In summary
- Gesture control could link Galaxy Ring to XR headset
- Ex-meta employees launch “mouse for voice”
- Even R1 Smart Ring launched alongside G2 glasses
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is about to get a powerful new mixed reality feature, just as two new smart ring competitors join the fight.
Android Authority has uncovered code in the latest update to the Galaxy Ring Manager app that refers to a “Ring gesture for glasses”.
Samsung, of course, recently announced its Galaxy XR headset, which is the first hardware to run on Google’s Android XR mixed reality platform.
While there’s no further information here, the reference would certainly seem to indicate that you’ll be able to use your Samsung Galaxy Ring for gesture-based control of the Galaxy XR headset.
Soundbar Stream
It’s a good job Samsung is filling out its smart ring’s feature set, because it’s set for some fresh competition.
Two former Meta employees have launched a startup called Sandbar, which is leading with a smart ring product called Stream.
It’s being referred to as “a mouse for voice”, presumably due to its ability to hone vocal inputs into a reliable interface mechanism.
Sandbar
You can talk into it to issue memos, interact with a chat bot, control your music playback, add reminders and more. It seems to tie in with your earbuds and smartphone to provide a heads-up assistant.
The Soundbar Stream is available to pre-order now , in matte silver or polished gold, for $249. It looks like a Pro subscription will cost $10 a month, with the first three months free. It’s set to ship, in limited quantity, in Summer 2026.
Even R1 Smart Ring
Another smart ring contender is here in the form of the Even R1. Kind of.
Wearable smart tech brand Even Realities is launching its latest Even G2 smart glasses with the option of a smart ring controller.
The Even R1 sounds like more of an accessory to a main product than an out and out smart ring – but then, isn’t every smart ring, to one extent or other?
Even Realities
In addition to this smart glass hook-up, the Even R1 contains biometric sensors and a new Productivity Score for continuous monitoring of your health. The company promises “gentle feedback and real-time wellness insights”.
The Even R1 Smart Ring is available globally today for £239/€269, alongside the £599/€699 Even G2 Display Smart Glasses.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.
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