'Apple Ring': Apple's plan to revive its smartwatch

The Apple Watch has been declining for a couple of years, and the numbers reflect it. Sales dropped by more than 14% in 2024.

However, there is a development in the works that could reverse that trend. The Apple Ring, a gadget designed to monitor health and sleep more comfortably.

The Apple Ring could complement the watch and give it some breathing room

According to Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg journalist, Apple plans to launch a smart ring that would not only integrate with the Apple Watch but could also replace some of its functions.

The focus would be on health tracking and rest. It would be much more comfortable for sleeping than the watch, and less intrusive since it doesn't have a screen.

An accessory that would give meaning to the ecosystem

The Apple Ring would act as a passive sensor during the day and night, while the Apple Watch would function as the information hub. That would allow Apple to improve the watch's performance and refresh its design.

With this strategy, a new business opportunity would open up and, possibly, a rebound in sales for the smartwatch, which urgently needs a boost.

Why haven't they launched it yet?

The problem is that the Apple Ring has been in development since 2015. Although Apple renews the patent every year, the device has never reached the market.

The obstacles would be multiple: from design and positioning decisions to the risk that it would not be differentiated from other smart rings already available.

Apple still has not decided whether to launch it

The dependence on the watch, the lack of a screen, and the saturation of the market could be holding back its launch. For now, the Apple Watch still doesn't have a clear solution to its crisis.

The device will have to wait for the ecosystem to evolve or for Apple to find a way to make that ring indispensable.