Apple 'iRing' Rumor Re-Emerges Amid Oura Ring Popularity

[MacRumors]

Apple is developing a smart ring that could potentially rival products like the Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring, according to the leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami."

The latest Oura Ring 5 starts at $399​

Apple has toyed with the idea of a smart ring for several years, as indicated by several patents, and there have been previous rumors that Apple has investigated a wearable for the finger to track a user's biometrics.

Reports dating back to 2024 said Apple was weighing up the idea as a viable expansion of its wearables lineup – something that may appeal to people who would prefer a biometric accessory that's more inconspicuous than an Apple Watch.

Rumors have petered out over the last couple of years, but now it seems that the popularity of the latest Oura Ring has caught Apple's attention, if the latest rumor is anything to go by. However, no other details were provided by the leaker.

The original Oura Ring was released by Finnish health technology company Oura back in 2015. The device collects activity, heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep data, and transmits it via Bluetooth to the Oura app.

iRing thing under development. What a surprise.— Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) June 24, 2026​

Now in it's fifth iteration, the latest Oura Ring is a lot smaller than previous versions and boasts new health-monitoring capabilities including blood pressure trend detection, nighttime breathing analysis, and tools for GLP-1 medication tracking.

Would you be interested in an "iRing" as an alternative to Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Apple 'iRing' Rumor Re-Emerges Amid Oura Ring Popularity

 

[Alfonson]

Yes

 

[StuBeck]

No.

 

[Will Co]

It's clever tech, but unless it can do something useful to me that my Apple Watch cannot, then I'll stick with the watch format. Those rings, even though improved, are somewhat bulky.

 

[swiftapplefan]

Yes

No.

The duality of man.

 

[Seanm87]

I would be interested. My fiance recently ditched her Apple Watch in favour of her mechanical watch, but she still wanted to track her health metrics. She got an Oura 5 and it looks much less bulky than the last ones.

I’m considering it now as I love mechanical watches and want to move away from having my phone strapped to my wrist.

 

[SuperJack]

To make the business case for Apple, this product will only aim at people who haven't got an Apple Watch already. Is that market big enough?
For people who are serious about tracking their health, would they prefer the more accurate (than the Oura I assume?) and more capable Apple Watch?

 

[SuperJack]

I would be interested. My fiance recently ditched her Apple Watch in favour of her mechanical watch, but she still wanted to track her health metrics. She got an Oura 5 and it looks much less bulky than the last ones.

I’m considering it now as I love mechanical watches and want to move away from having my phone strapped to my wrist.

I can how it feels like a phone strapped on your wrist. You can try turning off all notifications on your Apple Watch?

 

[Attirex]

Because of inflation, RAM prices, and Taylor Swift’s wedding it will cost US $99,999,999,999,999,999,999.50

 

[epox999]

Remember when Apple used to create new market segments rather than enter a niche market 10 years after the competition?

 

[vegetassj4]

one ring to rule them all



One ring to find them



One ring to bring them all




And in the App Store bind them

In the land of Cupertino, where memory is sky high

 

[JTK Awesome]

Yes please. Since I only wear real watches I refuse to get an Apple Watch. A smart ring in the Apple ecosystem would do nicely.

 

[officialtlong]

**** Apple.

 

[Billy_Bob]

How about a toe ring or ankle bracelet, so you can get all the health/fitness metrics but in a much more discreet manner?

 

[txscott]

I think its an interesting product that Apple should add to their lineup. I don't think I would buy one because fitness tracking is not the top thing on my list of things to do with my watch. I like the convenience of having discrete notifications, information and smart home controls, phone and messaging where I can get to them without having my phone in my hands. You can't do that with a ring and mechanical watch. Your mileage will likely vary, that's why Apple should have both products.

 

[vegetassj4]

**** Apple.

Not *that* kind of ring

 

[xxFoxtail]

There's times where I want to go back to my traditional watches, and I explored the idea of a smart ring for a while. I was completely turned off of the idea when that report of a (I believe it was a Samsung?) ring battery swelling in someone's finger and they couldn't get it off.

I’ve also been using my AW Ultra more of a "dumb phone" lately, and keeping my iPhone in another room or at home when I leave the house. So I’d have to weigh that into a potential iRing purchase.

 

[noannualfee]

Unless you’re making money off your athletic performance or have a condition that needs tight monitoring, most of everyone today really doesn’t need this junk. If you’re none of the above and need to pay a device x number of dollars a month to tell you your sleep sucks, then I don’t know what else to tell you.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Probably less annoying than their watch.

 

[Seanm87]

I can how it feels like a phone strapped on your wrist. You can try turning off all notifications on your Apple Watch?

I kind of meant how it’s just a screen on your wrist rather than anything elegant.

It just doesn’t have the same look as a mechanical watch but that’s just my opinion.

 

[noannualfee]

There's times where I want to go back to my traditional watches, and I explored the idea of a smart ring for a while. I was completely turned off of the idea when that report of a (I believe it was a Samsung?) ring battery swelling in someone's finger and they couldn't get it off.

I’ve also been using my AW Ultra more of a "dumb phone" lately, and keeping my iPhone in another room or at home when I leave the house. So I’d have to weigh that into a potential iRing purchase.

Come back to the light, our village has been waiting for you. I freed myself from smartwatches and rings back in 2022. I stopped caring about split times when running and rowing, i just worked against the clock on my phone, I slept with my phone under my pillow and just let it vibrate as my alarm, and I’m still healthy and going strong. Feeling the heft and rigidity of my Omega/Rolex and real wedding ring is an absolute joy everyday.

 

[Bones13]

I had Oura 2 and Oura 3. Great devices, good app. I even managed to buy the app before it went subscription.

My main issue with these devices is the battery life was one year for each. The rings went dead, and would not charge after about a year.

I did see with the Oura 5 that you can buy an extended warranty for 2 or 3 years of protection. If that covers a dead battery, I would get the extra coverage.

$300-$400 a year for a new ring + app subscription is a not a small amount.

Apple might be able to do better.

I’ll save my dimes for now, and get a new Apple Watch of some sort this year or next.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

Never gonna happen because there is nothing to push in a ring in terms of "unbelievable" category reinvention, it's a dead end, too specific as a "fitness tracker".

The "watch" (although showing the time is the main selling point, is not a watch, it's a full featured platform with health sensing artificial intelligence capability strapped around your wrist which show the watch as well) is the future of health sensing and monitoring, especially now with AFM3.

Apple probably experimenting with sensors miniaturization for future models.

 

[attohs]

Remember when Apple used to create new market segments rather than enter a niche market 10 years after the competition?

No, what market segment has Apple created? Apple tends to excel at entering mature markets and completely upending them (iPod, iPad, Watch, iPhone to name a few).

 

[turbo79]

I'd buy one if it's reasonably priced, supported by Apple for years, and doesn't have a subscription. I love my Apple Watch during the day, and wear it at night to track sleep, but would happily switch to a ring at night.

I considered an Oura, but it's overpriced, and don't see value in its subscription.