Apple is developing a screen-less fitness tracker with a similar format to the Whoop wearable device. The company has built several prototypes but has not yet decided whether to release the product. If the project goes ahead, it’s not expected to appear earlier than 2028.
Image source: Apple
According to news BloombergDevelopment has been underway for several months and is still in its early stages, which Apple internally calls technical research. The plan has the support of the company’s top executives, including Apple Chairman Tim Cook and services chief Eddy Cue, who has overseen Apple’s health monitoring ecosystem since late last year.
The prototype is a thin fabric strap with a computing module and sensors. The lack of a screen will be a major difference from the Apple Watch, which combines activity tracking with apps, notifications and other features. The new device will be primarily related to health indicators and physical activity. Experts within Apple responsible for the development of the Vision Pro mixed reality headset also participated in this work.
Apple’s interest in the format is tied to the growing popularity of the Whoop and Oura smart rings, which already have millions of users. Eddie Cue is pushing Apple teams to promote specific features of these products, some of which are already appearing in the latest version of the Apple Watch and the updated Health app. These include more advanced heart rate tracking, exercise readiness metrics, and biological age estimation based on health data.
Image source: Oura
Meanwhile, as Bloomberg points out, the project for the new tracker is still in its preliminary stages, and Apple may still refuse to release it. Meanwhile, the company continues to experiment with other form factors, including smart glasses and a headset with a camera, expected to be released in 2027. A major update to the Apple Watch range is also in the works.
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