A Change of Direction at Apple: Will There Be a Smart Ring?

After an initial period of interest, it seems that attention around smart rings has cooled. The reason is simple: with the debut of Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, an Apple response was expected, followed by an invasion of models from Chinese brands.

Yet none of this has materialized: Cupertino hasn’t shown interest in this category of wearables, and no breakthrough in the sector has occurred. However things could change in an as-yet-undefined future: ultimately Apple would have given in and would actually be working on its first smart ring.

Apple is working on its first smart ring, and a possible name has emerged

A recent leak reveals it, but unfortunately there are no details on the timelines. The device should even have an evocative name, iRing, perhaps, in the wake of many other products from the American company.

The project would be in development and seems to be in line with Cupertino’s plans: previously there were rumors about a couple of smart glasses and even a AI pin, and it seems the company is considering various ways to expand its wearable catalog.

With the launch of Samsung Galaxy Ring the market looked toward Apple, with no results: according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the project was initially evaluated but then it would have been preferred not to proceed. A smart ring could have cannibalized Apple Watch sales, given the similarities in features.

Anyway, it’s worth noting that Cupertino’s renewed interest still seems in its early stages, so it seems premature to think of a finished product. Since the 2024 launch, Samsung has not yet produced a successor to its creation: Galaxy Ring 2 is expected to make its debut in 2027 and there are rumors of a slew of improvements in battery life, size, and sensing.