Galaxy Ring 2 Delayed by Oura Patent War: Which Smart Ring Should You Buy in August 2026?
Samsung's Galaxy Ring 2 was supposed to be the smart ring that finally challenged Oura's dominance. Instead, it's stuck in limbo — delayed by underwhelming first-gen sales and now caught in the crossfire of Oura's ITC patent complaint, which seeks to block Galaxy Ring imports into the US entirely. With no Galaxy Ring 2 release date in sight and the current model's future availability uncertain, buyers are left wondering which smart ring actually makes sense to buy in August 2026. We break down the patent war and tell you exactly what to buy right now.
The Situation
Galaxy Ring 2 has no release date. Oura's ITC complaint threatens a US import ban on the current Galaxy Ring, adding legal uncertainty on top of the delay.
Best Buy Right Now
Oura Ring 5 ($399) is the safest bet for most buyers. Galaxy Ring ($399) works today for Samsung phone owners who want no subscription.
What to Avoid
Don't wait for the Galaxy Ring 2 — there's no confirmed timeline. Be cautious buying rings named in the ITC complaint if long-term availability matters to you.
Why Is the Galaxy Ring 2 Delayed?
Two forces are keeping the Galaxy Ring 2 off shelves. First, the original Samsung Galaxy Ring has posted sluggish sales since launch, giving Samsung little urgency to rush a sequel to market. Second, and more pressing, is the Oura patent war, which has thrown the entire Galaxy Ring product line into legal uncertainty.
Samsung mobile chief TM Roh addressed the delay directly, confirming that the Galaxy Ring 2 is "in advanced development" but that Samsung is "prioritizing completeness over speed." Reading between the lines, that means Samsung has no interest in shipping a second-generation ring into a market where the first-generation product's legal standing in the US is actively being challenged. Committing to a release date right now would be reckless.
Combined, these two factors have pushed the Galaxy Ring 2 timeline from a rumored late-2026 launch to an open-ended "whenever it's ready" stance, with 2027 now the more realistic floor.
How the Oura-Samsung Patent War Affects Buyers
Oura has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) seeking to block imports of smart rings from Samsung, Reebok, Amazfit, and Nexxbase. The patents at issue cover the physical architecture of a smart ring — how components like the flexible circuit board, battery, and sensors are arranged between the inner and outer layers. These are hardware patents, not software patents, which makes them significantly harder for competitors to design around.
This isn't Oura's first fight. The ITC has previously ruled against Ultrahuman and RingConn in earlier disputes over the same patent family. RingConn ultimately signed a royalty licensing agreement with Oura to stay on the market, and Circular took the same path. Samsung now faces the same choice: negotiate a license and pass the added cost on to buyers, or fight the complaint and risk an exclusion order that pulls the Galaxy Ring from US shelves while Samsung redesigns or appeals — a process that could take 12 to 18 months.
For buyers, the practical impact today is limited: the ITC complaint targets future imports, not rings already sitting in warehouses or on store shelves. But it does mean that anyone buying a Galaxy Ring right now is buying into legal uncertainty about restocking, warranty support, and whether Samsung will even continue selling the product line in the US a year from now.
Which Smart Ring Should You Buy in August 2026?
With the Galaxy Ring 2 nowhere in sight and the original Galaxy Ring under a legal cloud, here's how the current options stack up:
Oura Ring 5 ($399) is the safest pick for most buyers. It's the patent holder's own flagship, so it will never be affected by the ITC dispute. It ships in a 40% smaller design than the Ring 4, adds blood pressure trend tracking, and delivers a full 7-day battery life. The tradeoff is the required $5.99/month membership for full health insights — see our Oura Ring review for a full breakdown.
Samsung Galaxy Ring ($399) remains a solid buy for Samsung phone owners who specifically want FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection and no subscription fee. Current stock is unaffected by the ITC complaint, but be aware that long-term availability and future software support carry more risk than usual given the pending legal case.
RingConn Gen 2 ($299) is the budget pick if you want to avoid the patent war entirely — RingConn already settled with Oura via a licensing deal, making it legally safe. It offers no subscription and strong battery life, though its health insights lag behind Oura's more mature app. Compare all three head-to-head using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Should You Wait for the Galaxy Ring 2?
Probably not. With no confirmed release date, an unresolved ITC complaint, and TM Roh's own admission that Samsung is taking its time, waiting for the Galaxy Ring 2 could mean sitting on the sidelines well into 2027 — or longer, depending on how the patent litigation resolves.
If you need a smart ring today, buy the Oura Ring 5 for the safest long-term bet, or the current Galaxy Ring if you're committed to the Samsung ecosystem and want FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection without a subscription. Both are shipping now, well-reviewed, and not going anywhere in the near term — unlike the Galaxy Ring 2.
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Galaxy Ring 2 & Smart Ring FAQ
Common questions about the Galaxy Ring 2 delay and Oura patent war
Quick answers to help you decide which smart ring to buy while the Galaxy Ring 2 remains in limbo.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 cancelled?
No. Samsung mobile chief TM Roh has confirmed the Galaxy Ring 2 is in advanced development, but the company is prioritizing completeness over speed. No release date has been announced, and the ongoing Oura patent dispute adds further uncertainty to the timeline.
Can I still buy the Samsung Galaxy Ring?
Yes. The original Galaxy Ring ($399) is still available on Amazon and remains the only smart ring with FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection. Oura's ITC complaint targets future imports into the US, not units already on store shelves, so existing stock is unaffected for now.
Which smart ring should I buy right now?
The Oura Ring 5 ($399) is the safest pick for most buyers, with a 40% smaller design, blood pressure trend tracking, and 7-day battery life. The Galaxy Ring ($399) is best for Samsung phone owners who want a ring with no subscription fee. The RingConn Gen 2 ($299) is the budget pick, assuming ITC cease-and-desist orders don't affect remaining stock.
What is the ITC import ban on smart rings?
Oura filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission seeking to block imports of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, along with rings from Reebok, Amazfit, and Nexxbase, for patent infringement. The ITC can issue exclusion orders that block products at the US border. The commission has previously ruled against Ultrahuman and RingConn in similar disputes before those companies signed licensing deals with Oura.
Does the Oura Ring 5 require a subscription?
Yes, Oura requires a $5.99/month membership to unlock full health insights beyond basic scores. The Samsung Galaxy Ring and RingConn Gen 2 do not require any subscription, which is a meaningful factor if you want to avoid recurring costs.