Sorry, iPhone people The new Samsung Galaxy Ring is not for youSamsung's new AI-powered health monitoring ring is chock-full of sensors that will monitor your health 24/7, whether you're sleeping, working out, running, or eating It monitors your health 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whether you're sleeping, working out, running, or eating

One caveat: You need an Android smartphone to access data and insights from the Samsung Health app

That's not all; the Galaxy Ring can also control other devices with a double pinch gesture It can be used to remotely control the shutter of compatible Samsung Galaxy devices or snooze alarms

Unfortunately, all this cool and useful technology will pass iPhone users by like a cruise ship in the night But why did Samsung block access to the Galaxy Ring in the first place? [The decision to restrict access to the Galaxy Ring is not necessarily surprising The past two generations of health-focused Galaxy wearables, including the new Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, are also Android-only Is Samsung simply trying to turn the tables on Apple and build itself a walled garden? It certainly appears that way [There are obvious pros and cons to limiting Galaxy Ring support to one platform As the first giant tech company to bring a smart ring to market, the Galaxy Ring could be the catalyst that brings iOS users into the dark That is, on the Android side Especially if Apple struggles to launch a competing product in a timely manner More on this later

On the other hand (you get the idea), the Galaxy Ring's inherently limited user base and hefty $399 price tag may cause it to crash and burn right out of the gate Incidentally, this price is $100 more than the new Galaxy Watch 7 and the Oura Ring Gen 3, currently the best-in-class smart ring

Whether Apple actually intends to bring a smart ring to market remains to be seen Despite reports that such a device is in development, rumors about an Apple Smart Ring have been relatively quiet this year

While it is highly unlikely that Apple's iRing will be announced this fall alongside the rumored Apple Watch X and Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Cupertino king may have a Galaxy Ring replacement ready for 2025 Expectations

For iPhone users enamored with the Galaxy Ring, there are several OS-independent smart rings available: the Oura Ring Gen 3 is the closest competitor to Samsung's smart ring; a detailed Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring For a detailed comparison of the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring, click here For a detailed comparison of the Galaxy Ring and the Oura Ring, click here

The Oura Ring offers the same comprehensive level of wellness tracking technology and similar battery life, but no gesture controls The Oura Ring is $100 cheaper than the Galaxy Ring for $100 less than the Ring, but requires a $599 monthly subscription

If you want to avoid recurring expenses, the Amazfit Helio Ring may be worth a look; it works well with Android and iOS devices and costs $299 Still in testing, the wellness tracking technology seems legitimate, though not as thorough as Oura's or Samsung's Again, there are no gesture controls

Other Galaxy Ring alternatives include the Ultrahuman Ring Air and the Circular Ring Slim