According to the latest rumors, Samsung is coming to the market with its new Galaxy Ring. The wearable device that will have a price between 275 and 320€. However, it appears that users will have to sign up for a subscription monthly of approximately 9 euros. Why? To be able to access all the features offered by the smart ring. This information was revealed by leaker Yogesh Brar. A source considered quite reliable in the world of technology. Even if these are mostly rumors. As no official press releases have been released yet. The actual announcement should take place on 10 July 2024. It is assumed during the Galaxy Unpacked event to be held in Paris. The new foldable models GalaxyZ Flip6 and Galaxy ZFold6 will also be presented here.
Galaxy Ring, features and competitiveness
The Galaxy Ring It seems to be in line with competing devices, such as the OuraRing Gen 3. The latter has a similar price and also requires a monthly subscription to unlock all the advanced features. The OuraRing Gen3 is available in two versions. There is the base at 299 dollars, therefore at 275 in euros, and the “Horizon”, completely round, at $349, €321. In this regard, Samsung also seems to want to adopt a continuous monetization strategy. Following an increasingly common trend among technology companies. Google, for example, offers “Fitbit Premium” features for its Pixel Watches
at €9 per month. While Apple offers the Fitness Plus service at a similar price. This includes access to pre-recorded exercise sessions integrated with AppleWatch or iPhone.
The idea of charging customers to access additional usage options is not new and is spreading rapidly. This business model offers a basic product or service for free. To then request a payment to unlock premium features. A very common solution in today’s digital age. Many people, however, view this trend with skepticism. In fact, some consider it unfair. As you should not be forced to incur additional costs to make full use of your smartphone. Especially after paying full price for it. But companies justify this choice with the need to finance research and development. Thus ensuring continuous improvements and innovations.
Despite the criticism, it is likely that this type of subscription will continue to spread. Especially if manufacturers are able to demonstrate the actual value of the innovations they will add over time. In any case, the success of the Galaxy Ring will also depend on Samsung’s ability to convince the public of the validity of its offer. Above all, its superiority compared to the competition. We are waiting for the official announcement on July 10th to discover all the details and news that the South Korean giant has in store for its fans.
