At Apple’s annual September event, the company took the wraps off its latest service: an all-in-one personalized workout experience powered by the Apple Watch, called Fitness+. For a long time, the Apple Watch has had a strong focus on health and fitness – now, Apple is taking this to the next level.
First-of-its-kind
Coming in late-2020, Fitness+ delivers studio-style workout videos to your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, while utilizing metrics from your Apple Watch. Apple is calling Fitness+ a “first-of-its-kind” service and it’s easy to see why: not only does Fitness+ display data like calories burned, heart rate, and activity rings alongside your workout video, but it also uses a custom recommendation engine to serve up the most appropriate workouts for users.
To pull all this off, Apple’s put together a comprehensive fitness team with trainers from different workout disciplines, from strength to HIIT, yoga, and more. If you do have a preference, you can choose to work out with specific trainers, or you can let Fitness+ choose for you. As you’d expect, your preferences and workout data remain on-device and aren’t associated with your Apple ID, or stored on Apple’s servers. Privacy is paramount here.
Working out from home
Of course, in the midst of a global pandemic, Fitness+ couldn’t launch at a better time. Most of the workouts can be completed at home, with no equipment at all, and others only require a set of dumbbells. For those who are able to access a gym, though, Fitness+ also includes treadmill, cycling, and rowing activities. Workouts last between 5 and 45 minutes, and a beginner’s program is available for those who haven’t exercised for a while.
Pricing and availability
In terms of price, Fitness+ will set users back $10 per month or $80 per year, with a one-month free trial. Apple is also throwing in three months of Fitness+ free of charge with new Apple Watch purchases. And best of all, the service supports Family Sharing, meaning everyone in your household will be able to enjoy it.
With Fitness+ due to launch before the year’s end, there’s never been a better time to lead a healthier, fitter life – or to get an Apple Watch, for that matter. The service is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 and later.