After teasing it alongside the Galaxy S24 series in January, Samsung finally unveiled its first smartwatch, the Galaxy Ring, at the recent Unpacked event. Alongside the new smart ring, the tech giant also introduced the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra.
With these devices now available for pre-order, you can decide which health tracker to choose. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t spend your money on the Galaxy Ring and go for the Galaxy Watch 7 instead.
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Samsung has finally launched its first smart ring after almost a year of teasing. Our Gadgets Editor Taylor Kerns and I both had the chance to go hands-on with the Galaxy Ring, try it out, and get up close and personal with the brand new charging case. With smartwatches so new, and especially for Samsung, we suspect you have a few questions about what the Korean giant has in store for us, from size to specs and price to performance. So go ahead and tell us what you need to know about Samsung’s latest wearables.
1 It’s cheaper
The Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $300
Based on the numbers, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 offers the best value for your investment. While the Galaxy Ring is one of the smart rings with no subscription cost, it still has a hefty price tag starting at $400. The Galaxy Watch 7, on the other hand, starts at just $300.
Even the most expensive variant of the Galaxy Watch 7 – the 44mm cellular + Wi-Fi model – is still cheaper than the Galaxy Ring at $380. If budget is a constraint, or you just want to get the most for your money, the Galaxy Watch 7 is the best buy.
2 It offers a complete smartwatch experience
Control notifications, interact with apps and more
Now, this isn’t just limited to the Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7, but the broader smartwatch vs. smartwatch debate in general. If you’re planning to invest in one of these wearables, keep in mind that a smartwatch will always provide a more immersive experience than what a smart ring can deliver.
Sure, the Galaxy Ring may be less intrusive and won’t interrupt your daily life like a smartwatch, but it also has limited capabilities.
The Galaxy Watch 7, on the other hand, offers a full set of features. You will receive notifications directly on your wrist; it runs the latest Wear OS 5, so you have access to your favorite apps, and it has a big screen that lets you do a lot more than a smart ring. You can even pair it with your headphones and enjoy music on the go without relying on your smartphone.
In addition, the Watch 7 is a standalone device that can work independently without relying on your Galaxy smartphone.
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3 Superior health tracking features
Some features are only available on the watch
Smart rings are small and can only measure health tracking metrics to a limited extent due to their size – after all, you can only fit a limited number of sensors into such a small product. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 7 has a full array of sensors that enable it to offer more (and accurate) health-tracking capabilities than the Galaxy Ring.
For example, there are some health tracking features, such as EKG, body composition analysis, and blood pressure monitoring, that are only available on the Galaxy Watch 7. Similarly, if you want to track your running in nature without holding the smartphone, this is possible on the Galaxy Watch 7 thanks to the built-in GPS, unlike the Galaxy Ring.
While the Galaxy Ring is better at some other health tracking, like sleep monitoring, the Watch 7 offers a more complete set of high-end health tracking features.
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4 Lots of customization options
Style your watch however you like
Lastly, if you like to style your wearable to match your outfit, the Galaxy Watch 7 might be the best choice. While the Galaxy Ring comes in different finishes, it lacks the customization options of the Galaxy Watch. Once you choose a color for the Galaxy Ring, you’re stuck with it. On the other hand, you can style the Galaxy Watch 7 by changing the bands to suit your preference or outfit.
The Galaxy Watch 7 is a better investment
To sum up, buying a Galaxy Watch 7 seems like a better investment compared to the Galaxy Ring. While the Ring has its advantages, the Watch 7 surpasses it in almost every aspect – fitness tracking, functionality and value. The best part is that you can currently save even more on the Galaxy Watch 7 thanks to attractive pre-order offers available until July 24.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
While the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 may not look like a huge upgrade from the outside, it does boast significant spec upgrades, like the new 3nm Exynos W1000 processor for better battery life and performance. It’s also one of the first smartwatches to run Wear OS 5 out of the box. Additionally, it offers improved GPS tracking and a brand new BioActive sensor for better health tracking.