Samsung is hoping to lure fitness and health-tracking technology lovers with its newest wearable device – the Galaxy Ring.
It launched the device at its Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday as the latest addition to its ecosystem of devices it says it is “supercharging” with artificial intelligence (AI).
Smart rings, which use tiny sensors to monitor various health metrics, have up to now been a niche product – though their recent use by the England men’s football team made headlines.
It seems Samsung is attempting to change that, becoming the largest tech company yet to enter the smart ring market.
Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight, says the product choice is an “interesting bet” for Samsung, with his company estimating that there will be a total global market of around four million smart rings in 2025.
“That is a rounding error when compared with 250 million smartwatches that are also expected to be sold,” he told the BBC.
But others suggest Samsung may help make smart rings more mainstream.
“For most consumers, the smart ring from Samsung will be the first contact they will have in the smart ring, and that top of mind awareness makes a huge difference in the long-term,” says Francisco Jeronimo, analyst for market research firm IDC.
James Kitto, vice president and head of Samsung’s mobile division in the UK & Ireland, heralded the ring’s launch as a “huge moment” for the company.
