No sooner has Samsung teased details of its ground-breaking Galaxy Ring, to huge excitement, but a report emerges that Apple doesn’t want to be left out of the game. You can read my hands-on experience with the Galaxy model here, but here we’ll look at the Apple Ring latest.
Samsung Galaxy Ring – is Apple about to join the frey with its own smart ring?
February 27 update below. This post was first published on February 24, 2024.
A new report at ETNews points out that Apple has been working on patents related to wearables that fit on your finger rather than the wrist. The report says, “The growth of global smart ring market has also gained momentum due to the participation of big tech.” The report also says that Apple is working to develop its own smart ring, not least because of evidence of relevant patents.
While this doesn’t mean an Apple Ring is imminent—or indeed will necessarily ever happen—it gives credence to the idea that Apple will want to have a ring of its own, especially given the frenzied reaction to the Galaxy Ring.
The report notes that TM Roh, President of Samsung Electronics, said at February’s Galaxy Unpacked event, “We decided to release the ring, which can be worn conveniently for a long time, because we thought it was essential to complete digital health.”
And that’s what is key here. The rise of wearables brought an exceptional and intimate way to monitor health metrics. Something that’s on your wrist all day long can provide non-stop information. It’s one of the reasons the Apple Watch is able to monitor your heart rate in the background and alert you if it thinks it has spotted something amiss.
Sleep tracking is also key, giving wide insights into health. But not everyone wants to wear a smartwatch in bed, finding it heavy or intrusive. A smart ring, however, is light and much easier to wear 24 hours a day, providing a great way to offer the most extensive monitoring.
I currently wear the Oura Ring and it stays in place all the time, except when I charge it once a week or so. It’s expected that the Galaxy Ring will have similarly placed sensors, a light weight and unobtrusive qualities.
As for Apple, patents that are ring-related have touched on mechanisms to interact with or control smartphones or tablets—perhaps the ring could become a neat pointing device. With these capabilities, Apple could beat Samsung, from what we know so far of the Galaxy Ring.
Additionally, given Apple’s preoccupation with health measuring, it is inconceivable that an Apple Ring would not have sensors to track the same kinds of metrics the Oura Ring does, including heart rate, temperature and more. Oura tracks sleep so it can offer clues as to your resilience, for instance. This is great for athletes who need to know whether they should push themselves in today’s exercise or take it a bit easier. But it’s just as useful for all of us, for anyone who wants to stay on top of how they’re doing.
ET News comments, “The Finnish healthcare company Oura is currently leading the smart ring market. Oura first introduced the Oura Ring in 2016. Industries predict that the smart ring market will open in earnest due to the participation of Samsung and Apple.”
If the report is right and Apple is working towards a smart ring, we should not expect it soon. Apple’s mantra of “Don’t do it first, do it right,” will surely apply here.
February 27 update. The rumor of an Apple Ring just took a step towards greater credibility, thanks to Mark Gurman. According to his latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, a finger-worn wearable from Apple is a thing—even if it’s not about to land.
Gurman says, “A few years ago, the Apple Inc. industrial design group presented an idea to executives on the company’s health team: a smart ring that would take health-tracking features from the Apple Watch and put them on your finger.”
Gurman believes that wearables are a smart choice for Apple, saying, “Wearable devices can help the company reach new customers, boost growth and keep people even more locked into the Apple ecosystem than they already are. It seems clear that Apple wants to further expand that category, beyond the launch of the Vision Pro headset this year. But the big question is how.”
And, he says, “For now, the ring idea is just that — an idea.”
Well, anyone can have ideas, and they don’t all turn into multi-million dollar enterprises. But it may be a little more than that. “The company isn’t actively developing such a device, but there are certainly people within the walls of Apple’s campus promoting the concept,” he explains.
And Gurman hits on one of the key benefits for an Apple Ring over an Apple Watch: if you have a favorite Rolex or Breitling, for instance, you probably enjoy its aesthetics and beauty, seeing it as jewelry as much as a timepiece.
And if you don’t need the notifications that pop up on the Watch but you would like the health features, you have a problem.
Gurman says, “Let’s begin with the hypothetical ring, which would be focused on heath and fitness. There are many people who buy the Apple Watch for health tracking. They want to monitor their heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, calories burned and steps taken. And there’s an overlap between that group and people who don’t necessarily want the other bells and whistles of an Apple Watch — like apps and phone calls.”
The Ring would provide health metrics in that desirably portable format. Gurman goes on, “There are also millions of people who don’t want an Apple Watch because they prefer traditional wristwatches or don’t like wearing one at all. Or they dread the idea of having another device that needs nightly charging.”
Though I don’t have an issue with nightly charging—if you’re charging your iPhone, you might as well do the same with a Watch or Ring—the issue arises when you want to use the Watch or Ring to track your sleep, meaning those daily recharges could happen in the morning, not overnight. It won’t be coming any time soon, but the prospect of what Gurman calls the iRing (a name I am certain won’t be used) is intriguing.
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Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.