The Oura smart ring has sparked curiosity regarding whether Apple might develop its own competing ring. However, Oura’s CEO expresses doubt about this, suggesting some strategic reasons aimed at attracting the tech powerhouse.
Apple’s wearable devices might not require a smart ring
In a recent interview, Tom Hale, CEO of Oura, addressed the potential concerns surrounding Apple’s entry into the smart ring market (via MacRumors).
Arjun Kharpal provides insights for CNBC:
“I believe they [Apple] are not convinced of the value of pairing a ring with a watch and do not wish to undermine the Apple Watch business,” Hale stated in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday during the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. “They’re likely observing Samsung closely, as well as keeping an eye on us, but this product category is challenging to execute effectively.”
Hale’s assertion about not wanting to undermine Apple Watch sales is valid. Nearly a decade after its launch, the Apple Watch continues to thrive and achieve remarkable success.
Additionally, Apple has another highly successful wearable: AirPods. With the release of iOS 18.1, the company introduced significant health features for AirPods Pro 2, and further health functionalities are in development for forthcoming AirPods models.
However, the comment about it being ‘difficult to do this product category right’? That seems to be a bit provocative.
While the Oura Ring was indeed a complex product to engineer, Apple possesses the expertise necessary to create a viable competitor if it chooses to do so. As of now, though, it appears there isn’t much motivation for them to pursue this avenue.
What are your thoughts? Should Apple venture into the smart ring space? Share your opinions in the comments.
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