Apple put a heart rate monitor in the AirPods Pro 3, so where is the Apple Ring we've been waiting for?

(Image credit: Future)

Yesterday’s Apple event was a big one, but as a fitness editor, I had my fingers crossed for a classic ‘one more thing’ announcement. We’ve been waiting for an Apple Ring for years, and it looks like we have longer to wait until Apple takes on the likes of Oura.

There have been rumors of an Apple smart ring since they filed patents for a smart ring in 2020, and now Apple has made a heart rate monitor small enough to fit inside an AirPod, maybe we’re one step closer.

The AirPods Pro 3, announced yesterday, can track workouts using the built-in heart rate monitor, even if you don’t have an Apple Watch on your wrist.

That said, top Apple insider Mark Gurman said last October that "Apple isn’t actively developing a ring and has no plans to launch one." Why? Because it "would detract from the Apple Watch," and Apple has "no reason to cannibalize a product that still has room to grow and is the envy of the fitness-tracking industry."

It’s a fair point — Apple’s watches are extremely popular, and the Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 all launch with a ton of fitness features. Yet with competitors such as Samsung launching a smart ring, and with Apple already having all the capabilities to track things like heart rate, sleep, and your menstrual cycle.

oura ring 4 in gold — (Image credit: Future)

Plus, the Oura Ring 4 starts at $349, plus a monthly subscription, which is around the same cost of the Apple Watch 11 ($399) and more than the Apple Watch SE 3 ($249). Plus with both watches, you get a screen, which is more useful for fitness tracking.

However, as an Oura Ring 4 wearer, I rely on my ring for menstrual tracking and sleep tracking and I’d love to see an Apple Ring one day. Who knows what’s to come from Apple in the future, but for now, the Oura has earned it’s unrivaled spot on my index finger.

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Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past five years, so knows what to look for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy.

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