Apple Explores Fitness Bands and Rings as EU Rules Threaten Its 46% Smartwatch Lead
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · Aug 13
Apple Explores Fitness Bands and Rings as EU Rules Threaten Its 46% Smartwatch Lead
2 articles · Updated · Computerworld · Aug 13
Summary
Apple is weighing a broader wearables lineup that could include fitness bands and rings, extending beyond Apple Watch as it looks for new growth inside its device ecosystem.
46% global smartwatch share gives Apple a strong base, but EU Digital Markets Act pressure could force broader third-party access to health and device data that Apple now uses to differentiate the Watch.
Apple already has the sensors, algorithms and software to build a screen-light or screenless tracker, potentially pairing long battery life and privacy-focused data handling with Siri and Apple Music integration.
Consumer demand is shifting toward minimalist all-day trackers and premium sports devices, Omdia says, while Garmin has climbed to 15% share among non-Apple vendors.
The opening is financially meaningful: the fitness tracker market is projected to generate $189 billion by 2032, offering Apple a lower-cost way to deepen customer attachment as device upgrade cycles slow.
With competitors already dominating the screen-free wearable market, can Apple's recycled smartwatch tech really conquer the booming minimalist fitness trend?
As EU laws shatter Apple’s walled garden, is this new screen-free tracker a desperate defensive move or a brilliant privacy-first market takeover?