Wearable fitness tracking devices come in all shapes and sizes, from bulky smartwatches to sleek fitness bands, but their ring form factor is becoming increasingly popular. Samsung recently showcased its Galaxy Ring at MWC 2024, which is said to offer a number of health tracking features. Apple also patented a smart ring with haptic feedback and pressure-sensitive inputs in August last year. But according to a new report from Bloomberg, the iPhone maker has not started active development on the device. In fact, Apple may be considering a pair of new smart glasses to compete with the Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses and the Smart AirPods with cameras and advanced sensors.
In his latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that Apple intends to expand its lineup of wearable devices, which is currently limited to AirPods, the Apple Watch, and the newly launched Vision Pro headset. The company’s plans include a smart ring, a pair of smart glasses, and new AirPods equipped with cameras and smart features.
While Apple has explored creating a smart ring with health tracking features similar to the Apple Watch, the Cupertino, California-based tech giant is not actively developing it, according to Gurman. However, this ring would be a low-cost alternative to the Apple Watch that could integrate with Apple’s health and fitness apps and sit comfortably in the Apple ecosystem, giving users yet another reason not to switch to Android.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring was shown off at MWC 2024 earlier this week
Photo Credit: Samsung
The company has also reportedly been in talks about developing smart glasses similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses launched last year. According to Gurman, smart glasses may also include cameras, speakers and health sensors. The glasses could replace AirPods with audio capabilities, a bigger battery, more sensors, and AI features. Apple’s smart glasses will come at a lower price than the Apple Vision Pro, which sells for $3,499.
Additionally, Apple is also reportedly considering putting cameras and smart capabilities on an already popular product – AirPods. Gurman said Apple last year began investigating the possibility of packing its earphones with advanced AI and health sensors and cameras. Cameras can be used to collect data, which will be further processed to assist people in their daily routines.
Although Apple is exploring developing these wearable devices, they are not necessarily looking to bring it to market. It is being said that the company is working on a new version of HomePod with a foldable device larger than the iPhone and a touch display.
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, on the other hand, will likely launch in the second half of 2024. The smart ring was first showcased at the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17 and was shown at MWC 2024 this week. The Ring is expected to come with health tracking features present on the Galaxy Watch – a 24×7 heart rate monitor, a blood oxygen sensor, a sleep monitoring tracker, and other fitness tracking capabilities.
