According to a report by CCS Insight Apple is reportedly going to launch a much-awaited connected ring before 2026. This move will be timely as the tech company is looking forward to replacing Samsung’s newly launched Galaxy Ring. Of late, Apple has been focusing on health technology, following the series of introduction of Vision Pro head-mounted displays earlier this year.
CCS Insight chief analyst Ben Wood said that health has become central to Apple’s product portfolio. On Beyond the Valley podcast, Wood said, “Health has become a introductory pillar for Apple. I think one of Tim Cook’s big legacies at Apple will be around personal health.” He mentioned how Cook himself took an interest in health-based endeavors, which led him to opine that a ring would be an excellent fit in Apple’s product family.
Apple’s health-related products, ranging from the Apple Watch, a device equipped with a number of sensors to track health-related needs, to Air Pods Pro 2, which could serve as a hearing aid, reveal the company’s interest in user well-being. As the proposed smart ring will integrate the health tracking aspects, including heart rate monitoring, it follows the trends of wearable health-related technologies.
Oura, for sure, has set the precedent for the smart ring market. Samsung, however, launched the Galaxy Ring last month at $399, indicating a big push into health tech, with the goal of bringing users deeper into its network of devices, which include smartphones and smartwatches.
Same strategy has been followed by Apple, a suite of interoperating products designed to keep the user engaged within its own ecosystem. A connected ring would be a precious addition to the offerings of the house of Apple, potentially enriching the user experience and bringing health monitoring closer to its users.
From a retail perspective, selling rings presents some unique challenges due to fingers coming in so many different sizes. To counter this some extent, Samsung has provided size kits before sale. But Wood said that deep and stylish retail footprint by Apple would make an easier case for selling a ring product. “Rings are intricate products to get to market,” he said, “but their retail footprint is ideally suited for this venture.”
After all, rings are not just something from fashion, and Wood believes that elegantly designed Apple ring would be the thing that becomes something people would perceive as desirable, raising their interest in the brand even further in a consumerist marketplace. “Apple is a brand that holds some kudos, and a well-designed ring could be one of those things people are proud of owning,” he concluded.
