We need to stop letting companies double-dip with high upfront costs and required subscriptions
Pick one or the other, but both is not okay.
What you need to know
- A new report claims Samsung could charge a required subscription fee for its upcoming Galaxy Ring.
- The proposed subscription would be in addition to a high upfront cost for the wearable, as it is rumored to cost between $300 and $350.
- The combination of high MSRPs and required subscriptions is a trend in tech that needs to be stopped.
Samsung has been teasing its Galaxy Ring for some time now, but we're starting to learn more about the upcoming wearable's pricing model. According to leaker Yogesh Brar and Android Authority , the Galaxy Ring could come with both a high initial cost and a perpetual subscription fee. Brar doesn't offer any concrete details, but says the possible subscription would cost "under $10" for U.S. users.
Samsung Galaxy Ring as of now is priced at Rs 35k in India.US price in the $300-350 rangePretty expensive piece of tech..May 22, 2024
It seems unlikely that Samsung would require a subscription for use of the Galaxy Ring, because there's no precedent of the company doing so in the past. However, if Samsung did tie a monthly subscription to the upcoming wearable, it would continue a dangerous trend.
Companies want a slice of the cake and eat it, too; they’re trying to charge high upfront costs to buy hardware while requiring users to pay perpetual fees on top of that.
Eventually, we, as consumers, need to say that enough is enough. Using a subscription-model is fine, using an ad-supported model is alright too, and charging a high upfront cost is another option. Any combination of those three models, however, is downright unacceptable.
Subscriptions are okay, and Whoop proves it
It's easy to hate subscriptions, especially as more and more products and services we use daily move to a subscription model. They really aren't that bad on their own, though, especially if users know what they're getting into before they sign up. A great example of a good subscription offering comes from Whoop, the health and fitness company that makes the Whoop 4.0 band.
Unlike what Samsung could be considering for the Galaxy Ring, Whoop doesn't make you pay anything for the Whoop 4.0 band. The entire experience is centered around a subscription. As long as you're subscribed, you'll be able to use a Whoop 4.0 band for free. It's an entirely different situation than it would be if Whoop made you pay for the band and the service.
The other thing Whoop has going for it is a competitive pricing model and a unique feature set. The company is in the business of advanced fitness and health insights, especially those related to recovery. Using artificial intelligence, Whoop has managed to provide personalized insights and continues to add features over time. A subscription costs $30 per month, $239 for the year, and and $399 for two years. Considering an Apple Watch Series 9 costs $399 flat, the Whoop subscription isn't that bad of a value, and the band is included.
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android
Optional subscriptions are fine, too
Alternatively, having an optional subscription that unlocks advanced features is tolerable as well. Fitbit does this with its Fitbit Premium subscription. Just by buying a Fitbit wearable, you'll get access to all the essential features it is marketed as having. Things like heart rate, basic health metrics, blood glucose monitoring, skin temperature scores, and more are all included with your Fitbit device. The Fitbit Premium subscription adds advanced features like guided workouts, more comprehensive data, and wellness reports.
The key here is that the subscription isn't necessary to use a Fitbit wearable, and you can get tons of value out of a Fitbit tracker without spending a dime on subscriptions. It's fine for companies to give users a way to gain access to advanced features through an optional subscription plan. However, when a subscription is tied to a product's core functionality, and that product comes with a high standalone MSRP, it becomes unacceptable.
High upfront costs and required subscriptions are never okay
If the Galaxy Ring comes with a retail price of around $300 and a required monthly subscription, it would continue a dangerous trend that the Humane AI Pin brought into the forefront earlier this year. To use the AI Pin, you need to pay a whopping $699 just to buy the hardware and a $24 per month subscription every month thereafter. The second you stop paying for the AI Pin's subscription, the $699 device becomes a paperweight.
Samsung can do one of three things with regard to the Galaxy Ring's pricing model. It can charge an upfront cost to buy the Galaxy Ring with all features included, it can offer an optional subscription on top of the upfront cost, or it can use a subscription model entirely. However, the rumored plan to charge as much as $350 for a Galaxy Ring that you can't even use without a monthly subscription is outrageous. If Samsung goes that route, no one should buy it.
Brady is a tech journalist covering news at Android Central. He has spent the last two years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching sports.
-
JudasD never buy anything that also requires a subscription. It's simply foolish, you have a dead product once you stop paying. a big nope!Reply
too many folks are willing to drop money on subscriptions today and companies are greedy. this trend really needs to end.
Upon deeper reflection this trend has saved me money. Almost everything has a sub these days, which causes my interest to wane. Maybe it's actually a good trend for folks that aren't loose with their monies? -
rvbfan
Yup.kinda like the game industry. Micro charging themselves to oblivion. Mind you that's not the only reason.JudasD said:never buy anything that also requires a subscription. It's simply foolish, you have a dead product once you stop paying. a big nope!
too many folks are willing to drop money on subscriptions today and companies are greedy. this trend really needs to end.
Upon deeper reflection this trend has saved me money. Almost everything has a sub these days, which causes my interest to wane. Maybe it's actually a good trend for folks that aren't loose with their monies? -
notforhire my boy bought a 2024 Tacoma the other day. all sorts of smart bells and whistles. those bells and whistles are free (for a little while). after that, it's subscription time. lolReply -
Mr. Lucky
That may be true for mobile devices and device apps, but not everything. For example, I have a full Ring system... video doorbell, security cameras, door and motion sensors, and all of it professionally monitored. I gladly pay an annual subscription for the professional monitoring and the peace of mind it provides. The hardware still works without the monitoring plan, but without cellular backup and monitoring. Also, my homeowners insurance gives me a discount for the monitored security system, which offsets ~ 45% of the subscription cost.JudasD said:never buy anything that also requires a subscription. It's simply foolish, you have a dead product once you stop paying. a big nope! -
taynjack
I wish it were that easy. I'm definitely moving to a Garmin fitness tracker for my next tracker, because they don't have a subscription. However, I need AutoCad and Sketchup for my work. They are both subscription based. I must buy those. The worst is when you pay a high price for something, and they want a subscription, and there's ads. Those companies are just dripping with greed. I avoid subscriptions as much as I can, unfortunately, some companies products have become essential to functioning in the modern world.JudasD said:never buy anything that also requires a subscription. It's simply foolish, you have a dead product once you stop paying. a big nope!
too many folks are willing to drop money on subscriptions today and companies are greedy. this trend really needs to end.
Upon deeper reflection this trend has saved me money. Almost everything has a sub these days, which causes my interest to wane. Maybe it's actually a good trend for folks that aren't loose with their monies? -
me just saying If I got the ring, it would only be for nfc so I can make mobile payments. I do not need any of the health features. I will not even consider getting a ring if it requires a subscription to use. Why pay a high price for a device, pay a monthly subscription fee just so that samsung can collect your personal health data to sell, trade, or share.Reply
I am getting tired of being "nickel and dime" with subscription fees from the different tech companies.