The Oura Ring 4.
Courtesy: Oura
LISBON — Apple will not introduce a smart ring, the CEO of health technology company Oura told CNBC, despite speculation that the iPhone giant might consider entering the product category.
The debut of Samsung's Smart Ring earlier this year brought the product into the spotlight. An analyst predicted earlier this year that Apple could launch its own smart ring in 2026.
But Tom Hale, CEO of Oura – which has been developing smart rings since the company was founded in 2013 – said he doesn't think Apple will enter this space.
“I think she [Apple] “We're not convinced of the value of having a ring and a watch together, and they're not interested in undermining Apple Watch as a business,” Hale said in an interview at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday , told CNBC.
“I think they're probably keeping a close eye on Samsung and us, but it's a difficult product category to get right.”
Under CEO Tim Cook, Apple has placed a major focus on health applications through the Apple Watch and related services.
A smart ring is a type of wearable device packed with sensors that can give the wearer information about things like health, activity, and sleep. They're lightweight and have a long battery life, which fans say makes them ideal for wearing all day, including while sleeping, as opposed to a smartwatch, which may be less comfortable and therefore removed more often.
“Apple is a very focused company. They say, 'We're on the clock. We're going to make the watch our platform,'” Hale said.
Oura recently launched its next-generation Oura Ring 4 as competition increases in the wearable sector.
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