A Rendering of a Possible Apple Ring
0 Facebook x.com Reddit Rumor Score 🤔 Maybe
It's enough to shake your complete, unquestioning faith and trust in analysts – because after one says the Apple Ring is completely dead, another says it's coming in 2026.
Maybe analysts should call each other in the morning. Or that they shouldn't be paid to guess so much.
Previously on the Apple Ring… Bloomberg says no, it's over, the smart ring will never happen. Specifically, it claims that, sure, there are all these rumors and even patents for a smart ring, but Apple will never release one because it would cannibalize Apple Watch sales.
AppleInsider pointed out that Apple has famously done just that before, when the iPhone completely and intentionally cannibalized the once-smash hit that was the iPod. And AppleInsider also pointed out that most of the rumors about the Apple Ring — and these patents — have made it seem like a companion to the Apple Watch, not a competitor.
If it sounds silly that the Apple Ring could be an accessory to an accessory, there are tangible health benefits. For example, the Apple Ring could work in conjunction with the Apple Watch to improve health metrics — much like the Oura smart ring does today.
Cue CSS Insight chief analyst Ben Wood told CNBC that the Apple Ring could launch in 2026 as a companion device to the Apple Watch. And that it would fit in with Apple's focus on health.
“Health has become a foundational pillar for Apple,” Wood said. “In fact, I would go so far as to say that the moment Tim Cook decides to relinquish control and retire… I’d like to think that one of his greatest legacies from Apple will be around personal health.”
“Given how deeply and personally invested Tim Cook is in health,” he continued, “I think the ring is a very complimentary extension of Apple.”
Wood singled out Samsung’s Galaxy Ring in particular and how it fits into the company’s ecosystem of devices, from phones to smartwatches. However, he says Apple has key advantages over Samsung in this area.
An image of a ring with the Apple logo.
“[Apple’s] retail network is perfect for this… because rings are difficult products to bring to market,” he said. “Apple is a brand that has a certain reputation for being a product that people are proud of.”
“And I think a nicely designed ring from Apple could be one of those things that’s a bit of a status symbol,” he continued.
Who’s Right and Who’s Wrong About the Apple Ring
Overall, Bloomberg claims to have the best sources, and with good reason, since writer Mark Gurman is about as accurate as anyone. Plus Bloomberg is certainly more well-known than CCS Insight, which you just had to Google.
CCS Insight’s Ben Wood’s argument makes more sense than the claim that Apple is sitting on the ring for dubious marketing reasons, though. However, Wood doesn't seem to back up his 2026 announcement.
So there you have it. Will Apple release the Apple Ring or not? It's a smart Schrödinger's ring, alive and dead at the same time. Tune in tomorrow for the next episode of “Jeopardy” by analysts.
Rumor Score
🤔
Possibly
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