Ever since Samsung launched its first wearable ring – the Galaxy Ring – rumors have suggested that Apple might have plans for it as well. However, a new report points out that the Cupertino-based tech giant has abandoned its plans for a smart ring. It is said to be in an attempt to prevent cannibalization of sales of the Apple Watch, which remains its primary health and fitness-focused wearable and companion to the iPhone.

Apple Smart Ring project abandoned

In recent years, Apple’s patents have been revealed for a smart ring that would not only be equipped with health and fitness tracking sensors, but also ones aimed at better hand detection on the Apple Vision Pro — the company’s first mixed reality headset. At the time, it was suggested that this smart ring could also be a display-less alternative to the Apple Watch and come with a lower price tag. But that may no longer be in the company’s plans.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple has abandoned its smart ring project. There is no “active development” of a smartwatch to replace the Apple Watch as a low-cost alternative due to the risk of the alleged device cannibalizing the company’s smartwatch sales. Inside the company, the Apple Watch is considered a “leader” in the fitness tracking industry and has room for growth, according to Gurman.

Therefore, the iPhone maker is said to have instead decided to focus on the Apple Watch line, which recently received new additions with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 10 in September. It will likely remain one of Apple’s core health and fitness wearables.

In recent months, Apple has been teasing the development of the smart ring by sending out surveys to users, including Apple Watch owners. While most of the questions revolved around the features and battery life of the company’s smartwatches, he also asked if they were using smart rings — a move that was thought to hint at a possible smart ring that was in development at the time.