Good rings are one of many fastest-growing wearable classes at the moment. However primarily based on data Ultrahuman shared with me, most of its prospects are iPhone house owners. As a author for an Android web site, I used to be curious why — and what meaning for Android-only sensible rings just like the Galaxy Ring.
It is uncommon for tech firms to share their Android/iOS splits. However throughout an Ultrahuman manufacturing unit tour after I obtained to make a wise ring by hand, the Ultrahuman execs shared a few stunning factoids about their sensible ring enterprise.
First, the Ultrahuman Ring Air has blown up in recognition. Its enterprise has grown by 15 occasions within the final 18 months, and its share of complete sensible ring gross sales grew from 12% in 2023 to 35% in 2024, in keeping with IDC stats. The Oura Ring nonetheless dominates greater than half of world gross sales, however the sub-free Ring Air has accomplished properly.
Apparently, Ultrahuman has feminine prospects to thank for this surge. In 2023, 75% of its prospects recognized as male within the app; now, 60% of its customers are feminine.
On the similar time, Ultrahuman confirmed that 75–80% of Ultrahuman’s prospects use the iOS app, and that hasn’t modified a lot during the last couple of years. Whereas its European and Asian gross sales could skew Android, as quickly because the U.S. grew to become the Ring Air’s largest market, iOS grew to become the overwhelming focus.
Whereas I haven’t got stats for different firms, this Cognitive Market Analysis report contains charts exhibiting {that a} majority of sensible ring house owners use Android worldwide, however that at the least 40% of sensible ring gross sales are available in North America.
And once more, about 75–80% of North American sensible ring house owners use iOS, regardless that almost half of North American telephones use Android.
Why many Android customers have not hopped on the sensible ring practice but
I requested Ultrahuman’s CEO and CBO about this iOS/Android hole. They answered that iOS customers like “closed techniques” and put extra inventory on “aesthetics,” and they also’re glad to purchase an all-in-one system like a wise ring that curates the expertise and knowledge for you.
He additionally talked about it being a matter of demographics, that iOS customers — or North American techies — may need extra discretionary earnings to spend on sensible rings.
In contrast, he thinks that Android customers like “customization,” “personalization,” and the power to “overclock” units with sufficient effort. A screen-less sensible ring would not match that description, as a result of you possibly can’t peek underneath the hood or activate developer settings (as you possibly can on Put on OS).
Another excuse may very well be the Galaxy Ring, since so many Android customers choose Galaxy telephones and may need the very best integration. An unconfirmed report urged Samsung bumped its Galaxy Ring manufacturing from 400,000 to 1 million final 12 months on account of excessive demand, so possibly the Android crowd merely ignored non-Samsung choices.
It is odd, then, that IDC gross sales figures do not appear to replicate that, with Oura and Ultrahuman proudly owning near 90% of world sensible ring gross sales by the top of 2024.
I imagine the Galaxy Ring’s Android exclusivity works in opposition to it as a result of North People with disposable earnings for a $399 ring both (A) personal an iPhone or (B) have already got a Galaxy Watch or one other smartwatch that prices much less and does extra.
Worldwide, Android customers with much less earnings nonetheless purchase sensible rings, primarily based on the stats accessible. However they’ve so many choices within the $150–300 vary that the Galaxy Ring has hassle standing out, in addition to the Samsung label.
How sensible rings may attraction extra to the Android crowd
Ultrahuman’s Mohit Kumar believes their enterprise will not be fairly as iOS-skewed as soon as they push extra gross sales in Europe and Asia. However nonetheless, there is a cause why they began making their rings in Texas: sensible rings have a rising market Stateside. So demographics apart, I requested whether or not they need to court docket the North American Android crowd extra.
He argued that they are already taking these steps by including extra customization to the Ultrahuman app. PowerPlugs enable customers to decide on what knowledge they see like AFib or Vitamin D, and the brand new UltraSignal developer platform and public APIs let anybody entry the PPG knowledge and use it for their very own functions.
In any other case, if we’re speaking “energy customers,” then a Galaxy Ring 2 might ship nearer integration with different units, like gestures to regulate sensible glasses, NFC for Samsung Pay, or haptic suggestions for telephone notifications.
However most sensible rings will stay understated, trendy, and considerably costly wellness or medical units, moderately than customizable, overclockable tech.
Clearly, some Android customers purchase sensible rings! However I am curious if, as a collective, they’re going to ever embrace rings as iOS customers have, or if they’re going to fortunately stick to Put on OS watches or health watches and see sensible rings as an costly novelty greater than a necessity.
