Key Takeaways:
Samsung announced its new wearable, the Galaxy Ring, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 smartphones in Paris earlier this month. The smart ring offering some excellent features was first believed to be only compatible with Samsung phones but turns out that it works fine with any Android phone.
Samsung Galaxy Ring Works With Other Android Phones Under Limited Capacity
The company’s press release for the wearable did not mention this but the wording was changed after tech Youtuber M Brandon Lee seemed to have connected his Galaxy Ring review unit to a Nothing Phone.
In an X post, Lee argued that reviews claiming that the Galaxy Ring only works with a Samsung phone are untrue as the wearable works fine on any Android phone that has the Galaxy Wearable app installed. He says users can connect the ring to their non-Samsung Galaxy phones via the app and take it through the setting up process.
Samsung never explicitly said the Galaxy Ring would not be compatible with other Android phones. However, the company highlighted during the announcement that some features, such as the Double Pinch gestures, Energy Score, Galaxy AI, and Find My Ring, will be exclusive to Galaxy series smartphones.
Regular Android users will only be able to use the Ring’s basic features like heart rate monitoring, step counting, sleep tracking, workout detection, and wellness tips provider.
Samsung took a similar approach with the new Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, with its most advanced features remaining locked away for users who went all-in on the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem.
On Samsung’s official website, the company has made a small addition to the Galaxy Ring product page that now says the smart ring is supported on Android smartphones from other manufacturers running Android 11 and above.
Samsung’s Wearables Are Among The Most Versatile In The Market
It is not just Android phones that are supported by Samsung’s wearables, they have also been compatible with Apple’s iPhones, making them one of the most versatile wearable devices in the market.
However, Samsung dropped Galaxy Watch support for iOS in 2021 after announcing a partnership with Google to use the WearOS. Until that point, Galaxy Watches were powered by Samsung’s own TizenOS, which was later discontinued.
Every Galaxy smartwatch that has come out since 2021 runs on Google WearOS, which is based on Android, and therefore is compatible with Android smartphones out of the box. Considering this fact, it is not a surprise that Samsung extended the Galaxy Ring’s compatibility beyond the Galaxy phones.
Galaxy Ring To Soon Become Compatible With The iPhone
Tech analyst Avi Greengart suggested that while the Galaxy Watch 7 or Galaxy Watch Ultra won’t regain iOS support, it is possible that the Galaxy Ring could be compatible with the iPhone, given that it is a different product altogether.
Samsung Health is available on the iOS App Store, but the Galaxy Wearable app is nowhere to be found, which has the controls for the Galaxy Ring. If the reports are true, then we will soon see Galaxy Ring support on the iPhone, but with limited features like other Android phones.
Samsung’s Galaxy series wearables are a marketing ploy to attract more customers to the Samsung ecosystem. By allowing potential customers to try out some standout basic features, they will be enticed to unlock the more premium features that can only be accessed through Galaxy smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy Ring Starts From $399 And Will Be In Stores From July 24th
The Samsung Galaxy Ring can be pre-ordered and will be in stores from July 24th onwards. The Ring starts at $399 and comes in sizes ranging from 5 to 13 inches. The wearable is available in three colors: Titanium, Gold, and Silver.
Customers can spec their Galaxy Rings in various styles and materials, such as stainless steel and 14K yellow gold. Samsung has customization options that can price the Ring at $7,500.
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