Rumors about an Apple Ring pop up occasionally, but the CEO of Oura, a leading smart ring maker, isn’t worried.
In an interview with CNBC at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Oura CEO Tom Hale said he doesn’t think Apple will enter the smart ring space—not because it’s unprofitable, but because it’s challenging. Hale explained, “They’re unconvinced about the value of having a ring and a watch together, and they’re not interested in undercutting the Apple Watch as a business.”
While Hale’s prediction makes sense, a smart ring wouldn’t necessarily compete with the Apple Watch. With the right pricing and features, the watch could be complemented by adding new sensors or collecting data when the watch isn’t being worn.
Rumor has it that Apple has been exploring smart rings for years, but no solid evidence suggests a product is close to production.
Still, Apple’s recent focus on health tech, like hearing features for AirPods Pro and rumored heart-rate monitoring, shows its continued investment in wearable health devices.
The competition in the smart ring market is heating up, with the Oura Ring 4 offering a week-long battery life and tracking over 20 biometrics, including sleep and blood oxygen. Samsung has also entered the space with its Galaxy Ring, priced at $400, adding more pressure to the growing market.
