The two most interesting features of the Samsung Galaxy Ring have nothing to do with health – it also has a big advantage over the Oura

SAMSUNG has officially launched its first smart ring – but two of the coolest features aren’t even health-related.

And you will have to own a Galaxy smartphone to unlock them.

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The Samsung Galaxy Ring has several fitness tracking tools, many of which you’d expect to see on a smartwatch.

Instead, the South Korean tech giant hopes to bring these features to the more convenient side.

At a launch event in Paris, the company finally revealed everything about the Galaxy Ring, including price and release date.

One distinct advantage over a smartwatch is the battery – Samsung claims the Ring can last up to seven days.

Two interesting non-health features will only be available to Galaxy smartphone owners.

The first is that you can do a double-pinch gesture with your fingers to dismiss an alarm in the morning.

It’s a super premium device and more expensive than a basic Galaxy Watch6, but unlike the Oura there’s no subscription fee

Ben MadeiraChief Analyst at CCS Insight

And if you’re taking a selfie, you can also pinch your fingers twice to take the photo without having to run to the timer.

Other features will work on rival Android devices, but not the iPhone.

This includes “advanced” sleep and exercise tracking, with things like running and walking detected automatically.

And at the heart of it all is AI, which is used to process all the data tracked about your health and movements to generate a so-called energy score with personalized tips to boost your well-being.

There is also a heart rate checker as well as cycle tracking for women, which can predict the user’s menstrual cycle based on their skin temperature at night.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring retails for £399/$399 – more expensive than most of Samsung’s new smartwatches.

Despite the premium price, there is no subscription to access any features or your data, unlike the latest Gen 3 from market leader Oura.

“The Galaxy Ring is an interesting bet from Samsung,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.

“It is a device category that fits well with growing consumer interest in monitoring health metrics and is complementary to Samsung’s current smartwatch sales, especially in sleep monitoring.

“Only a small proportion of consumers use their smartwatches in bed, which means a huge amount of data is not captured, not just about sleep, but also heart health, body temperature and more.

“It’s also encouraging to see the increasing focus on women’s health, a trend that other smart ring manufacturers are embracing.”

The smart ring uses scratch-resistant titanium and comes in three colors: black, gold, and silver.

It will also be available in nine sizes along with a wireless charging case.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring will go on sale from July 24th.

SMARTWATCHES LIVE

However, the change does not signal the end of Samsung’s smartwatches.

The company also announced new Galaxy Watch devices, including an Ultra model.

Expert Ben added: “The new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra will undoubtedly spark a flurry of discussion about its similarity to the design and name of Apple’s Watch Ultra.

“However, it is a logical next step for Samsung.

“He correctly identified that the Apple Watch Ultra has been a strong margin driver and the Galaxy Watch Ultra is designed to appeal to a similar demographic, be it aspiring athletes, those seeking a fashion statement or simply those who want the best specs and battery in your smartwatch.”

The Galaxy Watch Ultra retails for £599/$649.

Meanwhile, the new Galaxy Watch7 starts at £289/$299.