Despite rumors — and various granted patents — don’t expect an “Apple Ring” anytime soon, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says in a new “Power On” newsletter.
“Apple isn’t actively developing a ring and has no plans to launch one, because it would detract from the Apple Watch” he says. “Consequently, Apple has no reason to cannibalize a product that still has room to grow and is the envy of the fitness-tracking industry.”
Apple has filed for, and been granted, dozens of patents for a ring device. When/if it arrives Jarred Abbott of A2Z Events says that companies like Samsung have brought out their own versions of the smart ring concept, so it seems like a natural step for Apple. The announcement graphic for this Apple Event shows the Apple symbol blurring into several rings before re-forming into the Apple logo, so people have been speculating on the possibility that Apple’s own smart ring will be announced on September 9, he says.
“Similar to the Apple Watch, one of the key features of the potential smart ring might be the ability to monitor health metrics,” Abbott says. “The ring would wirelessly transmit this data to a paired iPhone, enabling users to keep track of their health without constantly wearing the bulkier Apple Watch.
Apple is also rumored to be exploring gesture-based interactions for its smart ring, such as detecting specific finger movements or contact between fingers. In 2023, Apple secured a patent for ‘Skin-to-Skin Contact Detection’, which covers various ways to track contact or movement of two body parts.
“This could be for their smart ring, enabling users to control other devices, like an Apple TV or a nearby Mac, through gestures performed with the ring,” Abbott says.
(A2Z Events is a product within the Personify technology suite. Personify offers a range of solutions designed to enhance organizations’ operations and member engagement.)
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