Apple's Wearable Horizon: Exploring Fitness Rings, Smart Glasses, and AI-Enhanced AirPods

📝 SUMMARY: Apple Inc. ($AAPL) is contemplating the expansion of its wearable device portfolio, a move aimed at bolstering one of its most vital business segments. The tech giant is considering the development of several innovative wearable technologies, including a fitness ring that incorporates health-tracking capabilities of the Apple Watch, smart glasses that could offer audio features and augmented reality experiences, and AirPods equipped with cameras. These potential products reflect Apple's ambition to remain at the forefront of technological innovation and to further entrench users within its ecosystem.

The fitness ring, a concept initially proposed by Apple's industrial design group, seeks to provide a compact, less obtrusive alternative to the Apple Watch for health and fitness tracking. This device would target consumers interested in monitoring their physical well-being without the need for a full-featured smartwatch. Although not yet in active development, the idea showcases Apple's interest in diversifying its health technology offerings.

In contrast, the smart glasses project is in a more exploratory phase, with Apple's hardware engineering division conducting a "technology investigation." The proposed glasses aim to combine audio capabilities, AI, and camera technology to identify objects and offer augmented reality experiences, serving as an intermediary step towards fully augmented reality spectacles.

Additionally, Apple is exploring the possibility of enhancing its AirPods with cameras and advanced AI, turning them into a more versatile wearable device capable of offering some benefits of smart glasses without the need for lenses and frames. This project, codenamed B798, involves integrating low-resolution camera sensors into earbuds, emphasizing Apple's commitment to innovation in wearable tech.

These explorations occur against the backdrop of a somewhat stagnant wearables market for Apple, with overall sales declining last year. By introducing new wearable options, such as a fitness ring, smart glasses, or advanced AirPods, Apple aims to rejuvenate its wearables segment and attract a broader customer base without cannibalizing sales from existing products.

🔍 SOURCE: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-02-25/apple-ponders-making-new-wearables-ai-glasses-airpods-with-cameras-smart-ring-lt1kb7cd?srnd=premium