SEOUL: As the number of older people is rapidly growing in many parts of the world, the competition between global tech rivals Samsung Electronics and Apple is heating up to dominate the burgeoning digital-healthcare market.
Samsung considers digital healthcare as a future growth engine. The strategy is to put Samsung Health, a health management app, at the forefront and use the Galaxy Watch series as a pivotal element, particularly highlighting its sleep management feature.
Last week, the South Korean tech giant unveiled the long-awaited Galaxy Ring, the first ring-type healthcare device, touting it as a “game-changer” in the fast-evolving wearables market.
The 2.3-gramme artificial intelligence-powered Galaxy Ring can track sleep, oxygen levels, heart rate and skin temperature to give users insights into wellness, thanks to the device’s three built-in sensors.
The battery can last up to seven days on a single charge and it can resist water and survive submersion up to 100m deep.
Users also can control their Samsung Galaxy smartphones paired with the ring, like taking pictures or turning off alarms, by pinching their thumb and the ring finger.
Archrival Apple is also rumoured to be working on its own smart ring but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Samsung and Apple have competed against each other by rolling out new health wearable devices each year.
They have added new features such as tracking users’ sleep latency, heart rate, respiratory rate, menstrual cycle and advanced glycation end-product monitoring functions to attract users.
The beginning of the two firms’ competition dates back to 2013 when Samsung first introduced its smartwatch called the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Apple’s first watch was launched in 2015.
Samsung’s goal has been enhancing the well-being of users by simplifying the management of intricate and fragmented health information, making it more accessible and convenient on the one hand.
“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 artificial intelligence (AI). This approach enhances the competitiveness of our wearable products compared to other companies,” the official said.
Samsung has long been engaged in developing a mobile healthcare ecosystem, which includes enhancing the biosensor capabilities of the Galaxy Gear and Watch series and upgrading Samsung Health.
Despite being the first to enter the market, Samsung lost its share of the smartwatch market to Apple.
According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Apple held the top position in the global smartwatch market share in the first quarter with 21%. Chinese phone maker Huawei came next with 10%, while Samsung secured third place with 9%.
In the meantime, some experts say that Samsung can seize the opportunity to turn the tables with the new Galaxy Ring. — The Korea Herald/ANN
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