Apple may finally be joining the burgeoning smart ring industry. Years of patents hint at Apple’s interest, and with Samsung poised to debut their Galaxy Ring, Apple’s own “Apple Ring” release could be on the horizon.
Insider hints at Apple Ring
According to a report in the Electronic Times, Apple is closely tracking the smart ring market. Industry insiders suggest that Apple may see this sector as an opportunity to augment their successful wearables lineup. “It seems likely that commercialization is imminent,” a source is quoted as saying.
Apple’s history of wearable technology success
Apple, known for its meticulous product development, often observes market trends before launching polished offerings. This tactic, summarized by CEO Tim Cook’s emphasis on being “best, not first,” could lead to a compelling new product. If released, Apple Ring would almost certainly build upon existing patented functions like NFC-enabled features.
Apple Ring to compete with Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s plans to unveil its long-teased Galaxy Ring in the second half of 2024 adds fuel to the speculation that Apple may fast-track its own device. The Galaxy Ring is rumored to feature impressive capabilities like blood flow measurement, ECG monitoring, sleep tracking, and even remote device control.
Oura Ring: The market leader
The smart ring niche is currently dominated by Oura Ring, a health-focused device with long battery life. Oura has sold over one million rings, but recent decisions to add a monthly subscription for accessing core data have received criticism. Apple could capitalize on this by offering a comparable feature-set without recurring costs.
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The future of wearables
Smart rings offer several advantages over smartwatches. They’re often smaller, more comfortable, less visually intrusive, and easier to wear while sleeping. As both Apple and Samsung expand into this category, the possibilities for health monitoring and seamless interaction with our devices are exciting.
Rings as health powerhouses
With advanced sensors packed into such a small form factor, smart rings could outshine watches in specific health tracking domains. Consistent overnight wear makes them prime candidates for unlocking in-depth sleep analysis, going beyond basic sleep staging to reveal insights into sleep apnea or other potential disorders. Continuous heart rate variability, body temperature tracking, and even blood oxygen monitoring could become commonplace, empowering users with a rich understanding of their baseline health metrics.
As tech giants like Apple and Samsung invest in the smart ring space, we can anticipate a surge of innovation. Imagine a ring that not only augments your smartphone experience with subtle haptic notifications but also serves as a remote control for smart home devices. Unlocking your door with a flick of your finger or turning on the lights with a hand gesture may move from science fiction to reality.
Knowing Apple’s design ethos, an Apple Ring would likely be both aesthetically pleasing and intuitive. Given Apple’s emphasis on health, we could see sophisticated integration with the Apple Health ecosystem. This might allow data from your Apple Ring to inform tailored workout recommendations on your Apple Watch or provide context-aware nudges from your iPhone – all with the goal of improving overall wellbeing.
While Apple is famously tight-lipped on upcoming products, the confluence of rumors, Samsung’s move into the space, and Apple’s known interest create a compelling case for a potential Apple Ring launch. This could mark a new chapter in health and lifestyle wearables.
Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/Midjourney
