TechSmartwatchesWith the Apple Watch X, Apple needs to ditch the ringsThe rings must go if Apple wants to regain its market lead as the top health wearable providerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSmartwatchesWith the Apple Watch X, Apple needs to ditch the ringsThe rings must go if Apple wants to regain its market lead as the top health wearable providerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The rings must go if Apple wants to regain its market lead as the top health wearable provider
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Apple)
(Image credit: Apple)
TheApple Watchdebuted back in 2015, and whileApple’s messaging around it changed (it’s no longer a luxury-minded wristwatch alternative), the device itself is relatively unchanged.
Both from the outside and within, theApple Watch Series 9isn’t all that different to the Series 0 which feels so long ago already, and one through line that has persisted all the way is the “activity rings”.
The red, green, and blue circles for calories burned, activity, and standing each hour are still present, even as theApple Watch’s sensors have grown more plentiful and more ambitious. And yet, they’re arguably lagging behind the competition now.
Here’s why, with the rumoredApple Watch X, it’s time for Apple to make some changes to the activity rings.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Ring it to win it
There’s also a certain satisfaction in seeing Apple’s slick animations as you hit the next milestone or rack up a streak or other achievement.
The activity rings are a great starting point, but they don’t go far enough to promote balance. They’re a “one size fits all” solution to a problem that requires much more nuance.
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Take it slow
Recovery is often underappreciated. After all, muscles don’t grow or repair themselves without taking time to rest post-workout, and for all of the importance placed on exercising correctly and regularly, not enough is said about the time between workouts.
If, like me, you enjoy lifting weights, you’ll know it’s easy to plateau when you lift weights for seven days a week, but taking a day or two out of the gym to repair torn muscle fibres is very, very important.
That may not be a typical use case for the average Apple Watch user, but with fitness programs for ‘Functional Strength Training’ and the like, Apple needs to be careful it doesn’t keep nudging users to work out day after day, regardless of their chosen discipline.
That’s how injuries happen, and an injury can stop a workout regimen in its tracks and also stop a user from wanting to push themselves.
Thankfully, Apple has plenty of inspiration to take from other manufacturers already.
Oura offers a more sophisticated activity-tracking system(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Oura offers a more sophisticated activity-tracking system
Oura offers a more sophisticated activity-tracking system
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Set a new score
Apple’s nudge to get you out of the door is great and all, but it really only factors in your activity on any given day. It’ll remind you of yesterday’s rings, sure, but it won’t use that information to tailor anything to your body’s exertion levels.
Thankfully, there are third-party options that give you a more holistic view of your body’s current well-being. I use Fitbod, a workout planner and tracker that tracks not only what exercises you do but also how they affect your muscles.
It’s not uncommon for the app to show certain areas as being overworked and adjusting your next couple of workouts to take that into consideration.
On the other hand, other trackers have leapfrogged Apple in this regard - and many offer much cheaper products.
Take Fitbit, for example, which offers a Daily Readiness Score as part of its premium subscription service. This takes into account your sleep, activity from the day before, and your heart rate to help you know how hard you should push yourself on any given day.
Fitbit isn’t the only one, either.Garmin watchesoffer a recovery time metric as soon as you save an activity, whileOura Ring Gen 3goes a step beyond and has multiple readiness scores and can even advise you when you might be getting sick—adding a fresh detail you may otherwise have missed.
If Apple can implement something like a readiness score for the Apple Watch X and the next iteration of watchOS, it could be a massive step forward in fitness tracking within its ecosystem. Until then, I’ll keep closing my rings.
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$193.65ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 9$415.49ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra 2$799$759ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$193.65ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 9$415.49ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra 2$799$759ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$193.65ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 9$415.49ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra 2$799$759ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$193.65ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 9$415.49ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Ultra 2$799$759ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$193.65ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular$193.65ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular
Apple Watch Series 8 45mm GPS + Cellular
$193.65View
$193.65
$193.65
See all prices
Apple Watch Series 9$415.49ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 9$415.49ViewSee all prices
$415.49View
$415.49
$415.49
See all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)
Apple Watch SE (2022)
$249$199View
$249$199
$199
See all prices
Apple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra$19.45ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra
Apple Watch Ultra
$19.45View
$19.45
$19.45
See all prices
Apple Watch Ultra 2$799$759ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra 2$799$759ViewSee all prices
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