Apple’s launch of a smart ring that will compete with a similar product from Samsung by 2026 may also emphasize the American technology giant’s special attitude towards products in the field of health. This prediction appears in the annual report of analytics company CCS Insight, and if Apple does indeed release a smart ring, it would be the company’s first new product since the launch of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset.

“Healthcare has become a solid support for Apple. I would even say that at the moment [гендиректор компанії] Tim Cook will decide to leave the government and retire. <..> I’d like to think that one of his main legacies at Apple will be around personal healthcare. <..> Considering how deep and personal Cook’s contributions to healthcare are, I think the ring is a pretty complementary addition. [асортименту] for Apple”— Ben Wood, principal analyst at CCS Insight, told CNBC.

The company pays special attention to health issues; This applies to Apple Watch smartwatches, which have a wide set of sensors, and the latest AirPods Pro 2 headphones, which can work as hearing aids. A smart ring, like a smartwatch, is equipped with various sensors that help monitor the wearer’s health indicators such as heart rate. One of the pioneers in this field was the Finnish company Oura, but this year Samsung released the Galaxy Ring – the Korean manufacturer plans to make a breakthrough in the healthcare field by appealing the device to a wider audience. The $399 smart ring expands Samsung’s device ecosystem, and Apple is following the same strategy.

An important difference between smart rings and other devices is that people’s finger sizes are different. Samsung sends potential buyers a set of samples before ordering; Apple has a wide network of retail stores that will help sell these devices. The analyst reminded that the ring is, after all, a fashion accessory. “Apple is a brand that has a certain reputation as a product that people are proud of. I think a beautifully made ring from Apple can be one of those things that is a kind of status symbol.”– stated Ben Wood.