Samsung Galaxy Ring could be an unpacked "1 more thing" — here's what we know

Samsung Galaxy Ring could be an unpacked "1 more thing" — here's what we know

Samsung's Unpacked 2023 event is less than a week away, and given that this year's showcase event will be held in its home country of South Korea, it is interesting to note that the company may be launching something entirely new. Like Samsung's smartwatch lineup, wearables have long been Samsung's forte, so it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that the "Galaxy Ring" will debut at Unpacked. It could be the "one more" moment we've all been waiting for.

Rumors of Samsung creating a smart ring to track health vitals and statistics have long been swirling; a patent uncovered in 2022 showed the company's commitment to a smart ring wearable similar to the acclaimed Oura Ring. However, the latest reports suggest that the development process has already begun.

As the name suggests, the Galaxy Ring is a wearable in the form of a ring that fits on the finger. It looks like an ordinary ring on the outside, but inside is packed with sensors for tracking health activities and workouts. It looks like an ordinary ring on the outside, but it has the health tracking capabilities of a smartwatch.

However, a recent patent application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reveals almost a handful of names that could eventually become this Samsung smart ring. Galaxy Circle," "Galaxy Index," "Galaxy Insight," and "Galaxy Pulse" are among the names mentioned in the applications, but most interestingly, all of the applications also mention smart glasses.

Given that the Apple Vision Pro made this year's WWDC 2023 keynote memorable, Samsung needs a response to rival the excitement of Apple's VR headset. And did you know? Samsung's Unpacked 2023 event would be an appropriate time to announce at least a teaser.

Samsung could announce this new wearable. According to one source, Japan's Meiko has been tasked with manufacturing the printed circuit boards (PCBs) that will form the basis of the smart ring.

While this is a good start, there is little chance that an actual prototype will be ready in time for Unpacked. But, well, anything is possible. Include a brief teaser image to get our attention, along with key features. Mass production will only take place after Samsung approves the prototype developed by Meiko, so it could be even longer before we see the real thing.

Don't get me wrong, a wearable with a ring-like design is neat, but not necessarily as innovative as what we've seen so far. That said, Samsung would make a compelling case for introducing a new experience that utilizes this "Galaxy Ring" and some kind of smart glasses (whether it be something like Apple's Vision Pro headset or something else entirely).

Rumors hint at modest upgrades to some of the other things we will likely see at Unpacked, like foldable smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. This new wearable could be "the other thing" that could propel Samsung and create buzz for an otherwise predictable event.

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