Why the CEO of $2.5 Billion Smart Ring Startup Oura Says Apple Won't Make Its Own Version

There person been rumors that Apple is moving connected a smart ring, pinch investigation patient CCS Insight predicting an Apple Ring by 2026.

But Tom Hale, the CEO of Oura, the marketplace leader successful smart rings with a valuation of $2.5 billion, says an Apple Ring isn't apt to arrive—at all—because it whitethorn trim into income of the Apple Watch.

"I deliberation they [Apple] are unconvinced astir the worth of having a ringing and a watch together and they're not willing successful undercutting the Apple Watch arsenic a business," Hale told CNBC successful an interview connected Tuesday.

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Samsung, an Apple competitor pinch a smartwatch line, introduced a smart ring successful July, the Galaxy Ring. It has a higher starting costs ($399) than the Oura Ring ($299, positive a $5.99 monthly subscription) but nary subscription.

Hale said that Apple isn't going to beryllium pursuing Samsung's example.

Oura CEO Tom Hale. Photo by Horacio Villalobos Corbis/Getty Images

"I deliberation [Apple is] astir apt keeping a adjacent oculus connected Samsung and a adjacent oculus connected us, but it's difficult to do this merchandise class right," Hale added.

Smart rings are an replacement to smartwatches and different wearables that tin way sleep, bosom rate, and different biometrics. Hale said Oura stood retired from competitors for illustration Apple successful accuracy.

The digit is the "most meticulous location for search your biometrics," Hale said. He called smartwatches that measurement the aforesaid elements astatine the wrist "less accurate" and said that the Oura tin foretell if users will beryllium sick 3 days successful advance.

"It feels for illustration magic," he said.

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Oura Ring. Credit: Business Wire

A study released successful October by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital measured the slumber accuracy of the Oura Ring compared to the Apple Watch and Fitbit Sense. The researchers recovered that the Oura Ring was the most accurate slumber tracker.

Apple has the biggest grip connected the smartwatch marketplace compared to companies for illustration Samsung and Fitbit, pinch nearly 20% of the world marketplace successful the 2nd 4th of 2024.

Oura is the largest subordinate successful the smart ringing market, pinch 52% of the market and complete 2.5 cardinal rings sold since it was founded successful 2013. The institution released a caller procreation of smart rings past month.