It’s been over a decade since the Apple Watch first strapped itself onto wrists and kicked off the smartwatch revolution. Back then, the idea of a gadget tracking your steps, heart rate, and notifications felt like sci-fi come to life. Fast forward to 2025, and smartwatches are as common as morning coffee. But for all their bells and whistles, they’re still bulky, battery-hungry, and not exactly subtle. Enter the smart ring—a sleeker, more discreet contender in the wearable tech arena. And right now, Samsung’s first-gen Galaxy Ring is stealing the spotlight with a tempting deal: pick it up at Best Buy or Amazon starting at $299.99 (a $100 discount) and score a $100 gift card to sweeten the pot. It’s the lowest price we’ve seen for this Android-only gem, making it a compelling option for Samsung fans looking to dip their toes (or fingers) into the smart ring trend.
Save $100 on the Samsung Galaxy Ring, priced at $299.99, and get a $100 gift card, making it the best deal for this Android-only smart ring.
Launched in July 2024, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is the tech giant’s first foray into the smart ring market, a space that’s been quietly dominated by the Oura Ring for years. At first glance, the Galaxy Ring doesn’t reinvent the wheel—or the ring, for that matter. It’s a health tracker at heart, designed to monitor your vitals and activity without the bulk of a smartwatch. Made from lightweight Grade 5 titanium, it’s available in three finishes (Titanium Black, Silver, and Gold) and comes in sizes 5 to 15, ensuring a fit for nearly every finger. At 7mm wide and 2.6mm thick, it’s slimmer and lighter than the Oura Ring 4, with a concave design that helps ward off scratches. It’s also IP68-rated and 10ATM water-resistant, meaning it can handle showers, swims, and sweaty workouts without breaking a sweat.
The Galaxy Ring packs an impressive array of sensors for its tiny size: an optical heart rate sensor, a skin temperature sensor, and an accelerometer. These let it track heart rate, blood oxygen levels, skin temperature, steps, and workouts, with a particular emphasis on sleep monitoring. It even comes with a transparent charging case that’s more engagement-ring-box than tech accessory, complete with LED lights and a 361mAh battery for on-the-go charging. Battery life is a standout feature—expect up to six or seven days on a single charge, depending on the ring size, compared to the Galaxy Watch7’s measly 22 hours.
But what sets the Galaxy Ring apart from the competition isn’t just its hardware. It’s the software and ecosystem integration. Paired with the Samsung Health app, the ring delivers AI-powered features like the Energy Score, which crunches data on your sleep, activity, and heart rate to give you a 0-100 rating of your daily readiness. Think of it as a less dynamic version of Garmin’s Body Battery. There’s also a Sleep Score, sleep coaching, and Wellness Tips, though reviews suggest the tips can feel a bit generic—like being told to “breathe deeply” when you’re stressed. If you’re a Samsung phone user, you’ll unlock extra perks, like gesture controls (double-pinch to snap a photo or dismiss an alarm) and deeper sleep insights, including snoring detection.
The Galaxy Ring’s regular price tag of $399.99 isn’t exactly budget-friendly, especially when you consider the Oura Ring 4 starts at $349 and the older Oura Ring 3 at $299. But the current promotion at Best Buy and Amazon makes it a steal. At $299.99 after a $100 discount, plus a $100 gift card (from Best Buy), you’re effectively getting the ring for $200 if you shop at either retailer. That’s a record low for a device that’s only been on the market since July 2024. For comparison, earlier this year, the ring hit $279.99 without the gift card, so this deal adds extra value for Samsung loyalists or anyone eyeing a premium smart ring.
The catch? You’ll need an Android phone with the Samsung Health app to use it, and a Samsung Galaxy phone to unlock its full potential. Unlike the Oura Ring, which plays nice with both Android and iOS, the Galaxy Ring is firmly rooted in Samsung’s ecosystem. If you’re already rocking a Galaxy S24 or a Galaxy Watch7, this is a no-brainer. The ring and watch work together seamlessly, with the Samsung Health app prioritizing the watch’s sensors for certain tasks to extend the ring’s battery life by up to 30%.
The Galaxy Ring’s biggest rival is the Oura Ring, particularly the newly released Oura Ring 4. Both devices track similar metrics—heart rate, sleep stages, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and activity—but they cater to slightly different crowds. The Oura Ring 4 is sleeker, with a fully titanium build and no interior sensor bumps, and it’s renowned for its sleep-tracking accuracy, backed by studies comparing it to medical-grade devices. It also supports a wider range of workout tracking (over 40 exercises versus the Galaxy Ring’s walking and running) and works with both Android and iOS.
However, the Oura Ring comes with a major caveat: a $5.99 monthly subscription (or $69.99 annually) to unlock its full suite of features, including in-depth sleep analysis and trend reports. Without the subscription, you’re stuck with basic scores for sleep, activity, and readiness. The Galaxy Ring, on the other hand, is a one-time purchase with no paywall, making it a better long-term value despite its higher upfront cost. For example, after two years, the Oura Ring 4 with a subscription would cost around $492.76 ($349 + $143.76 for 24 months), while the Galaxy Ring at $299.99 with the current deal is significantly cheaper.
There are trade-offs, though. The Galaxy Ring’s sleep tracking is solid but not as precise as Oura’s, and some reviews have flagged inconsistencies in blood oxygen readings, with SpO2 levels dipping as low as 74%—a concerning figure that’s likely inaccurate for healthy users. Workout tracking is also limited, with auto-detection only for walking and running, and the AI-driven Wellness Tips can feel hit-or-miss. One tester noted being advised to avoid alcohol after a sober night, which suggests Samsung’s algorithms still need some fine-tuning.
The Galaxy Ring isn’t trying to replace your smartwatch—it’s designed to complement it or serve as a minimalist alternative for those who hate wrist-bound gadgets. Its long battery life and unobtrusive design make it ideal for 24/7 wear, especially for sleep tracking, where smartwatches often fall short due to their need for nightly charging. If you’re deep in the Samsung ecosystem, the ring’s integration with Galaxy phones and watches is a major plus, offering features like Energy Score and gesture controls that competitors can’t match.
That said, it’s not for everyone. iPhone users are out of luck, and even non-Samsung Android users will miss out on some of the ring’s best features. If you’re a fitness enthusiast who needs robust workout tracking or you prioritize cross-platform compatibility, the Oura Ring 4 or even the budget-friendly RingConn Gen 2 Air ($199, no subscription) might be better bets. And if you’re lifting weights or gripping barbells, both the Galaxy and Oura rings can get scuffed, so you might want to take them off during intense gym sessions.
At $299.99 with a $100 Best Buy gift card, the Samsung Galaxy Ring is a fantastic deal for Samsung users looking for a discreet, subscription-free health tracker. Its sleek design, long battery life, and ecosystem perks make it a worthy contender in the smart ring space, even if it doesn’t quite dethrone the Oura Ring 4 for versatility or accuracy. If you’re already all-in on Samsung’s galaxy of gadgets, this is the perfect time to slip this ring on your finger. Just don’t expect it to rule them all—yet.
Disclaimer: Prices and promotions mentioned in this article are accurate at the time of writing and are subject to change based on the retailers’ discretion. Please verify the current offer before making a purchase.
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