Apple could launch a smart ring in 2026, two years after Samsung

By 2026, Apple may release a smart ring that will compete with a similar product from Samsung, and will also highlight the American technology giant’s special relationship with healthcare products. This forecast is given in the annual report of the analytics company CCS Insight, and if Apple does release a smart ring, it will be the company’s first new product since the release of the Vision Pro mixed reality headset.

«Healthcare has become a fundamental pillar for Apple. In fact, I would even say that the moment [CEO] Tim Cook decides to relinquish power and retire. I’d like to think that one of his biggest legacies at Apple will be in personal healthcare. Given how deep and personal Cook’s contributions to healthcare are, I think the ring is a very complimentary [product] expansion for Apple,” Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told CNBC.

The company pays special attention to health issues – this includes the Apple Watch smart watch with a large set of sensors, and the latest AirPods Pro 2 headphones, which can work as a hearing aid. A smart ring, like a smart watch, is equipped with various sensors that help track the user’s health indicators, such as heart rate. One of the pioneers in this area was the Finnish company Oura, but this year Samsung released the Galaxy Ring – the Korean manufacturer hopes to make a breakthrough in the healthcare sector by addressing the device to a wider audience. The $399 smart ring expands Samsung’s ecosystem of devices, and Apple is pursuing the same strategy.

An important difference between smart rings and other gadgets is the different sizes of people’s fingers – before ordering, Samsung sends potential buyers a set of samples; and Apple has an extensive network of retail stores that will also help sell these devices. Finally, a ring is a fashion accessory, the analyst recalled. “Apple is a brand that has a certain amount of reputation in terms of a product that people are proud of. I think a beautifully crafted Apple ring can be one of those things that is a bit of a status symbol,” said Ben Wood.