Apple is reportedly exploring a move into the screenless wearable space, with an industry leaker claiming that an ‘iRing’ device has officially entered active development.
The surprise note comes courtesy of prototype collector and Apple hardware leaker Kosutami, who broke the recent quiet spell surrounding the brand’s alleged smart ring ambitions with a brief update suggesting the device is entering a more formal stage before becoming a reality.
While the leak remains sparse on technical specifications or a concrete launch window, it firmly points to a change in strategy within Apple.
iRing thing under development. What a surprise.
Rumors have suggested for the last decade that the company has toyed with the concept of a smart ring, locking down numerous patents detailing biometric finger tech.
However, mainstream industry chatter largely petered out over the last two years, following reports that Apple executives had shelved the project entirely for fear it would cannibalize the core Apple Watch business.
As it stands, then—even with this latest hint—it’s fair to remain skeptical about the arrival of an Apple smart ring any time soon.
Even if this latest leak is on the money—and Apple’s historically cautious approach to entering new product categories would lead us to believe it isn’t—we likely wouldn’t see a consumer-ready release until 2027.
And by that time, industry leader Oura will likely have further cemented its grip on the market, while the chasing pack—including Samsung—will almost certainly have released new hardware in an attempt to keep up.
As ever, we’ll keep an eye on this one, though. If more reports emerge over the coming months, the notion of an ‘Apple Ring’ could evolve from its long-standing spot as a gossip point to a more realistic possibility.
Conor joined Wareable in 2017, quickly making a name for himself by testing out language translation earbuds on a first date, navigating London streets in a wearable airbag, and experiencing skydiving in a VR headset. Over the years, he has evolved into a recognized wearables and fitness tech expert. Through Wareable’s instructional how-to guides, Conor helps users maximize the potential of their gadgets, and also shapes the conversation in digital health and AI hardware through PULSE by Wareable. As an avid marathon runner, dedicated weightlifter, and frequent hiker, he also provides a unique perspective to Wareable’s in-depth product reviews and news coverage. In addition to his contributions to Wareable, Conor’s expertise has been featured in publications such as British GQ, The Independent, Digital Spy, Pocket-lint, The Mirror, WIRED, and Metro.
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