When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
Despite early skepticism, most features on the Galaxy Ring will work with Android phones from brands other than Samsung.
Samsung’s first fitness tracker concealed in a smart ring configuration is already beating demand forecasts by a long margin. Samsung is reportedly preparing to ship out one million units through the end of 2024, and recent findings about its broader compatibility with Android phones, not limited to those by Samsung, may further boost sales.
Galaxy Watch Works with Any Android
Like the Samsung Galaxy Watch, which works with almost any Android phone that satisfies a minimum threshold of specifications, the Galaxy Ring will work with any Android. Refuting previous speculations that most features on the Galaxy Ring may only function with a Samsung phone, Android Police discovered almost all functions work as intended.
The reviewers at Android Police tested the Galaxy Ring paired with a Motorola Razr Plus 2024 alongside another with a Galaxy Z Flip 6 and found a negligible difference in data recording between the two units. They further confirmed that features powered by Galaxy AI also run on non-Samsung devices.
🎶 If you liked it then you shoulda put a 💍 on it!🎶
My review of the Samsung Galaxy Ring is now live!#GalaxyRing #SamsungGalaxy #Samsung pic.twitter.com/D7LhWitm6Z— Ale𝕏 Gear & Tech (@AlexGTech1) August 11, 2024
Galaxy Ring’s AI Features Work on Other Phones
These AI features include an “Energy Score,” which uses data from your sleep, heart rate variability while resting, previous day’s activity, etc., to give you a heads-up about the expected energy levels through the day.
This is identical to the Readiness Score that competitor Oura offers. The other is known as “Wellness Tips” and comprises personalized suggestions to improve your overall fitness.
While all the features work nicely, the Galaxy Ring may take longer to sync data based on your Android phone — and the extent to which the Android skin running on it limits background activity.
Galaxy Ring vs. Galaxy Watch
Although the Galaxy Ring is more ergonomic and offers a much longer battery than a Galaxy Watch, it inherently lacks advanced features such as ECG, blood pressure monitoring, and wrist temperature sensing.
The newer Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra can also detect sleep apnea and determine metabolic age by measuring advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs, which are compounds formed by the oxidation of protein and fat in the presence of sugar molecules. All of these advanced features—beyond basic heart rate and blood oxygen measurements—require a Samsung phone.
The Galaxy Watch’s lack of features can be justified by smaller sensors compressed inside the tiny footprint. This doesn’t affect the price, though, as this engineering marvel costs $400 on the official website. Despite fewer features and the exclusion of a screen, it is more than what you pay for the new Galaxy Watch 7. However, when we compare it with the Oura Ring Heritage or Horizon, which requires a monthly $6 subscription, the Galaxy Ring emerges as the cheaper option over a long duration.
