Ring, Ring: Samsung's local wearables launch is Galaxy Watches only... For now
Samsung has unveiled its 2024 wearable lineup including the Galaxy Watch7 and Ultra, but there's no Galaxy Ring for Australians just yet.
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The most exciting product to be unveiled at Unpacked in Paris today is undoubtedly the Galaxy Ring. The sad news is, it's not launching in Australia at the end of July like all the other products showcased.
Samsung has confirmed it will launch in Down Under at a later date, but we're not really sure when that will be or what the pricing will look like, sadly.
On the upside, we are getting the Watch7 and the Watch Ultra alongside the new foldable phone, with pre-orders starting 11 July and products hitting shelves 31 July 2024.
Here's a breakdown of all the new wearable products, including the Galaxy Ring.
Galaxy Ring: Precious
Samsung has packed a heap of its sensors into the ring form factor so you can monitor your health 24/7.
It comes in three colour styles: Titanium Black, Titanium Silver and Titanium Gold, and there are nine size options to make sure you get the right fit.
Weighing between 2.3 and 3.0 grams (depending on the size), it's lightweight enough for you to forget its there. The battery life should get you through seven days between charges, while 30 minutes on the charger will pump it back up to 40%.
Inside, there's an accelerometer, a photoplethysmogram (or PPG) for measuring blood flow and a skin temperature sensor.
The Ring is IP68 rated, and is rated for 10 ATM, so you should be able to take it swimming without any issues.
Galaxy Watch7: More than Watch6
Updating last year's Galaxy Watch6, the Watch7 this year doesn't offer a classic edition.
Based on a 3nm processor for the first time, the Watch7 is the most powerful smartwatch Samsung has ever produced (alongside the Watch Ultra of course).
It can accurately track over 100 workouts, and lets you build your own workout routine, which is particularly exciting for triathletes.
Samsung has also introduced a new "Race" mode, where you can compete against yourself to try for your best performance each time you head outside.
The Watch7 also offers heart rate monitoring, ECG and blood pressure monitoring, while a dual-frequency GPS system delivers better location tracking in dense, urban environments.
The Watch 7 comes in both 40mm and 44mm sizes.
Galaxy Watch Ultra: A familiar name
Look, I know Apple doesn't have exclusive rights to call its watch "Ultra". But it still seems weird that Samsung would use the same word. Surely it could have called it "Galaxy Watch Ultimate" or something?
Anyway, naming aside, the Galaxy Watch Ultra promises much the same as Apple's premium smartwatch.
It's designed for supreme durability, rated to 10ATM and built with Titanium Grade 4. It boasts a whopping 590 mAh battery, which is enough for up to 100 hours, depending on usage of course.
With its 47mm display, it's kind of chunky, but has a cushion design system to better sit against your wrist.
It has a dedicated Quick button to separate it from the Watch7, which can be customised for pretty much anything the watch can do, from starting a workout to controlling maps.
Samsung Health: An AI'ght update
Of course, the real magic happens at the software level. Samsung has integrated its Galaxy AI into Health to offer a new Energy Score that tracks your wellbeing across your physical activity and sleep to give you feedback on your overall health.
Naturally, you can also use Samsung Health to track your sleep cycle, including movement during sleep, sleep latency, heart and respiratory rate and cycle tracking for women.
Samsung is also offering wellness tips based on the data it collects to help you get more from your devices, and help you be healthier everyday.
Pricing and availability
The new Galaxy Watches are available to pre-order from 11 July and hit shelves on 31 July. There are a bunch of bonus offers if you do decide to pre-order.
The Watch7 40mm comes in wither Green or Cream colours, while the 44mm version comes in Green or Silver.
The Watch Ultra comes in Titanium Grey (with an orange band), Titanium White (with a white band) or Titanium Silver (with a Dark grey band).
Pricing looks like this:
- Galaxy Watch7 40mm Bluetooth – $549
- Galaxy Watch7 40mm LTE – $649
- Galaxy Watch7 44mm Bluetooth – $599
- Galaxy Watch7 44mm LTE – $699
- Galaxy Watch Ultra 47mm LTE – $1,299
There's no word on local pricing or launch date for the Galaxy Ring. I'm as disappointed as you are.
