A brand new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has thrown a bucket of chilly water on the spate of latest rumors that an Apple Ring may very well be simply across the nook. Nonetheless, Gurman provides that this and plenty of different units are nonetheless on the slate of issues that we may see from Apple within the not-too-distant future.
Gurman’s feedback on this week’s Energy On e-newsletter come on the heels of a speculative report final week that an Apple Ring may very well be “imminent.” Though some trade sources have been studying the tea leaves from Apple’s patent portfolio and its provide chain to surmise that Apple is actively engaged on an “Apple Ring,” evidently the idea hasn’t even made it onto the drafting board, a lot much less reached something close to a product stage.
To be truthful, there’s no scarcity of ring-related patents filed by Apple. The corporate seems to have been contemplating the concept since no less than 2015, and we’ve heard rumors that the notion was being explored internally way back to 2007 when the iPhone had simply been launched and Steve Jobs was nonetheless solidly on the helm of the corporate.
Nonetheless, there’s a hazard in assuming an excessive amount of from Apple’s patents. The corporate information a whole bunch of patents on issues that by no means seem simply to verify all of its bases are lined. We’ve additionally seen patents for necklaces and key rings, though we’ve by no means heard any significant rumors that Apple is engaged on both of these.
Rumors of an Apple Ring
If something, these Apple Ring rumors gained new steam not as a result of we noticed any significant new data from Apple-related sources however as a substitute seemingly on account of Samsung teasing its new Galaxy Ring final month. Pundits assumed that Apple couldn’t be far behind if considered one of its greatest rivals was releasing one thing like this.
Whereas it’s probably true that Apple is paying shut consideration to the market, Apple has by no means performed issues simply because its rivals have. Apple takes time to do issues proper, and we way more usually see Samsung copying Apple than the opposite means round, such because the flat edges on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 that make it really feel way more like an iPhone and the shift of the Galaxy S24 Extremely to a titanium body, full with a set of titanium-themed colours.
Nonetheless, Apple isn’t going to hurry an Apple Ring to market simply because Samsung is doing so. If something, it’ll wait till its sensible ring has one thing to distinguish it from the remainder of the pack. In line with Gurman, it stays little greater than an thought — one with a number of champions inside Apple however nothing wherever near a product.
For now, the ring thought is simply that — an thought. The corporate isn’t actively growing such a tool, however there are definitely folks inside the partitions of Apple’s campus selling the idea.
Mark Gurman
That’s to not say that an Apple Ring gained’t ever occur. As others like Oura and now Samsung have confirmed, there’s a marketplace for such a tool, which may supply well being and health monitoring to those that aren’t followers of smartwatches.
The Apple Watch nonetheless has a big and untapped market, as evidenced by the iterative year-over-year enhancements designed to attract in new clients somewhat than encouraging current Apple Watch homeowners to improve. Nonetheless, it’s additionally a way more restricted market than the iPhone. Practically everybody lately carries a smartphone; not everyone wears a watch.
Wristwatches are as a lot style statements as they’re helpful equipment, and as Gurman factors out, some people like conventional wristwatches. Others “dread the concept of getting one other system that wants nightly charging.”
Merely put, some folks won’t ever purchase an Apple Watch, it doesn’t matter what it does. It’s simply not for them. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply they don’t need the advantages of well being and health monitoring built-in with their iPhones. That’s the place an Apple Ring would are available. It may monitor coronary heart price, blood oxygen saturation, and energy burned with out the additional bells and whistles that some discover superfluous.
Whereas there’s no assure that an Apple Ring will ever see the sunshine of day, the concept of a lower-cost wearable is interesting to Apple because it tries to bolster its wearables income. Such a hoop would undoubtedly be tied into Apple’s Well being and Health apps and bought as an iPhone accent somewhat than a standalone system. Gurman suggests Apple may “court docket a brand new sort of buyer” with a health ring, encourage extra people to remain inside the Apple ecosystem, and probably even discover a method to monetize it by way of a subscription.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]