Key Takeaways
- Apple may be developing a smart ring to rival Samsung’s Galaxy Ring.
- The smart ring could help Apple attract budget-conscious shoppers and deepen loyalty to its ecosystem.
- While the new patent doesn’t endorse a product, it does suggest that Apple is seriously looking into a smart ring.
Smart rings seem to be becoming an increasingly popular product category. They’re not ideal for everyone – swimmers and powerlifters can easily break them – but for the average person, they offer some of the benefits of traditional fitness trackers without the cost and hassle. Smart rings may be the trend of the future, and Samsung seems to think so, given the hype it’s putting into its Galaxy Ring.
Will Apple get in on the action? Nothing has been announced yet, but there’s reason to think the company is hard at work, or at least seriously considering the idea.
Related
7 Features to Look for When Buying Your Next Fitness Tracker
These are features that are really useful when running or lifting weights.
1 Apple’s smart ring patents keep coming
Where there’s smoke…
United States Patent and Trademark Office
New patents don’t automatically mean anything, as companies are constantly filing to ensure options remain open. But as AppleInsider points out, it’s suspicious that Apple has filed multiple patents for a smart ring, covering a variety of concepts from haptic feedback and gesture control to NFC and a small display. At the very least, it’s confirmation that Apple engineers are seriously considering a smart ring. With any luck, we might even get a glimpse of upcoming Apple Ring features.
I say lucky, because that’s what has happened with several other unannounced Apple products, perhaps the best example being the Apple Car, which consumed billions of dollars in development resources before being discontinued in early 2024. If and when the Apple Ring actually launches, it may look quite different than what is depicted in the (published) patent filing.
Related
How a female team transformed Oura Ring into an essential tool for women’s health
Oura offers unique insights to empower and educate women as they make decisions about their bodies.
2 Smart Ring Market Competition
Keeping up with the arms race
Apple is a wealthy technology company with a well-established product portfolio, but it can’t afford to ignore the competition. Gaining an inch in a product category means gaining a mile if customers are willing to switch platforms. Meanwhile, many shareholders still believe in the myth of infinite growth, which means Apple needs to expand into new areas whenever possible.
Smart rings have probably been on Apple’s radar for years, given the popularity of models such as the third-generation Oura. It’s hard to imagine Apple ignoring Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. The two companies are arch rivals, competing with each other on specs and options. The last thing Apple wants is for people to choose a Samsung device over an iPhone because it’s missing a key accessory.
Related
What is Apple Watch ECG? Tips for setting up the heart health feature
Everything you need to know about Apple’s ECG heart feature, including its limitations.
3 Apple Watch pricing pressures
Meet your customers wherever they are
Although popular, the Apple Watch can be a tough sell. With prices starting at $249 for the cheapest model, the SE, it’s hardly an impulse buy, especially for people who know they’ll need to replace it in a few years. Prices can be even higher overseas.
The Apple Ring could help Apple attract budget-conscious shoppers around the world if the company is willing to lower the price to under $200. That’s not guaranteed (Apple typically targets the “premium” tier), but the potential for a product like the Ultra 3 to boost sales is slim.
Related
5 Reasons to Choose a Garmin Tracker Over an Apple Watch
The Apple Watch is great for basic everyday wear, but when it comes to fitness, Garmin’s tracker takes it to the next level.
Four Apple Ecosystem Attachment
Gold (ring) cufflinks
apple
This is actually an extension of the second and third points, but Apple is always inventing new ways to lock people into its ecosystem. You can’t use an Apple Watch without an iPhone, and if you have both, you’re probably not going to spend thousands of dollars upgrading to an Android device. Similarly, if you share an iCloud+ plan with your family, it might be hard to force them to switch to Google Drive.
The Apple Ring could help the company attract a wider consumer base and mitigate or even reverse sluggish hardware sales. It’s not just about sunk costs: people may not want to give up Apple Health, Apple Pay, and HomeKit features, and Apple wants to entice users with subscriptions like Apple Music and Apple Fitness+. Maybe the Ring will even have enough storage to hold a few Apple Music playlists.
Related
The best fitness trackers to motivate you to exercise
These wrist-based wearable devices can track a variety of information, including steps, sleep, and workouts.
FAQ
Q: When will the Apple Ring be released?
The product’s existence has yet to be confirmed, and there’s no clear release date. Hypothetically, Apple could unveil it in fall 2024, hoping to steal the show from the Samsung Galaxy Ring, but so far there are no rumors to suggest so. And considering how often other Apple products are leaked in advance, this would be a remarkable feat of secrecy.
