Apple is known for its innovative products that revolutionize the tech industry. The company has been exploring various new wearable devices over the years, such as a smart ring, glasses, and AirPods with cameras and sensors. These devices could offer new ways of interacting with technology and enhancing health and fitness.
Smart Ring: A Health and Fitness Tracker on Your Finger
One of the devices that Apple has considered developing is a smart ring that could track health and fitness data, such as heart rate, blood oxygen, and body temperature. The ring could also sync with a paired iPhone and offer functionalities such as controlling other devices and making wireless payments.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s industrial design team presented the idea of a smart ring to executives on the company’s health team a few years ago. However, the device is not actively in development at the moment, so it is unclear if it will ever be released.
A smart ring could be a lower-cost alternative to the Apple Watch, which starts at $399. It could also be more comfortable and discreet to wear, especially during sleep. The smart ring market is currently led by Oura Ring, a Finnish company that has sold more than one million rings since 2015. Samsung is also preparing to launch its own Galaxy Ring later this year, which could feature ECG monitoring and sleep tracking.
Smart Glasses: An AirPods Replacement With Speakers, Cameras, and Sensors
Another device that Apple has been investigating is a pair of smart glasses that could serve as an AirPods replacement. The glasses could have built-in speakers, cameras, health sensors, and AI capabilities, according to Gurman. The glasses are in a “technology investigation” stage within Apple’s hardware engineering division, so a release is still far off.
The smart glasses could offer a new way of experiencing audio and visual content, as well as providing assistance and information to the user. The glasses could also compete with products like Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and Amazon’s Echo Frames, which have similar features.
Apple has long been rumored to be working on advanced AR glasses, based on its Vision Pro headset. However, the smart glasses could be a less ambitious and more affordable product that could pave the way for the AR glasses in the future.
AirPods With Cameras: A New Way of Capturing and Sharing Moments
The third device that Apple has explored is a pair of upgraded AirPods with built-in cameras and more sensors. The AirPods could offer AI features that “assist people in their daily routines”, according to Gurman. The AirPods could also enable new ways of capturing and sharing moments with friends and family.
Apple engineers started looking into how to fit low-resolution camera sensors into AirPods last year, according to Gurman. However, the device is not in active development either, and it is uncertain if it will ever see the light of day.
The AirPods with cameras could be a novel and convenient way of taking photos and videos, without having to use a phone or a camera. The AirPods could also offer more immersive and interactive experiences, such as AR and VR.
Apple is always looking for new ways to innovate and create products that delight its customers. The company has been exploring various new wearable devices that could offer new possibilities and benefits. However, these devices are not guaranteed to be released, as Apple often experiments with many ideas before deciding which ones to pursue. It remains to be seen if Apple will ever launch a smart ring, glasses, or AirPods with cameras, or if they will remain as concepts.
