Oura's CEO Tom Hale recently stated in an interview with CNBC at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, that despite ongoing market speculation, it is unlikely that Apple will enter the smart ring market.
Previously, with Samsung launching its first smart ring this year, market analysts had predicted that Apple might release a similar product by 2026. However, Oura, which has been a leader in the smart ring market since 2013, disagrees with this prediction.
Hale explained: "Apple does not share the value proposition of combining rings with watch business, and they will not make any decisions that could undermine the Apple Watch business." He added that while Apple may be closely monitoring the movements of Samsung and Oura, the smart ring is a highly challenging product category.
Compared to smartwatches, smart rings offer advantages such as portability and long battery life, providing users with around-the-clock health, activity, and sleep monitoring. However, under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook, the company has consistently focused its health technology strategy on the Apple Watch and its accompanying services.
It is worth noting that in the context of increasingly fierce competition in the wearable device market, Oura has launched the next generation Oura Ring 4 product, further solidifying its market position in the smart ring sector.