Apple could launch a smart ring in 2026 - here are all the rumors so far

Will we get an Apple Ring in 2026? Here's what the rumors say so far Features The Oura Ring 4(Image credit: Oura) The Apple Watch Series 11(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) David Nield published Definitely maybe You'll notice Apple isn't mentioned in our best smart rings guide - but might it be soon? Rumors continue to swirl that the tech giant will decide to launch a ring wearable in the future, and here we've collected together all the leaks and predictions we've heard to date. There are obvious parallels with the Apple Watch . When the original Apple Watch showed up in 2015, Apple bided its time, waited while other companies launched and refined their smartwatch products, and then entered the market with one of the best examples of the form factor - one that's not radically changed to this day. We might see a repeat of this pattern with a smart ring, if Apple decides to take on the likes of the Oura Ring 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Ring . Read on for details of all the rumors that have been swirling around regarding the Apple Ring - and maybe start saving up if you want one. The patent trail There are no guarantees that patent filings are eventually going to lead to actual consumer products, but they do give us an indication of the ideas that a company is exploring - and they are in the public record. Apple Ring-related patents go back several years, including one for a "wearable electronic ring computing device" that appeared in 2019 . That patent outlined a device that was more of a controller for an iPhone or a Mac computer, with its own tiny touchscreen and an integrated microphone - though there were also biometric sensors included. Overall, it sounded like a mini Apple Watch, which may well be what the Apple Ring ends up being. The Apple patents have continued to show up down the years: one in 2020 described a smart ring with extensive gesture support, for wirelessly controlling devices such as an Apple TV streaming box, while another in 2023 included details of physical sensors that could be activated to carry out actions on other connected Apple gear. That connectivity - with iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, the Apple AirPods Max headphones, and so on - seems to be crucial for whatever kind of smart ring Apple is currently developing. If and when it does appear, it'll almost certainly be built to interact effortlessly with whatever other Apple devices you've got. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Apple has even been busy filing patents for wearable devices that could extend to anklets and lanyards - so you might not have to necessarily wear the Apple Ring on your finger. The company is clearly thinking about a variety of different types of wearables, intended to be worn for most (if not all) of the day. Cancelled... or not? Patents aside, plenty of people...

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