Apple's new smart ring may change your iPhone forever: What it can do
Apple Ring could replace every remote in your home (Photo: Unsplash)
Apple is moving closer to launching its own smart ring. A newly published patent reveals that the rumored Apple Ring could control the iPhone, Mac, smart speakers, and other Apple devices using gestures and touch input, according to Apple's patent documentation.
Eye tracking, gestures, and radio signals: How the new device could work
According to Apple, one of the biggest challenges for users surrounded by multiple connected devices is ensuring that commands are sent to the correct one. In a newly published 20-page patent, the company outlines a solution based on a combination of advanced sensors.
The system would identify the intended device in several ways:
- Eye-tracking sensors that detect exactly where the user is looking.
- Radio-frequency sensors that determine the direction of the hand wearing the ring.
- Gesture sensors that recognize finger and hand movements.
Apple is developing a new smart device, though no launch date has been announced yet (Screenshot: Apple patent)
Skip tracks with a finger flick: What Apple Ring could do
The smart ring would be able to track the position, orientation, and movement of the wearer's hand in real time, allowing users to control connected devices without pressing physical buttons.
For example, if a HomePod detects that the user is looking at it, it would recognize that the next gesture is intended for the speaker. A sideways finger flick could skip to the next song, while raising or lowering the hand could adjust the volume.
"If desired, the device may operate in a standalone mode. For example, a wearable device operating independently may perform health-monitoring functions... which may or may not be shared with other devices," the patent states.
From iRing to Apple Ring: A 20-year journey
The latest patent was developed by a team led by inventor Stefan Hafeneger, who has been working on Apple Ring-related patents since 2024.
However, rumors about Apple's smart ring date back much further. The first concepts for a device tentatively called iRing appeared as early as 2007, when fans imagined a finger-worn controller for the iPod.
The new patent suggests Apple sees the ring as far more than a fitness tracker designed to compete with devices like Oura. Instead, it envisions the Apple Ring as a universal controller for the entire Apple ecosystem.
