch 7: Checking your data
As mentioned, the Galaxy Ring doesn’t have a display. You’ll need to check the Samsung Health app on the paired smartphone for health data and other notifications. The Galaxy Watch 7, on the other hand, has a physical screen for easy access to information. You can start a workout and view your stats directly on the watch.
The Galaxy Watch also has a built-in speaker and vibration motor that the ring doesn’t have. These provide feedback during workouts, notify you of alerts on your phone, and help you find the watch if you lose it.
Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: Battery life
The battery life of the Galaxy Ring depends on the size you choose, as different sizes accommodate different battery capacities.
Sizes 5 to 11 get up to six days of use, while the larger sizes 12 and 13 can last up to seven days on a single charge. You can charge the Ring using its charging case, which can deliver up to 20 full charges on the go (similar to your TWS earbuds case).
On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 7’s battery life lasts about two days depending on usage, which is mainly influenced by features like screen usage, always-on display, active workout tracking, and GPS. Therefore, the Galaxy Ring wins in this category as it only needs to be charged once per week.
Who should choose what?
- Reasons to buy the Galaxy Watch 7 instead of the Galaxy Ring: Full smartwatch experience, better health tracking features, customisation options, plus it’s the cheaper of the two.
- Reasons to buy the Galaxy Ring instead of the Galaxy Watch 7: Comfortable, discreet and lightweight to wear all day, less distracting than bulky smartwatches, and with longer battery life.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is a bold new entry into the wearable technology market, set to make smart rings a mainstream accessory. It offers many features similar to or better than those found in existing Ora And Ultrahuman Smart Ring, and it does not require any monthly or annual subscription.
However, when compared to a traditional smartwatch like the Galaxy Watch 7, the question isn’t which is better. The choice comes down to your preference: a ring that focuses on essential health tracking or a smartwatch that does it all, acting as a wrist-worn smart assistant that can sometimes even replace your phone.
The Galaxy Ring is a suitable choice for those who are happy with essential health tracking in a comfortable, everyday-wear form factor. Similarly, the Galaxy Watch is the perfect choice for those who already enjoy a smartwatch (and would love to wear one anyway) and want more features, such as outdoor workouts with GPS tracking, Google Maps navigation on your wrist, or leaving your phone at home when going for a walk or jog. And if you’re an Android user interested in adventure sports or activities like trekking, there’s no better option than the Galaxy Watch Ultra.