Apple Fitness+ Review
What is it?
Apple’s Fitness+ service gives users a catalog of different workouts led by expert trainers. The service will be powered by Apple Watch and will be able to provide real-time metrics like heart rate and calories burned. This will mean that in order to use the service you will need an Apple Watch. Apple Watch allows Fitness+ to dynamically integrate metrics like heart rate, in real time, on the screen. For those who like competition, some workouts will offer an optional burn bar that will contrast your effort to others who’ve also completed it.
If you already own an Apple Watch, Fitness+ will be the center tab in the fitness app once the service becomes available. From there you can see your subscription and use the service. The fitness app will be available to Apple TV subscribers. There is a three-month free trial if you buy a new Apple Watch.
Fitness+ has been created for everyone, whether you are a beginner or an expert. You can make modifications for all levels in every workout. You can do whatever exercise you want, choose the time, the trainer, and the workout. If you need to learn the basics, there is even an instructional program called Absolute Beginner.
Many of the workouts on Fitness+ will not require any equipment at all but for some, you may need things like weights, a yoga mat, an exercise bike, a rowing machine, or a treadmill. The workout types available include treadmill walk, treadmill run, HIIT, rowing, cycling, dance, yoga, core, strength, and mindful cool-down.
Fitness+ will have brand new content for all of their workout types every week, with different trainers, times, and music. There is also an intuitive filter that will make finding different workouts much easier. Music will be a key part of the Apple Fitness+ service. Users can choose from a variety of genres whilst completing workouts. They include Latest Hits, Chill Vibes, Upbeat Anthems, Pure Dance, Throwback Hits, Everything Rock, Latin Grooves, Hip Hop/R&B, and Top Country. There is an option to filter by music to match your current mood. You will not need an Apple Music subscription to enjoy the music, although if you do, you will be able to incorporate your own music.
Recently they announced a new feature exclusive to Apple Fitness+, called Time to Walk. Time to Walk lets users listen to original and exclusive audio stories through their AirPods or any other wireless headphones. Whilst you listen you engage in one of the heathiest physical activities, walking!
Each original audio story on Time to Walk is narrated by some of the most influential people who share meaningful stories, photos, and music. You can listen to these anywhere, whenever you want as long as you are a subscriber. To access it you go onto the fitness+ section of the fitness app on your iPhone and you will see it featured as a section. When you find an episode you want to listen to, simple click add and it will go straight to your iPhone. You can also see which songs will be played in the episode in the episode description which will allow you to access the same songs later if you have an Apple Music subscription.
Is it worth it?
I have been using the service for about a month and whilst the UK is in a lockdown I have had a chance to try seven of the nine workout categories (I have not done any rowing or yoga workouts).
Where can you access it?
The major downside to Fitness+ is where you can access the workouts. You can only do workouts on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. If your heavily entangled into the Apple ecosystem then this should not be a problem for you. But if you would prefer your workouts on the big screen and do not have an Apple TV, you will need to buy an Apple TV box starting from $149/£149. You can airplay from your iPhone/iPad although your live metrics including calories burned and heart rate wont show up. It would be good to see the Fitness app migrate onto more devices just like the TV app is doing.
What are the trainers and workouts like?
There are a total of twenty one different trainers all specialising in different workouts with some instructing more than one workout type. The first thing to say is that it is great to see that Apple has done something most workout have not. All of the trainers are from very different backgrounds and different bodies and ages, it’s great to see Apple being inclusive in this regard.
It is clear these trainers are very passionate about what they do and this comes across in the workout videos with the energy and smiles they bring. Simple things like singing along with the music and making jokes make the experience a whole lot better and more fun. Something that other apps have not done yet. After trying out one of the workouts on the Fitbit app, where the instructor stayed serious throughout left me bored and unmotivated. If you do have the service I recommend trying LaShawn Jones dance workouts, Kim Ngo and Bakari Williams’s HIIT workouts as well as Betina Gozo’s strength classes.
Having said that, I do think we need to see some more instructors on the app. For example, HIIT and dance workouts only have three trainers each. Although not so much a problem now, as time goes on this may get monotonous so it would be good to see some of the other trainers instruct other workouts or get some new trainers especially if they decide to add new workout types.
If you’re a beginner or would like an extra push there are three trainers in each workout does have three trainers two of which offering modifications to make it easier or harder. It's also good to see that they offer seven different workouts for absolute beginners and its clear to see that they are trying to be as inclusive as possible making the workouts accessible to all regardless of ability.
However, all of the workouts are pre-recorded which means there are no live classes. Potentially in the future, we get to see some live classes because there is something about having to turn up at a specific time that makes you want to crush the workout and it can be easy for people to quit when the workout is simply pre-recorded. If your someone that loves competition then this probably is not the app for you. Some workouts have the burnbar but there is nothing in the way of a leaderboard which would be very useful during live classes.
There latest feature Time to Walk, did not really appeal to me, but some people do seem to enjoy it. This is potential for this to be expanded with more guided outdoor workouts, something you do not see many people doing. Nike Run Club has made a success of this with guided running workouts, so it would be good to see Apple jump in and expand it to more workout types.
What is the user interface like?
The user interface is, like in typical Apple fashion, very clean and easy to use. There are clear sections for new workouts, workouts recommended for you based on previous activity all recommended through machine learning. It is effortless to filter workouts by trainer, time length and music genre. I think it was great to add a thirty second preview to each workout so you get an idea of what is going to come and some of the moves that will be involved.
Although, it would be good to see a more advanced filtering system, like being able to choose which body part you want to workout or the difficulty level. To add, difficulty levels on the workouts themselves would also be a welcome feature as well. Everyone loves a bit of friendly competition, so perhaps adding a leaderboard for each workout may be interesting. Another feature missing is a stats section including things like how many total workouts have you done, total workout minutes, calories burned and streaks.
How much does it cost?
Fitness+ is priced extremely competitively and there are some trials and bundles that make the service attractive. Fitness+ costs $9.99/£9.99 a month or $79/£79 a year. There is a one month free trial available to everyone, with a three month trial if you have recently bought a new Apple Watch. For anyone in the UK, an Apple Watch bought from John Lewis, will give you a six month free trial of the service. Subscribers of the Apple One Premiere bundle will be able to enjoy the service as part of their bundle.
Final verdict
I think the workout app is very promising and does currently offer some great features especially if you have an Apple TV and can enjoy your workouts on the big screen. Personally, I will be keeping my subscription as I have been using the service almost daily and Apple continues to release new workouts weekly. If you have an Apple Watch give it a shot with the free trial, especially if you're new to fitness. For someone who prefers competition and live workouts the Peloton app is probably better for you.
