Explore the latest rumors about Apple's smart ring, including patents, leaks, and expert predictions. Learn about potential features and market impact.
© A. Krivonosov
Rumors about Apple's "smart ring" continue to stir the wearable device market, though the actual picture remains unclear. While competitors have already entered this segment, Apple still hasn't confirmed developing its own smart ring. Over recent years, numerous indirect signs have accumulated around the Apple Ring—patents, user surveys, and leaked code analysis—yet none point to an imminent release.
According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple has no active plans to launch a smart ring. Company leadership fears such a product could undermine Apple Watch sales by offering similar health monitoring features at a lower price. He reports the idea was discussed but ultimately shelved. Meanwhile, CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood holds the opposite view, believing Apple will introduce a smart ring by 2026. He links this to the company's growing focus on health and sleep, along with Tim Cook's personal interest in medical technologies as part of his long-term legacy. Additional interest was fueled by a leak from Korean insider yeux1122, who stated at the end of 2025 that the project is in a research phase, though no confirmation via production plans has emerged.
Analysis of internal iOS 26 builds, which surfaced in late 2025, also provided no direct clues. The code contained hints at other future Apple devices, but no mention of a smart ring was found. However, Apple previously sent surveys to Apple Watch owners, inquiring about their experience with alternative wearable gadgets. Such research is often used by the company to assess prospects for new product categories.
Apple's patent portfolio, in contrast, appears quite extensive. The company has been registering developments for over a decade that describe a ring with heart rate sensors, skin temperature monitoring, gesture support, haptic feedback, and even NFC for Apple Pay. Some patents consider the device as a controller for Vision Pro, capable of recognizing finger movements where optical sensors might fail. This indicates serious exploration of the form factor, but as practice shows, patents don't always turn into real products.
At this point, expecting an Apple Ring announcement in early 2026 isn't advisable. The company is focused on other priority devices: a foldable iPhone and a new smart home hub. The smart ring remains on the list of potential ideas Apple might revisit later, once it deems the market and strategy sufficiently mature.