Apple is known for its innovative and popular wearable devices, such as the Apple Watch and the AirPods. But the tech giant is not resting on its laurels, as it has reportedly explored several new ideas for future wearables, including a smart ring, glasses, and AirPods with cameras.
A Smart Ring for Health and Fitness
One of the potential products that Apple has considered is a smart ring that would offer health and fitness features, similar to the Apple Watch, but in a smaller and more discreet form factor. The smart ring could be a lower-cost alternative to the Apple Watch, and could sync health and fitness data with a paired iPhone.
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, but the project is not actively in development at the moment. However, Apple has filed several patents related to smart rings over the years, showing that the company has been thinking about the concept for a long time.
Apple is not the only one interested in smart rings, as competitors like Samsung and Oura have also launched or announced their own versions of the wearable device. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Ring, for example, is expected to have a touch-sensitive display, a heart rate sensor, and a blood pressure monitor.
Glasses with Speakers, Cameras, and AI
Another wearable device that Apple has been rumored to be working on for years is a pair of smart glasses that would offer augmented reality (AR) capabilities. The glasses, which could be based on Apple’s Vision Pro headset, would overlay digital information and graphics on the user’s view of the real world.
However, Gurman reports that Apple has also discussed creating a less ambitious pair of glasses that would serve as an AirPods replacement, with built-in speakers, cameras, health sensors, and AI features. The glasses would be aimed at providing smart audio and assistance to the user, rather than full AR functionality.
The glasses are in a technology investigation stage within Apple’s hardware engineering division, Gurman says, so it is unclear when or if they will ever be released. Apple has also filed numerous patents related to smart glasses, including ones that describe how the glasses could adjust the volume of the speakers based on the user’s environment, or how the glasses could track the user’s eye movements and facial expressions.
AirPods with Cameras and AI
The AirPods are one of Apple’s most successful wearable products, offering wireless audio and Siri integration. But Apple is not satisfied with the current features of the AirPods, as it has reportedly started a project codenamed B798 in 2023, with the aim of adding low-resolution cameras to the earbuds.
The cameras could feed data into an AI system, which could then help the user in their daily routines, Gurman suggests. For example, the AI could recognize objects or people in the user’s surroundings, and provide relevant information or suggestions. The cameras could also enable gesture-based controls, such as nodding or shaking the head to accept or reject a call.
Apple has also explored the possibility of adding other sensors to the AirPods, such as biometric sensors for health tracking, or motion sensors for spatial audio. The AirPods could also communicate with other Apple devices, such as the iPhone or the Apple Watch, to provide a seamless and personalized experience.
Apple has not confirmed any of these rumors or reports, and it is possible that some or all of these ideas may never see the light of day. However, they do show that Apple is constantly looking for new ways to expand its wearable portfolio, and to offer more value and convenience to its customers.
