A new rumor suggests that at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event for its foldable phones, which is expected to take place this coming summer, the Galaxy Ring will be showcased. Earlier today, we announced that, according to a tweet from leaker Revegnus, Sammy's Ring is in the prototype production phase and will enter full-scale production during the second quarter.
According to a report from Korea
ET News, Apple is also planning to enter the smart ring business. Apple has been awarded several patents related to a smart ring, including one last November that would allow an “Apple Ring” wearer to use NFC to control a nearby smartphone or tablet. In 2019, Apple was granted a patent for a smart ring with a touchscreen that uses gestures to control an
iPhone or iPad. And in 2015, Apple received a patent for a smart ring including a
camera.
Noting the number of patents Apple has received for smart ring technology, an anonymous industry source said: “As Apple has been steadily releasing patents related to smart rings for years, it appears that pre-development towards commercialization is imminent. »
Illustration of an Apple smart ring resulting from a patent
We saw how Apple managed to place health-related sensors in the Apple Watch and the device saved many lives by warning users when their heart rate is too slow or too fast, or if they have a irregular heartbeat. The watch can also call for help in the event of a fall or car accident. It wouldn't be a stretch to expect an Apple smart ring to offer similar features. Some patents for an Apple smart ring included a touchscreen, but it's more likely that an iPhone screen would be used in conjunction with an “Apple ring.”
A successful smart ring could add to Apple's wearables, home and accessories business segment, which currently includes products such as the Apple HomePod, AirPods and Apple Watch. The ET News report also cites estimates from global market research firm Business Research Insight, which forecasts the global smart ring market to rise from $20 million last year to $197.03 million in 2031.
This prediction seems extremely low if Samsung and Apple launch their own smart rings soon. Samsung could release the Galaxy Ring as early as this summer. As for Apple, a smart ring seems to be a product it is interested in and Apple could surprise everyone by launching such a wearable device sooner than expected.
