Samsung is bringing a game-changing new feature to Galaxy Ring owners in a free software update.
For the first time, the feature-packed jewellery will be able to watch out for sleep apnea. Galaxy Ring will be the first — and currently, the only — smart ring with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to use this feature.
Starting this autumn, the Samsung-designed wearable will be able to spot signs of sleep apnea during the night, without the need to take a trip to the doctor's office. Samsung Digital Health Lead, Sharanya Desai, confirmed the arrival of the feature during the latest Galaxy Unpacked event in central London.
The update lets Samsung pull ahead of the competition in a big way. Rival smart rings, like the Ringconn Gen 2, do offer sleep apnea alerts, but it hasn't been cleared by the FDA yet. This is something they're actively seeking so they could have this badge soon. FDA is a big step, as it's a regulatory clearance in the US that confirms food, medications, medical devices, and cosmetics are safe, effective, and honestly labeled.
It's a similar story with the newly-launched Oura Ring 5. While it detects breathing disturbances during sleep that could hint at the condition, but it doesn't carry that all-important FDA-cleared badge either.
Once the feature goes live on the Galaxy Ring in a couple of months, don't expect it to work straight away.
Much like sleep apnea detection on Samsung's Galaxy Watch range — including the Galaxy Watch 7, 8, 9 and Ultra models — the ring will probably need a few nights of wear to properly calibrate itself. This is typical for smart rings across the board, as it needs to collect enough data to analyse and draw conclusions.
After that initial period, it should be ready to notify you of its findings. If the ring picks up on potential signs of sleep apnea overnight, you'll get a notification in your morning health report. That alert will also include advice on following up with a medical professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people, yet it frequently goes without a diagnosis.
Left untreated over time, it can contribute to serious cardiovascular problems like hypertension, heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmia. That's exactly why this kind of early detection matters so much.
Samsung has been working on sleep apnea monitoring for its wearables since 2023, when its Galaxy Watch first received approval in South Korea. FDA clearance followed in early 2024, with the feature finally reaching users' wrists in 2025. Bringing that same capability to a ring — something you barely notice wearing to bed — could genuinely help more people catch the condition early.
