Recently, the smart ring market has witnessed a new transformation. Xiaomi has submitted a patent to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), showcasing a novel design concept that effectively addresses the issue of ring sizing. According to reports from 91mobiles, Xiaomi's design incorporates an "elastic element" combined with a spring mechanism, allowing the ring to dynamically adjust its size based on finger dimensions.
This patented design enables the smart ring to automatically adapt to different finger sizes, allowing users not only to wear it on various fingers but also to share it with friends or family. Additionally, Xiaomi's design takes into account factors such as finger swelling and weight fluctuations, further enhancing the comfort of wear. This technological breakthrough could potentially disrupt the traditional smart ring's limitations regarding size issues.
Beyond the size-adjusting feature, Xiaomi's patent also demonstrates various connectivity options for the smart ring, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G NR, NFC, and UWB, enabling the ring to not only provide health tracking functions but also to interact intelligently with other devices. The patent mentions a touchscreen, microphone, and speaker, which offer more possibilities for the device's intelligent applications.
It is worth noting that Xiaomi is not the only company dedicated to developing self-adjusting smart rings. Oura has also filed similar patents, albeit using different technical mechanisms, with the same goal of solving the ring sizing problem.
Self-adjusting smart rings can eliminate consumer guesswork when purchasing, especially given that most brands in the market do not offer half-size options. Many customers often opt for slightly larger sizes for comfort, but this situation may change in the future through technological innovation.
While patented technologies may not always translate into actual products, as the smart ring market continues to expand and demand increases, technologies that break through size limitations will undoubtedly be key to future development. Whether it's Xiaomi or other brands, whoever can first launch a smart ring that truly solves the sizing problem may lead in this emerging market.