Apple has officially announced the launch date for Fitness+, its own fitness service built around Apple Watch. It will be available on Monday, December 14, bringing studio-style workouts to iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV — while incorporating workout metrics from Apple Watch for a personalized and immersive experience users can complete wherever and whenever is convenient for them.
Apple Fitness+ will launch with 10 of the most popular workout types, including High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Strength, Yoga, Dance, Core, Cycling, Treadmill (for running and walking), Rowing, and Mindful Cooldown, led by a team of trainers whose approach is “welcoming to all.” The workouts are fueled by music from today’s top artists designed to keep users motivated from start to finish.
How does it work?
Apple Fitness+ integrates personal metrics from Apple Watch to inspire users, animating them on the screen during key moments in the workout, providing an engaging and immersive experience to help users stay motivated. For example, when the trainer says to check heart rate, the heart rate metrics are spotlighted; during tough intervals, a countdown timer starts to help users get through to the last second; and when they close their Activity rings, a celebration happens right on the workout screen.
For those who enjoy a little competition, HIIT, Treadmill, Cycling, and Rowing workouts have an optional Burn Bar that shows, in real time, how a user’s effort stacks up against anyone who has previously completed the same workout.
Apple Fitness+ makes getting started with a great workout quick and simple with an intuitive filter that allows users to choose their trainer, time, workout, and music to get to their next workout in seconds. There is also a recommendation engine that considers workouts previously completed in Fitness+, the Apple Watch Workout app, and popular third-party fitness apps that integrate with the Health app. Fitness+ recommends workouts that match what the user already enjoys doing so they can jump right in with something familiar, suggests they try something new, helps them discover a new trainer, or proposes a workout to complement their current routine.
Each week, Fitness+ delivers new content across all workout types with a variety of trainers, times, and music. For those who are just starting out, trying something new, or getting back into exercising, several members of the trainer team lead Absolute Beginner workouts that teach the basics of HIIT, Strength, Core, and Yoga, as an option to prepare for the weekly studio workouts. Rowing, Cycling, and Treadmill workouts also feature Getting Started videos that show how to set up the equipment, and introduce proper form and technique.
With Activity Sharing, users can allow friends and family to see Fitness+ workouts completed, and workouts can also be shared to their favorite social media channels.
On the record
“Being more active is one of the most important things we can do for our health, but we know choosing to work out can often be a challenge whether you’re very active or just getting started,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s senior director of Fitness Technologies. “We’re excited for Apple Fitness+ to bring together the metrics from Apple Watch, great music, and a diverse and inspiring trainer team – in a uniquely simple, easy-to-access way across Apple devices – to encourage our users to get fit and stay healthy.”
Availability details
Apple Fitness+ will be available Monday, December 14, and requires iOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, iPadOS 14.3, and tvOS 14.3. Aside from the United States, the service will also initially be available in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK.
For Apple Watch users, Apple Fitness+ will automatically appear as a new tab in the Fitness app on iPhone; the Fitness app for iPad will be available to download from the App Store; and on Apple TV, the Fitness app will automatically appear once users upgrade to tvOS 14.3.
Fitness+ will be available as a subscription service for $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. A single subscription can be shared among up to six family members, making it easy for other Apple Watch users in the household to enjoy the service.
Three months of Apple Fitness+ are included for customers who purchase Apple Watch Series 3 or later and one month of Fitness+ is included for existing Apple Watch users.
Apple Fitness+ is included in the Apple One Premier plan, which, where available, also gives customers access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and 2TB of iCloud storage for $29.95 per month, and can be shared among up to six family members.
Apple Music subscription is not required.