Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is now officially available in South Africa. And yes, it really is just a smart ring. No screen, no voice assistant, no notifications. Just sensors, metal, and a promise to quietly track your health while staying out of your way.
It’s Samsung’s first serious attempt at a smart ring, and while the concept isn’t new — the Oura Ring’s been around for years — this is the first time a major smartphone brand is going all-in. Where smartwatches are heavy on features and often overbearing, the Galaxy Ring is the opposite. It’s light. Minimal. And it’s built to take a beating.
Designed to disappear
The Galaxy Ring looks like a regular piece of jewellery. There’s no screen, no LEDs, no branding, and no noise. Just a polished titanium band that quietly houses a suite of wellness sensors. It tracks your heart rate, sleep, temperature, blood oxygen, movement, and even menstrual cycles, while syncing everything back to the Samsung Health app on your phone.
Available in three colours — black, silver, and gold — the ring comes in nine different sizes and weighs as little as 2.3 grams. That’s lighter than a coin, and depending on the size you choose, you may forget it’s even there. The titanium build isn’t just for looks. It adds real toughness to the design. There’s also scratch resistance built in, and an IP68 water resistance rating that means you can swim, shower, or sweat without ever needing to take it off.
Built to handle life
Samsung is pitching the Galaxy Ring as a device that fits into your life without asking much in return. Whether you’re lifting weights, running, or going for a swim, it’s designed to keep tracking without getting in the way. It’s tough enough to take knocks, light enough to forget, and durable enough to wear 24/7.
Battery life varies by ring size, but Samsung says you’ll get between five to seven days of use on a full charge. The tiny charging cradle has magnets that snap the ring into place, and it plugs in via USB-C. No wireless charging here, but you won’t need to top it up every day either.
It’s not a replacement for a smartwatch — it doesn’t do notifications, calls, or music. It’s also exclusive to Android (and best with Samsung phones), so iPhone users are out of luck for now. But if you’re already in the Galaxy ecosystem and want a discreet health tracker that doesn’t scream “tech”, this might be it.
Pricing and availability in South Africa
The Galaxy Ring is available from Samsung Experience Stores, the Samsung Shop online, the Samsung Shop app, and participating mobile operators and retailers across South Africa. Recommended retail price is R7,999.
That’s a lot for a smart ring, but it’s priced in line with what the Oura Ring Generation 3 would cost if it were sold locally. Unlike Oura, though, Samsung isn’t charging a monthly subscription to access your health data. What you see is what you get.