Samsung Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: don’t buy the wrong one

Before making a purchase, reviewing this comparison guide for the all-new Samsung Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch 7 can be important in helping you make the right decision based on your personal needs. Despite being worn in different ways, these products share surprising similarities.

Both devices offer advanced healt-h and fitness-tracking features, seamless integration with your smartphone, and comfortable designs. Take a close look, and you might be surprised by what you discover.

Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: specs

Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: hardware and design

The Galaxy Ring is made from titanium, while the Galaxy Watch 7 is crafted from armor aluminum and features a display, which the ring predictably does not. The Galaxy Watch 7 comes in 40mm or 44mm models, though if you prefer a larger size, you can consider the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The Galaxy Watch 7 has a Super AMOLED display with protection provided by Sapphire Glass. The display resolution varies depending on the watch’s size, but they have a similar pixels-per-inch ratio.

The Galaxy Ring is available in sizes five through 13 in three titanium models: Black, Silver, and Gold. Samsung provides sizing kits, which are free as part of an introductory offer, for anyone who doesn’t know their ring size.

The Galaxy Ring weighs just 3 grams, which is significantly lighter than the competitor Oura. That means you will barely even notice it on your finger. The Galaxy Ring is just 2.6mm thick, which we found impressive for a first-generation product.

Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: sensors, health tracking, and interface

Both devices are compatible with the Samsung Health app, which means they are incompatible with non-Android devices such as iPhones. The Samsung Health app is where you can access all the data collected by each product, which is gathered from sensors on both devices.

The Galaxy Ring is specifically designed to monitor essential health metrics discreetly. It features Auto Workout Detection, which automatically gathers data from activities such as walks or runs. Additionally, it provides an Energy Score that uses AI to analyze various health metrics and assign a score up to 100. This score reflects how your body should be feeling based on the collected data, including sleep information, activity level, sleeping heart rate, and sleep heart rate variability. The wearable also tracks blood oxygen levels and skin temperature to assist in tracking menstrual cycles.

The Galaxy Watch 7 encompasses all the features of the Galaxy Ring, along with many more additions. Like the Apple Watch Series, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers comprehensive wellness features, including blood pressure monitoring (in select regions), heart health tracking, body composition analysis, menstrual cycle predictions, and fitness coaching. It is also capable of accurately tracking over 90 different activities.

In contrast to the Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Watch 7 includes sleep apnea monitoring. This Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved feature utilizes AI to track sleep and identify potential signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. It achieves this by monitoring blood oxygen levels, heart rate variability, and sleeping breathing patterns. It can also measure your AGEs index — a metric that’s supposed to show how your body is aging based on your diet, activity, and other factors.

A lot, but not all, of the information you can review on the Samsung Health app is also available at a glance on the Galaxy Watch 7. You can also start training workouts directly from the watch. The Galaxy Ring has no display and cannot offer this.

Although the Galaxy Ring offers fewer data points, it isn’t less accurate. With its comprehensive sleep monitoring, it accurately tracks durations of various phases and awake times in between and after sleep. With its minimally intrusive form, the Galaxy Ring can replace the Galaxy Watch for those who prefer sleeping without wearing a smartwatch.

Unlike its sleep calculations, the Galaxy Ring failed to detect blood oxygen levels particularly well during our review period. It recorded severely low SpO2 levels, which would have led to hospitalization if accurate. So it’s probably best not to rely on the Galaxy Ring if your blood oxygen is an important metric for you.

Likewise, the Galaxy Ring also shows significant deviation in the accuracy of data recorded during workouts. We noted a considerable gap compared to the Apple Watch, and a lot of data may not make sense. This can leave a sour taste in your mouth if you take workout tracking seriously.

Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: battery life and durability

Smart rings like the one from Samsung and the industry-leading Oura have a significant advantage in battery life over smartwatches. For example, Samsung claims the Galaxy Ring can last up to a week on a single charge, whereas the Galaxy Watch 7 typically lasts around 60 hours under normal conditions.

In real-life testing, the Galaxy Ring lasted only about four days per charge. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch 7 showed inconsistent patterns of battery backup, lasting only about a day.

For charging, the 44mm Galaxy Watch 7 takes about 90 minutes to charge fully. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Ring in size 9 takes over an hour inside the wireless charging and carrying case, which can be disconcerting if you consider the battery is about 1/20th the size of what you find inside the Watch. The case holds enough power to charge the Ring twice, and you can also charge the case while it charges the Galaxy Ring inside it.

In terms of durability, the Galaxy Ring is designed to withstand depths of up to 100 meters underwater and is dust-tight. Similarly, the Galaxy Watch 7 can survive underwater up to 50 meters and is dust-tight. This makes the Galaxy Ring a great option for swimmers (though it doesn’t automatically track swimming) and those who want a longer battery life, while the Galaxy Watch 7 balances durability and functionality for everyday use.

Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: price and availability

The Galaxy Ring is available in three titanium frames (black, gold, and silver) that are priced at $400 each. The Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $300 for the 40mm model and $330 for the 44mm model.

These are the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi editions of the watch. When adding 4G LTE, the prices rise to $350 and $380, respectively. The 40mm version is available in green and cream, while the 44mm version comes in green and silver. You can also purchase a watch with different band types.

Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch 7: which should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Watch 7 are tailored for different users with unique needs and preferences, making the comparison a fascinating exploration of their features and capabilities.

First of all, you must decide between wearing a ring or a watch. If you have a preference, it’s time to make your choice. If not, take a closer look at the features of each product. The Galaxy Watch 7 offers more data, providing extensive wellness and fitness information through the Samsung Health app. On the other hand, the Galaxy Ring provides less detail, but includes features like sleep tracking, general fitness tracking, and overall wellness tracking.

Consider this perspective: If you already own a smartwatch, you may not find it suitable to switch to a Galaxy Ring, as it offers fewer features. However, if you’re new to smart wearables, not heavily into sports, and seeking basic wellness tracking, the Galaxy Ring could be a suitable option, especially since the data it provides is only accurate for sleep, and not particularly accurate where exercises are concerned. Otherwise, the Galaxy Watch 7 is a better choice and, in some cases, also cheaper than the Galaxy Ring. It’s essential to assess your specific needs and preferences before deciding.