Time for Apple to Breakthrough

Faced with declining sales, Apple's wearables business needs a breath of fresh air after the Apple Watch and AirPods.

Oura Ring 4 smart ring. Photo: Bloomberg .

Rumors about Apple devices have been circulating lately. In addition to the iPhone 17 or the new version of Vision Pro, Apple may develop a completely new wearable product to expand its market.

In Bloomberg 's Power On newsletter, analyst Mark Gurman said it's time for Apple to develop a smart ring as its next new product. This move could improve sales of the wearables business, expanding the company's presence in the market.

“Apple’s smartwatch and wearables business is losing traction, and expanding its device portfolio could improve the situation,” Gurman stressed.

Why Apple Needs a Smart Ring

According to a writer from Bloomberg , the current products themselves are still stable, but it has been a long time since Apple has surprised users with new technology.

For example, the Apple Watch Series 10 has many hardware changes, but the appearance is still the same as the previous version. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra has not changed much since its first launch in 2022. In the past 3 years, the device has only upgraded the processor chip and added a black titanium color.

The same goes for AirPods, another key piece of Apple’s $40 billion -a-year wearables, smart home, and accessories business. Last year’s AirPods 4 were well received, but the more popular AirPods Pro won’t be updated until 2022, Gurman said.

“The lack of major updates has hit Apple hard. Revenue from the division fell 7% in the most recent fiscal year, and the business has struggled for three consecutive holiday seasons. Apple Watch sales alone are down more than 14% in fiscal 2024, and are expected to continue to decline this year,” Gurman stressed.

Apple Watch Ultra billboard. Photo: Bloomberg .

Apple is rumored to be working on a number of new smartwatches, including a successor to the Apple Watch SE. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also expected to launch this year, and it will support satellite communications without relying on an iPhone.

Bloomberg ’s writer believes that a completely new wearable device will make a difference. Apple is developing smart glasses to compete with Meta and a number of rivals. The product is expected to launch late next year, integrating a number of health and fitness tracking features.

“However, another category that Apple should enter is smart rings. Oura Health Oy has been selling smart rings for years, proving that there is demand from users. Samsung, Ultrahuman, and RingConn have also entered the market, hoping that smart rings will maintain their long-term appeal,” Gurman wrote.

Benefits of smart rings

While they don’t have the screens and features of phones, smart rings do have some advantages. For starters, they’re generally more comfortable to wear than smartwatches, especially when used at night to track sleep. They also don’t feel as heavy on your wrist when you’re exercising.

Because there is no screen, the ring's battery life can last for days at a time. Despite years of development, smartwatches still need to be charged every day. Additionally, the lack of a screen means users are less bothered by notifications.

“ Fashion- wise, rings can go with anything. You’ll have no problem wearing a ring with a suit, tuxedo, or other formal attire. A lot of people have to change their Apple Watch bands depending on the occasion, but you don’t have to with a ring,” Gurman said.

Finally, for those who prefer to wear mechanical watches, smart rings still provide many of the same health and fitness tracking features as the Apple Watch without having to wear two devices on the wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Ring smart ring. Photo: Bloomberg .

Of course, there are some downsides to wearing a smart ring. Without a screen, users can’t read or respond to messages or track their fitness metrics. But Apple has a reason to develop a ring and smartwatch at the same time.

“With the smart ring, Apple can reach people who don’t want an Apple Watch because of notifications, price, preferences, or simply don’t use smartwatches,” Gurman writes.

Because of their placement on the finger, smart rings can collect better data on heart rate and sleep stages. Some companies are also integrating features into the rings, such as an electrocardiogram similar to the Apple Watch.

“There’s still a lot of demand for features when it comes to dedicated health trackers, but rings are a great way to track daily calories, sleep quality, and other metrics,” the Bloomberg writer added.

It wouldn't be surprising if the Apple Ring integrates some exclusive features, like controlling Vision Pro or interacting with Siri. The device could even support Apple Pay, use NFC to unlock doors...

Gurman sees smart rings and smart glasses as a perfect match for Apple’s next generation of wearables. The products could work together, appealing to a wide range of users. Of course, companies like Meta and Oura would face a lot of competitive pressure if Apple entered the market.

Source: https://znews.vn/den-luc-apple-tao-ra-cu-hich-moi-post1565205.html