Apple needs a fitness tracker

[TwoBytes]

Not a watch, but something without the screen and notifications. I don't want the bulkyness of an AW and other companies don't make what I'm after. I want it hard heavily into the Apple ecosystem and Apple health.

Something very 'Johnny Ive' designed focused on lots of health sensors a 14 day battery life so you can go away for two weeks holiday and not worry about bringing your charger.

Either a band or a ring would be ideal. Something slim, that has invisible design and just works to enhance your life like the Apple of old.

The closest thing i've seen is the fitbit range but it doesn't sync to apple health without 3rd party apps. Even the Huawei band 9 has contentious spo2 tracking and it's only €30

 

[ignatius345]

There was briefly a rumor of an Apple tracking device in a ring form factor. I would buy one for sure -- if nothing else just to get out of having to wear my Apple Watch to bed to track sleep.

There are also rumors of AirPods Pro gaining some kind of health tracking capability. I'm a bit hazy on how that would work or how it would be useful considering how much less time people generally are wearing them.

 

[TwoBytes]

There was briefly a rumor of an Apple tracking device in a ring form factor. I would buy one for sure -- if nothing else just to get out of having to wear my Apple Watch to bed to track sleep.

There are also rumors of AirPods Pro gaining some kind of health tracking capability. I'm a bit hazy on how that would work or how it would be useful considering how much less time people generally are wearing them.

The Powerbeats Pro two have heart tracking so I could see it coming to AirPods.

 

[the future]

Ask yourself if there are enough people who would buy an Apple Ring / Band that would not buy an Apple Watch instead if / as long as the Ring / Band doesn‘t exist. I would guess the answer is no, although I personally would buy one to complement the Watch.

 

[Sophytaylor6@]

I am more interested in the Apple Watch rather than the fitness tracker because people can access all kinds of features in the watch itself. Adding an additional accessory might not be a smart choice.

 

[TwoBytes]

Ask yourself if there are enough people who would buy an Apple Ring / Band that would not buy an Apple Watch instead if / as long as the Ring / Band doesn‘t exist. I would guess the answer is no, although I personally would buy one to complement the Watch.

Good point - the ring would have longer battery life, better sensors and people wouldn't buy a watch Pretty sad.
I think the only thing we can hope for is 2-week battery like other cheap fitness watches and a smaller, lighter Apple Watch case. The difference is noticeable if you've been wearing a slim band and come to the Apple Watch.

 

[MarkX]

I can understand the Ultra being called bulky but not the Series 10, when I strap mine on I can't even tell I'm wearing it!

 

[jz0309]

well, the Oura ring starts at $349 + yearly subscription of $69.99
AW SE starts at $249, AW 10 at $399 - no subscription

So IF Apple were to release a "ring tracker" it'd be likely to be same price as Oura or more but what features could a ring offer that even a SE would not? besides the "comfort" feeling? I suppose it would get more than 18hrs battery life.

I am struggling to see a market for Apple in this space.

 

[xDKP]

If they made a ring i would like one, just to be able to swap out my Apple Watch for my mechanical watches once in a while, but still track health metrics

 

[TwoBytes]

I think a fitness band will always win out with battery life as physically the ring is smaller (less battery, need to replace the entire device, etc) Also, sizing is more friendly for consumers with a band vs a ring. I want to go away for a long weekend or a week and not worry about charging my device. You can with those bands that last 20 days. I'm sure Apple could release a fitness-focused device minimal or even similar the Fitbit Charge 6 with a simplified screen as this is the most power-hungry feature of a wearable. In all the battery tests, the screen has been the battery saver if you turn it off.

What would be great is a device that can be charged from the iPhone wirelessly (reverse charging).

 

[1rottenapple]

Not a watch, but something without the screen and notifications. I don't want the bulkyness of an AW and other companies don't make what I'm after. I want it hard heavily into the Apple ecosystem and Apple health.

Something very 'Johnny Ive' designed focused on lots of health sensors a 14 day battery life so you can go away for two weeks holiday and not worry about bringing your charger.

Either a band or a ring would be ideal. Something slim, that has invisible design and just works to enhance your life like the Apple of old.

The closest thing i've seen is the fitbit range but it doesn't sync to apple health without 3rd party apps. Even the Huawei band 9 has contentious spo2 tracking and it's only €30

I know I’m also leaning into this trend. I don’t want a damn ring.

I wanna wear analogue watches and I don’t want to wear two watches.

And I don’t want notifications or ringing on my wrist or when phantom buzzing. The less notifications in my life the better.

I’m been looking for an alternative and there really isn’t any. Polar is releasing a subscription free band like whoop. I guess that’s one option…. And frankly I may just need to accept rings really don’t matter and stop carrying about steps as long as I go out and walk or hike.

 

[XboxEvolved]

If Apple is having a hard time selling something that they can subsidize like the Apple Watch right now, I doubt they would expand that business beyond a device they already make, but adding new capabilities, such as what they did in the past with iPhone, what they do with the Beats, and what they are probably going to do with the AirPods eventually.

 

[TwoBytes]

I know I’m also leaning into this trend. I don’t want a damn ring.

I wanna wear analogue watches and I don’t want to wear two watches.

And I don’t want notifications or ringing on my wrist or when phantom buzzing. The less notifications in my life the better.

