Samsung's second smart ring is in trouble before it even exists. The Galaxy Ring 2 hasn't been announced and faces two obstacles that could delay it into 2027 – or kill it entirely. If you've been holding out for Samsung's next-generation ring, here's what you need to know right now.
Why the Galaxy Ring 2 Is Delayed
Two forces are stalling Samsung's smart ring plans.
The Oura patent dispute. In late 2025, Oura launched a two-pronged legal attack against Samsung – filing a patent infringement lawsuit in federal court in late October, followed by an International Trade Commission complaint in November. The claims center on Oura's patents around ring-based health sensor technology. Samsung has not commented publicly on the litigation's impact on product roadmaps, but the timing is telling – the Galaxy Ring 2 was widely expected at Samsung's early-2026 Unpacked event. It didn't appear. Companies rarely launch successors to products under active patent litigation, and Samsung appears to be following that playbook.
Disappointing first-gen sales. The Galaxy Ring generated significant preorder interest when it launched in July 2024, but sustained sales fell short of expectations. The pattern was familiar for first-generation wearable categories: early adopters bought in, mainstream consumers didn't follow. The ring's $399.99 price tag, Android-only limitation, and feature gap compared to the Oura Ring 4 made it a hard sell beyond Samsung loyalists. Samsung appears to be reassessing its smart ring strategy rather than rushing a successor to market.
The Galaxy Ring 2 is at best in preliminary stages of development – Samsung hasn't committed to final specifications, let alone manufacturing timelines.
Rumored Specs and Improvements
Details are thin and unconfirmed, but early leaks point to Samsung addressing the original ring's most obvious weaknesses:
- No-subscription pricing (~$399) – No indication Samsung plans to change its pricing strategy. The zero-subscription model remains the Galaxy Ring's strongest selling point against Oura's $5.99/month membership fee.
- Enhanced health sensors – The original Galaxy Ring includes a skin temperature sensor for overnight monitoring, but its implementation trails the Oura Ring 4 in cycle prediction and illness detection. Expect Samsung to close this gap with improved algorithms and potentially additional sensor hardware.
- Slimmer, lighter design – The original ranges from 2.3g (size 5) to 3.3g (size 15), already competitive for the category. A thinner profile would help it compete with the RingConn Gen 2, which claims to be the thinnest smart ring on the market.
- Improved battery life – Possibly through solid-state battery technology. The original offers up to 7 days for larger sizes but only about 6 days for smaller ones. Pushing past that ceiling consistently would be a meaningful differentiator.
- Enhanced AI health insights – Samsung has been investing heavily in Galaxy AI across its product line. Expect deeper integration with Samsung Health, more proactive health recommendations, and potentially predictive wellness scores powered by on-device machine learning.
None of these specs are confirmed. Treat them as directional – Samsung knows what the original got wrong, and these are the obvious areas to fix.
What the Original Got Right (and Wrong)
The first Galaxy Ring delivered excellent build quality – Grade 5 titanium, comfortable concave inner surface, and a charging case that was arguably the best in the category. The zero-subscription model was a genuine advantage, and Samsung expanded the size range post-launch to sizes 5 through 15. Sleep tracking worked reasonably well for a first-generation product.
Where it fell short was feature depth. Compared to the Oura Ring 4, the Galaxy Ring offered fewer health metrics, less precise sleep staging, and inconsistent SpO2 readings. The Android-only limitation cut the addressable market in half. At $399.99, it was the most expensive smart ring at launch – a tough position for a first-generation product with fewer features than cheaper alternatives.
The market's message was clear: Samsung's hardware was competitive, but the software and health insights didn't justify a premium price.
When to Expect It
The most realistic timeline puts the Galaxy Ring 2 in late 2026 at the earliest, with a 2027 launch increasingly likely. The Oura lawsuit is the wild card – patent litigation can drag on for years, and Samsung may not want to launch a second ring that could expand its legal exposure. If Samsung and Oura reach a settlement or licensing agreement, that would clear the path. Without resolution, Samsung may shelve the project indefinitely.
Samsung has not confirmed or denied the Galaxy Ring 2's existence.
Should You Wait?
No. Not unless you have a specific reason to need a Samsung-ecosystem smart ring and nothing else will do.
The best smart rings in 2026 are available right now. The Oura Ring 4 remains the gold standard for sleep and recovery tracking – the subscription is annoying, but the data quality is unmatched. The RingConn Gen 2 offers strong functionality with no subscription and class-leading battery life. Both work with iPhones and Android phones. If you're committed to Samsung's ecosystem, the original Galaxy Ring is still available and frequently discounted.
Waiting 9 to 18 months for a product that may not ship – while a patent lawsuit hangs over it – is not a sound strategy. If Samsung announces the Galaxy Ring 2 with a concrete release date, reassess then. Until that happens, buy the ring that fits your needs today.