When Samsung officially announced the Galaxy Ring earlier this month, it was assumed that the wearable would only work with Samsung phones. However, that turned out not to be the case.

The Galaxy Ring appears to connect with all Android phones running Android 11 or higher, regardless of their make. Not only has Samsung's press release been changed to reflect this (via Android Police), but YouTuber M Brandon Lee seems to have connected the Galaxy Ring to something like the Nothing Phone.

Lee claims that simply installing the Galaxy Wearable app on the phone is enough to connect the Galaxy Ring and run the setup process; no Galaxy Phone is required.

Naturally, Samsung needs to give people a reason to pair the Galaxy Ring with a Samsung phone. This means that regular Android users will only be able to use the Ring's most basic features. Heart rate, step counting, sleep tracking, wellness tips, and automatic workout detection appear to be the available features.

This means that other Ring features such as Energy Score, Galaxy AI, Find My Ring, and gesture control will not work on non-Samsung phones. Similar restrictions are imposed on the Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra, with most of the more advanced features locked out for users all-in on Samsung devices.

It makes sense for Samsung to take this approach. This is because limiting your customer base to those who have a particular type of phone only works if you have the kind of reach that Apple has with the iPhone. In other words, Samsung needs to appeal to as many people as possible in order to sell Galaxy rings and watches.

As an added bonus, these devices act as advertisements for the Galaxy watch. If users like the wearables in their basic form, they may want to unlock more premium features, features that can only be accessed by upgrading to a Galaxy Phone.

Samsung's Galaxy Ring is available for pre-order now and will go on general release on July 24. We really liked the Galaxy Ring. We especially liked the Galaxy AI health features and the fact that the ring is comfortable and lightweight. You can find more information in our review of the Samsung Galaxy Ring.