The Apple Watch’s New Sleep Tracking Changed How I Think About Sleep
Unlike its competitors, Apple has decided not to overload users with data. Instead, its Sleep app in watchOS 7 focuses on creating a better bedtime ritual
By Mark Sullivan
When the Apple Watch was new, Apple decided to market it as a fitness device. But it’s increasingly become a more general personal-wellness device with the addition of features like deep breathing, fall detection, and an electrocardiogram function. And now it’s able to track one of the most important elements of health: sleep.
The Watch’s Sleep app is part of the new watchOS 7, available just in time for the release of the Watch Series 6 today. Much of the sleep functionality is shared between the Watch and an iPhone that’s running iOS 14, also available today. I installed the public betas of both systems to test out the sleep functions, and spoke to Apple about the thinking behind its features. I’ve never used smartphone-based sleep tracking before, but I found that the Sleep app prompted me to start thinking about sleep in the way I think about hitting my step goals or exercise goals for the day. Rather than overloading me with too much data, Apple’s simple approach focuses on creating a healthier bedtime…
