Apple had their first smart ring patent come to life in the U.S in October 2015 and Samsung's first smart ring patent in the U.S. surfaced in December 2015. In January 2023, Patently Apple posted a second smart ring patent from Samsung.  In July, Patently Apple posted an enlightening report titled "Samsung is reportedly working on a Smart Ring with a Japanese Supplier aimed at both the Health & XR Headset markets."

This morning, leaker Ice Universe wrote on his Weibo site that Samsung's smart ring would be introduced at the Galaxy S24 launch in January 24, and be the star of the show.

With that leak, Patently Apple went to the Korean Trademark Office to see if we could dig up anything that would support a Samsung ring. We discoverred trademark application 4020230032679 as presented in-part in the graphic below.  

The context in this trademark filing is crystal clear in that it relates directly to a Galaxy product. Whether it relates to their next-gen Galaxy S24 smartphone is unknown.

For the record, the Korean Trademark Office indicates that Samsung also filed for a series of other ring-related trademarks back in 2021 and 2022 for the following:

• Iris Ring (two trademarks for this)
• Dual Ring
• Triple Ring, and
• Oval Ring

Samsung's patents provides us with a wide range of possible devices that the Galaxy Ring could work with including smartphones, tablets, TVs and XR headsets and PCs. The ring may also work with home devices and appliances such as controlling lamps, blinds and so forth while also hinting at working with health apps.

If true, 2024 is shaping up to being a year of new innovative devices from smart rings to hybrid tablet-notebooks and or course,  Vision Pro,  Apple's first generation "Spatial Computer."

While Samsung may beat Apple to market with a smart ring in 2024, we know that Apple has many patents on a possible future smart ring of their own, with a few examples to be found here: 01, 02 and 03.