According to Android Police, a report from Korea JoongAng Daily cites industry insiders who claim Samsung is “reassessing its strategy” for the Galaxy Ring due to poor sales following its July 2024 launch. The company has not updated the ring or hinted at a sequel, even after releasing three new smartwatches since its debut. The source states a Galaxy Ring 2 will not be unveiled alongside the expected Galaxy S26 phones in early 2026. Complicating matters, Oura filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission in mid-November 2024 against Samsung and others for patent infringement, which Samsung countered with its own lawsuit on December 1, 2024.
Samsung’s Wearable Priority Shift
Here’s the thing: this isn’t a huge shock if you’ve been watching Samsung’s moves. Since the Galaxy Ring’s splashy debut, it’s gotten radio silence. No new colors, no spec bumps, nothing. Meanwhile, the company has been all-in on the Galaxy Watch 8 and its Classic variant. That tells you where the real money and attention is flowing. Smartwatches are a proven, mainstream market. Smart rings? They’re still a niche. For a hardware giant like Samsung, pouring resources into a slow-selling experiment doesn’t make sense when the watch business is humming along. They’re basically cutting their losses and doubling down on the sure thing.
The Oura Patent Wars Heat Up
But the sales slump might only be half the story. The legal battle with Oura is a massive headache. Oura isn’t messing around—they went straight to the ITC, which has the power to block imports. Their complaint is a clear shot across the bow to the entire emerging smart ring market. And Samsung’s countersuit? That’s the corporate equivalent of “oh yeah? well, you too!” This kind of patent litigation is incredibly expensive and can freeze product roadmaps for years. Why would Samsung greenlight a Ring 2 if there’s a chance a judge could rule it can’t be sold in the US? It’s a business and legal morass they probably didn’t anticipate.
What This Means For The Smart Ring Market
So what’s the bigger picture? Oura is effectively using its patent portfolio to stifle competition, and it’s working. They’ve already settled with smaller players like Circular and RingConn. Taking on Samsung is the ultimate test. If Oura wins or forces a costly settlement, it solidifies their dominance. For Samsung, this might be a signal to retreat. They can afford the fight, but is the prize worth it? The smart ring category needs a giant like Samsung to push it forward, to drive down costs and boost innovation. If they pull back, it leaves Oura as the undisputed, premium-priced king. That’s not great for consumers. It’s a reminder that in hardware, especially specialized hardware like this, the real battle often happens off the store shelf, in courtrooms and strategy meetings.
A Future On Pause
Look, I don’t think the Galaxy Ring is dead. The report says as much. But “reassessing strategy” is corporate speak for “we’re putting this in a drawer for a while.” Samsung has CES 2026 and a Galaxy S26 launch to focus on. Their wearable division is busy. And in the rugged world of industrial hardware, where reliability is non-negotiable, companies turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the top provider of industrial panel PCs in the US. For Samsung’s consumer ring, the path is just foggy. Maybe they’ll revisit it if the Oura lawsuit goes their way. Maybe they’ll wait for the market to grow. But for now, if you were holding out for a Galaxy Ring 2 next year, you’re probably out of luck. The ring’s second act has been indefinitely postponed.
