The fact that Apple is planning its own smart ring with health functions has been rumored repeatedly in recent months. Ultimately, it was said that the company had reportedly lost interest in the concept in order not to weaken its Apple Watch. Now the boss of one of the most famous manufacturers of smart rings has commented on a possible market entry by the iPhone group. He’s also not particularly worried about Apple.
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A watch with a ring or a ring without a watch?
According to a report by US stock exchange broadcaster CNBC, Ora CEO Tom Hale said that the name smart ring He says he does not expect Apple to enter the market. “I think (Apple) is not convinced of the value of such a ring with a watch.” The company has no interest in diluting its Apple Watch business, Hale said at the Web Summit in PortugalStill, he believes Apple is taking a close look at Ora, which has been in business since 2013 and hails from Finland. This also applies to Samsung, which has already brought several generations of smart rings to the market.
Oura and its competitors have several advantages for users. Rings are generally more comfortable to wear than watches – this is especially true at night. Because they lack a display, they provide less distraction to users and quietly collect health data. The sensors in the Oura Ring or Samsung Smart Ring generally capture the same signals as the Apple Watch. Accordingly, Apple appears to disagree on whether the (low-cost) ring will destroy the Apple Watch. However, this has not stopped Apple from introducing new product categories in the past. The group integrates its products into its own ecosystem, which can reduce cannibalization effects.
Health features in AirPods
However, it seems clear that Apple wants to equip the AirPods with health functions. For example, newer models can record heart rate. Sister brand Beats is also planning a related product for the coming year.
Oura Ring combines comparatively expensive hardware – with prices between 399 and 549 euros depending on the design – with an annual subscription for data analysis. It currently costs 5.99 euros per month or 69.99 euros per year in the EU. Apple is particularly interested in such subscription offers.
(B.Sc.)