I’m been looking for an alternative and there really isn’t any. Polar is releasing a subscription free band like whoop. I guess that’s one option…. And frankly I may just need to accept rings really don’t matter and stop carrying about steps as long as I go out and walk or hike.

You might like the Fitbit Charge 6. I was on the verge of buying one. Maybe it's a bit more smartywatch like than you want, but the sensors and battery are tempting.

 

[sunapple]

The Powerbeats Pro two have heart tracking so I could see it coming to AirPods.

It would make a ton of sense if they released a fitness tracker under the Beats brand.

 

[1rottenapple]

You might like the Fitbit Charge 6. I was on the verge of buying one. Maybe it's a bit more smartywatch like than you want, but the sensors and battery are tempting.

Yes I have seen them, and i don't want a screen. I like the fitbit flex but its been discontinued for ever a decade. Its funny i was at the fore front of tech but now that I am in my early 40s and prepping to go back to school I find tech too distracting. I think I'll but the polar whoop knock off, its likely to come out in September.

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

It would make a ton of sense if they released a fitness tracker under the Beats brand.

Yeah, with a "movement" campaign similar to the original dancing iPod ads?

I'd get one.

 

[MNLondon]

I can understand the Ultra being called bulky but not the Series 10, when I strap mine on I can't even tell I'm wearing it!

I thought my Ultra 2 would feel bulky, but it's cleverly designed so it isn't, and never gets a scratch, unlike my very first Apple Watch (when they first launched..probably called the minus 1 now! ) and the 4. I like it a lot. I haven't done any scuba diving or rock climbing yet tho!!

 

[MNLondon]

Not a watch, but something without the screen and notifications. I don't want the bulkyness of an AW and other companies don't make what I'm after. I want it hard heavily into the Apple ecosystem and Apple health.

Something very 'Johnny Ive' designed focused on lots of health sensors a 14 day battery life so you can go away for two weeks holiday and not worry about bringing your charger.

Either a band or a ring would be ideal. Something slim, that has invisible design and just works to enhance your life like the Apple of old.

The closest thing i've seen is the fitbit range but it doesn't sync to apple health without 3rd party apps. Even the Huawei band 9 has contentious spo2 tracking and it's only €30

I agree. Surely Jonny would have something up his sleeve, or where ever it could be worn!

 

[tom2517]

Oura ring is a terrible fitness tracker. It's ok for counting steps or sleep tracking, but during activities it doesn't track HR well. I think it's due to how you size your ring. Unlike wrist wearables where you can tighten it up during activities, when you size for a ring you typically chose the size that you can wear comfortably at all times. Between a little tight and a little loose, people will choose a little loose. Nobody wants a tight ring, especially during summer.

Unfortunately this also means the sensor doesn't have a good contact with your finger during activities, the data I am getting from Oura ring is very bad, a lot of gaps and inaccuracies in HR.

I don't see Apple doing a ring at all, a lot of drawbacks and not much gain. Maybe a band at most, but I don't see it either.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I have always worn a watch. Making it a fitness tracker along with bridge to your phone was just icing on the cake. I have a friend who has a Whoop. If you are going to wear that, you might as well wear the AW.

An Apple Ring would be interesting and could do the fitness tracking but would not be a bridge to your phone.

 

[TwoBytes]

The amazfit Helio Strap was just released. 10 day battery life, big bunch of sensors, cheap, zero subscription fees.
This is what I want but from Apple

 

[BSG75]

The amazfit Helio Strap was just released. 10 day battery life, big bunch of sensors, cheap, zero subscription fees.
This is what I want but from Apple

I bought the Helio Strap a couple of weeks ago and it's been good so far. There are a couple of metrics that aren't intuitive, like Fitness vs. Fatigue level. I still wear my Apple Watch when I exercise and the heart rate between the two devices is identical. Most of the data from the strap feeds in to Apple Health, so that's a plus, too.

I like the concept of the Whoop strap, but hate the subscription that goes along with it. If Apple made a strap like the Helio strap, it would be an instant buy for me. Right now, if you want to wear the Amazfit on your bicep, you have to buy a third-party band. I understand there is a bicep band coming out soon.

Best of all, this allows me to wear my mechanical watches again and not have to double wrist. The Apple Watch is a great watch, but after 10 years I've started get a little bored with it. I've also been dipping my toe into the Garmin ecosystem as well.

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks for the write-up! the HR tracking seems to be good according to reviews

 

[1rottenapple]

The amazfit Helio Strap was just released. 10 day battery life, big bunch of sensors, cheap, zero subscription fees.
This is what I want but from Apple

Who’s does this interact with Apple rings? Does it work about as good as a watch and shows ring completion?

 

[BSG75]

Who’s does this interact with Apple rings? Does it work about as good as a watch and shows ring completion?

You don't get ring completion, but it sends active energy, blood oxygen, exercise minutes, heart rate, resting energy, resting heart rate, sleep, and step data. I do notice that it sends a ton of exercise minutes to the exercise ring.

The activity and stand rings seem to be tied to the watch. I still wear my AW during workouts to fill the activity ring. The workout data seems to be very similar between the two devices. Active calories and heart rate are very close, for example.

Hope this is helpful!