Zomato founder says people should not buy the ₹85,000 brain-monitoring device if their basic health habits are not in place; pre-orders for the first batch open on November 1.
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal has advised people against purchasing his experimental brain-monitoring wearable, Temple, if they have not yet established healthy daily habits. His remarks came in response to a post on X warning potential buyers against investing in advanced health technology before addressing their basic fitness needs.
The exchange comes just days before Temple is scheduled to open pre-orders for its first batch on November 1, 2026. Goyal has been sharing updates about the health-tech device in recent months as it approaches its first public sale.
‘Don’t Buy Temple If Your Basics Are Not in Place’
Goyal announced on X that Temple was accepting pre-orders from users who had signed up for early access. He also encouraged other interested users to download the Temple app, save their carts and prepare for the November 1 launch.
Responding to his announcement, an X user cautioned people against buying the device before “fixing the basics” and shared an image illustrating a hierarchy of health and fitness priorities.
The pyramid placed adequate sleep and a varied diet of whole foods at the foundation, followed by strength training and sprinting. Walking 10,000 steps a day appeared among the higher-level activities.
Replying to the post, Goyal wrote: “Thanks for sharing this. I was going to post tomorrow to not buy Temple if your basics are not in place.”
His response suggests that he wants potential customers to prioritise fundamental health habits before investing in advanced wearable technology. However, he has not specified a definitive checklist of habits that users should establish before considering the device.
Temple Costs ₹85,000: What Does It Do?
Temple is a brain-monitoring wearable developed through a private initiative backed by Goyal. The device uses optical sensors to track changes in cerebral blood flow, a measurement the company refers to as “BrainFlow”.
It is designed to monitor changes in blood flow and oxygenation in the brain. However, the device’s capabilities and the clinical significance of its measurements should be assessed in light of independently verified performance data.
The first batch is priced at ₹85,000, including a lifetime subscription, according to information shared by Goyal. Each unit is expected to be handcrafted to order, with delivery anticipated within three months of purchase.
Customers placing orders when pre-orders open on November 1 could therefore receive their devices in early 2027, depending on the production and delivery schedule.
Temple to Follow a ‘Grow Slow’ Approach
Goyal has said that Temple will follow a “grow slow” strategy, focusing on quality control and customer experience rather than rapidly expanding production.
The wearable is expected to be available in six colours, including Real Jade, Deep Blue and Purple Funk as limited-edition options.
Temple first attracted widespread attention when Goyal appeared on a podcast wearing a small metallic device attached to his head. In May, he said the first 100 units were ready to be shipped to selected founding users, including athletes, scientists, doctors, founders and creators.
In August, Goyal claimed that the latest version was less than half the size of the earlier model. However, independent reports noted that detailed hardware specifications and performance data had not been publicly shared to substantiate some of the device’s claims.
Replacement Parts and Additional Costs
Temple has also drawn questions about the cost of replacement components, including the adhesive parts used to attach the device.
Responding to a user who asked about replacement costs, Goyal said the final price had not been decided but would be below ₹10,000. He added that the company was aiming to keep the cost at around ₹5,000.
With a launch price of ₹85,000, Temple is positioned as a premium health-tech product. Goyal’s latest comments underline his view that consumers should prioritise sleep, nutrition and regular physical activity before spending heavily on technology designed to monitor their health.
The device’s broader appeal will likely depend on its real-world usefulness, reliability, comfort and the value of the insights it provides to users.