When people think of wearables, smartwatches are often the first thing that comes to mind. However, 2024 was a relatively quiet year for smartwatches, marked by iterative updates rather than revolutionary new ideas. But as the wearables market continues to evolve, it’s clear that the excitement is shifting towards another type of wearable: the smart ring.
A New Era for Smart Rings
Smart rings are not a new concept, but 2024 saw a renaissance in this category. In January, several smart rings made their debut at CES, and Samsung announced its long-rumored Galaxy Ring in February. This move from one of the biggest players in the smartwatch space is significant, as it brings what was once a niche form factor into the mainstream.
The Rise of Innovative Smart Rings
This newer crop of smart rings is exciting because they’re not just incremental updates – they’re innovative and feature-packed. The Galaxy Ring, for example, can work seamlessly with Samsung’s Galaxy Watches to optimize battery life and sensor accuracy. When paired with a Z Fold 6 or Z Flip 6, it can even recognize a pinching gesture to control the phone’s camera. These are not use cases we’ve seen from smart rings before, and they demonstrate just how much potential this category has.
Innovative Features and Designs
But it’s not just Samsung that’s pushing the boundaries of what a smart ring can do. The Circular Slim, for instance, lets you set silent haptic alarms and attempt an in-app AI chatbot. Movano’s Evie Ring caught my eye with its distinctive open-gap design while ambitiously pursuing FDA clearance for its metrics. And even Casio is getting in on the fun with its take on a more retro low-tech smart ring.
The Competition Heats Up
One of the most refreshing aspects of this new era of smart rings is the emergence of new ideas. When you consider that Oura has dominated this space for the past decade, it’s clear that the market is ripe for competition. Oura primarily focuses on sleep tracking and recovery, which means that up until recently, we’ve only really thought of smart rings as health trackers. But with the introduction of innovative features like continuous glucose monitors and new integrations, it’s clear that Oura is not resting on its laurels.
The Challenges of Smart Rings
Of course, there are challenges to making a successful smart ring. They’re expensive compared to similarly priced smartwatches, and they don’t do quite as much. Additionally, manufacturers have to contend with the difficulty of creating precise components for such small devices, not to mention accommodating a wide range of finger sizes.
Will the Renaissance Continue?
Only time will tell whether the renaissance of smart rings will continue into 2025. We’ll have to see how Samsung’s Galaxy Ring performs in terms of sales and whether other major players like Google and Apple take notice. But one thing is clear: there’s a growing interest in smart rings, driven by people looking for something discreet yet powerful.
The Future of Wearables
As we look ahead to 2025, it’s clear that the wearables market is evolving rapidly. With innovative new ideas emerging and major players like Samsung taking notice, it’s an exciting time for anyone interested in wearable technology. Whether smart rings will continue to be a dominant force or whether other categories emerge remains to be seen – but one thing is certain: the future of wearables is bright.
Related Articles
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- Oura Ring 4 review: still on top — for now
- It’s especially refreshing to see new ideas when you consider that Oura has pretty much dominated this space for the past decade
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