News

Galaxy Ring 2 May Launch Early As Apple Prepares Competing Device

The new wearable will likely sport a fresh design and battery improvements, while Apple is said to be exploring rival smart rings, bands, and glasses.

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2024

Nour Nasir

galaxy ring 2 may launch early as apple prepares competing device

Recent reports from the Korean platform Naver hint that Samsung’s Galaxy Ring 2 could debut “slightly ahead” of its expected release timeline. However, no specific dates have been confirmed as yet.

A January launch (coinciding with the Galaxy S25 Ultra) seems unlikely, while a summer release wouldn’t be much of a deviation from the original Galaxy Ring’s timing. This leaves a speculative window between the two dates, though it would be unusual for Samsung to schedule a standalone event solely for the Galaxy Ring.

With only limited information available, it remains unclear if Samsung will opt for a surprise unveiling in January or stay close to the anticipated July launch. Should the rumors of an early release prove accurate, a January debut alongside the Galaxy S25 lineup is within the realm of possibility.

In addition to the timing of the upcoming release, reports also point to notable upgrades for the Galaxy Ring 2. A sleeker design and improved battery life are likely, while there are also mentions of new features, although specific details have not been disclosed.

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Alongside the Galaxy Ring 2 news, rumors are circulating about Apple’s plans for wearable technology. Sources indicate that Apple is working on a ring-style device and exploring additional options, such as band-style wearables and smart glasses.

Although the concept of an Apple smart ring is not entirely new — Apple has previously filed patents for ring and glasses technology — the nature of the potential “band-type” device remains ambiguous. This could be an entirely new wearable format, or potentially similar to devices like the Whoop band.

News

NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders

A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2026

Nour Nasir

neopay wants to follow merchants across channels and borders

It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.

The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.

For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.

“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.

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NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.

The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.