SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – As the global population ages, the competition between tech giants Samsung Electronics and Apple intensifies in the digital healthcare market.
Samsung views digital healthcare as a key growth area. Its strategy centres on Samsung Health, a health management app, and the Galaxy Watch series, particularly highlighting sleep management features.
Last week, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Ring, the first ring-type healthcare device, calling it a “game-changer” in the wearable market. The 2.3-gram AI-powered Galaxy Ring tracks sleep, oxygen levels, heart rate, and skin temperature with three built-in sensors.
The battery lasts up to seven days on a single charge, and the ring is water-resistant up to 100 metres. Users can also control their Samsung Galaxy smartphones with gestures, such as pinching their thumb and ring finger.
Apple is rumoured to be developing a smart ring, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Both companies have launched new health wearable devices annually, adding features like sleep latency tracking, heart rate monitoring, respiratory rate tracking, menstrual cycle tracking, and advanced glycation end-product monitoring.
Samsung introduced its first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, in 2013, while Apple launched its first watch in 2015. Samsung aims to enhance user well-being by simplifying health information management, making it more accessible and convenient.
“As healthcare advances and consumer demand for more features grows, integration with smartphones becomes essential. Wearable devices, being attached to the body, are crucial for more accurate health monitoring,” a Samsung official said.
“We aim to offer unique health functionalities through our latest Galaxy wearable portfolio, leveraging advanced technologies like state-of-the-art sensors and AI. This approach enhances the competitiveness of our wearable products.”
Despite being an early market entrant, Samsung lost its smartwatch market share to Apple. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple held a 21 per cent share of the global smartwatch market in the first quarter, followed by Huawei with 10 per cent, and Samsung with 9 per cent.
Experts believe the Galaxy Ring could help Samsung gain an edge. “The Galaxy Ring has a unique form factor absent from Apple’s product lineup. Incorporating AI features, the device will attract user interest,” said Lee Seong-yeob, a professor at Korea University’s Graduate School of Management of Technology. Analyst Jung Min-gyu added, “With a more diversified product lineup, Samsung has secured a competitive edge against Apple.”
In 2020, Samsung hired Hon Park, a former doctor with a US medical licence, to lead its digital health team. Park has conducted research in healthcare and health tech for 30 years.
