The year 2024 marked a significant shift in the wearables market, with smart rings experiencing a renaissance of sorts. While smartwatches dominated the scene, smart rings quietly gained traction, thanks in part to Samsung's announcement of the Galaxy Ring in February. This move by a major player propelled the niche form factor into the mainstream, sparking a wave of innovation and experimentation in the industry.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, several smart rings were on display, hinting at the growing interest in this category. The Galaxy Ring, in particular, brought some exciting features to the table, such as the ability to work in tandem with Samsung's Galaxy Watches to optimize battery life and sensor accuracy. When paired with a Z Fold 6 or a Z Flip 6, it can even recognize a pinching gesture to control the phone's camera. While some may view this as a way to lock Samsung users into its ecosystem, it's undeniable that these are novel use cases for smart rings.

Other companies are also pushing the boundaries of what smart rings can do. The Circular Slim, for instance, allows users to set silent haptic alarms and features an in-app AI chatbot. Movano's Evie Ring, meanwhile, boasts a distinctive open-gap design and is pursuing FDA clearance for its metrics. Even Casio is getting in on the action with its take on a retro low-tech smart ring. This influx of new ideas is a welcome change, especially considering that Oura has dominated the smart ring space for the past decade, primarily focusing on sleep tracking and recovery.

Oura's dominance has led to a perception of smart rings as solely health trackers. However, the recent surge in innovation is expanding the possibilities of what smart rings can do. Oura itself has been responding to the increased competition by launching new features and exploring integrations with continuous glucose monitors. The company has just released a fourth-generation ring, further solidifying its position in the market.

Despite the excitement surrounding smart rings, there are still significant challenges to overcome. They are expensive, and when compared to similarly priced smartwatches, they don't offer the same level of functionality. The small size of smart rings also makes them trickier to manufacture, requiring even smaller components. Additionally, fit is a major issue, with manufacturers needing to produce 10-12 different sizes to accommodate a wide range of finger sizes, as well as seasonal swelling.

The question now is whether this renaissance will continue into 2025. Samsung's sales figures for the Galaxy Ring will be a crucial indicator of the market's appetite for smart rings. If it performs well, especially as an accessory to other gadgets, it's likely to pique the interest of Google and Apple. Oura CEO Tom Hale is adamant that Apple won't enter the smart ring space, but rumors suggest otherwise. Samsung's commitment to the Galaxy Ring will also be telling, as it's unclear how invested the company is in this product line.

One thing is certain, however: there is interest in smart rings. During her summer of testing six smart rings, Victoria Song fielded numerous questions from curious friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Some were drawn to the discreet design, while others were interested in the sleep-tracking capabilities. The trend of "sleepmaxxing" – optimizing sleep quality – has also contributed to the growing appeal of smart rings.

As the wearables market continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see whether smart rings can maintain their momentum. Will 2025 be the year of widespread adoption, or will smart rings remain a niche product? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the renaissance of smart rings in 2024 has opened up new possibilities for innovation and experimentation in the wearables space.