Samsung has a published US patent application for a smart ring with a fingerprint sensor on a spring-loaded button inside the band, which reads the wearer’s finger as the ring slides on and can then unlock a paired phone or approve a payment.
- US patent application 20260321051, “Wearable device comprising fingerprint sensor, and operating method therefor”, was published on 15 October 2026.
- It continues international application PCT/KR2024/007621, filed in June 2024, and claims priority from two Korean applications filed in September and October 2023.
- The fingerprint sensor sits on a button on the inner surface of the ring, and repelling magnets or springs push the button against the finger to improve the image.
- The ring records a fingerprint from a single sliding pass by stitching frames together for enrolment, then picks the best frame from a slide to check identity later.
- The button’s position tells the ring whether it is being worn, the sensor is only powered once the button is pressed, and the ring sends its wear state to a connected device when it comes off.
- The application names unlocking the ring or a connected device, logging in and approving payments as uses for the fingerprint match.
What it means for athletes
A ring that knows it is on the right finger could unlock a phone at the gym or pay for a coffee after a long run without a PIN, and it would lock again when taken off for a swim or strength session. Samsung’s current wearables have no fingerprint sensor, and this is a patent application, so it shows a direction Samsung is exploring rather than a product.
The wear detection is the part with a training benefit, since a ring that reports exactly when it was removed gives cleaner gaps in sleep and recovery data. Samsung and Oura are also in an active smart ring patent dispute, and Oura’s latest granted patent covers blood pressure from pulse shape.
Quick answers
Does Galaxy Ring have a fingerprint sensor?
No. The fingerprint sensor appears only in a Samsung patent application published on 15 October 2026, and Samsung has not announced a ring with this feature.
How would Samsung's fingerprint ring detect that it is being worn?
A spring or magnet loaded button on the inside of the ring is pressed by the finger when worn. The pressed button wakes the fingerprint sensor, and the released button tells a connected device the ring has come off.
More smart ring and wearable filings are in the weekly Trademark & Patent Filing roundup, including the latest issue. Other smart rings are covered in the Ultrahuman Ring Air review.
Last Updated on 20 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
