As screenless fitness trackers surge in popularity, Apple is reportedly exploring its own version—potentially a display-free band or ring-style device — to expand beyond the traditional Apple Watch. With rivals like Whoop, Fitbit Air, and Garmin Cirqa gaining traction, and Apple execs noting the competitive edge of recovery-focused wearables, the company may finally branch into new form factors while still planning modest Watch upgrades this September.
Alex Lee for The Independent:
The company is reportedly looking at developing new wearable devices without a screen, as well as experimenting with different types of displays and various sizes. This could mean the development of fitness trackers similar to Whoop, as well as smart rings like the Oura ring.
Bloomberg also reports that Apple is even looking at producing premium models beyond the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as cheaper models that could sit below the Apple Watch SE.
Eddy Cue, who took over supervision of Apple’s health and fitness software divisions last year, is apparently a big fan of Whoop and Oura, with Cue reportedly telling colleagues that Apple needs to move faster and be more competitive in health, with Oura and Whoop offering more compelling. Useful features.
Still, the Apple Watch is still as popular as ever. Sales of the Apple Watch reportedly jumped 21 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, and the company is set to launch an Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 in September…
MacDailyNews Take: Whoop, especially, makes a very nice product.
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