Samsung Galaxy Ring's sensors and circuitry visible from the inner band. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple's iRing might actually be real. Leaker Kosutami, who has a solid track record for Apple hardware tips, posted on X that an "iRing" is under development at Apple, reigniting a conversation the tech world had basically written off.
The leak that brought the iRing back
A new leak on X claims the iRing is under development at Apple and, in a follow-up reply, that its competitive positioning against the Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring is still unclear internally. Zero specs, and all the credibility that comes from a leaker with a history of accurate Apple hardware calls.
Kosutami's X post revealing the iRing development leak, June 24, 2026. | Image by Kosutami_Ito via X
If Apple releases an iRing, what would you actually use it for?
Why the skeptics had a point
This rumor did not come from nowhere, and neither did the pushback. In late 2024, Oura CEO Tom Hale said that Apple had no plans to enter the smart ring space, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had previously reported that Apple abandoned internal plans for one, citing the risk of cannibalizing Watch sales. Well-sourced voices, and they collectively made the iRing sound like a dead end.
The smart ring market kept moving without Apple, though. The Galaxy Ring launched and sold well. Oura kept adding features. And the Fitbit Air appears to be doing well entering the space, meaning even Google is signaling the category has legs.
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If Samsung can sell smart rings to people who already own a Galaxy Watch, Apple will likely arrive at the same conclusion about an iRing coexisting with the Apple Watch.
What an iRing would actually mean for Apple Watch owners
Here is my honest take after spending time with a Galaxy Ring alongside my Pixel Watch: wearing a watch to bed is a compromise most users eventually stop making, and a ring barely registers.
If Apple builds something with comparable sensor quality tied tightly to the Health app and iPhone ecosystem, it would not compete with the Apple Watch so much as complete the picture for people who want passive tracking without the wrist commitment.
Samsung Galaxy Ring worn on a finger. Apple entering this space would change the competitive picture significantly. | Image by PhoneArena
Kosutami's post confirms something called the iRing exists in Apple's development pipeline. That is not the same as a confirmed product, and Gurman's previous reporting that Apple abandoned the concept has not been officially contradicted.
"Under development" can mean anything from a nearly finished prototype to an early-stage project that quietly disappears. It is possible what Kosutami spotted reflects a renewed push after the smart ring market proved its viability. It is also possible this never ships.
I'm hoping for the former. Apple has historically waited until it could do something right rather than being first, and if the iRing does materialize, I would genuinely love to see what a screenless Apple health tracker looks like with the kind of ecosystem integration nobody else can match.
Follow me at @jojothetechie on X and Threads for hot takes and behind-the-scenes coverage.
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Johanna Romero is a Senior News Writer at PhoneArena, covering mobile technology news across Android, iOS, wearables, and the Google ecosystem she knows best. Drawing on 15 years in IT and tech support from 2007 to 2022, she brings a user-friendly eye for the practical features and lesser-known tricks readers care about. Google named her an official #TeamPixel member in 2022, and she also reviews the latest devices on her YouTube channel, JoJo the Techie.
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