Apple’s paid fitness service, Fitness+, is a pretty good collection of workout videos in a variety of styles, lengths, and difficulties. From the beginning, it was conceived as a way to increase the value of the Apple Watch–specific workouts are automatically synced with Apple Watch, and live metrics from the watch are shown on your TV, iPad, or iPhone to keep you motivated.
With the release iOS 16.1Apple officially drops the requirement for an Apple Watch on Monday, October 24, along with iPadOS 16.1 & tvOS 16.1.
All you need is an iPhone
When you upgrade to iOS 16.1 (available October 24), you’ll find Fitness+ in the center of the bottom tabs in the Fitness app. From this tab, you’ll be able to subscribe to Fitness+ in any of the 21 countries where the service is available today, no Apple Watch required.
You’ll need an iPhone to sign up for the service, but after that, you can access it from an iPad or Apple TV. If you don’t have an Apple TVAirPlay allows you to stream your workouts from your iPhone, iPad or other AirPlay-compatible streaming device to your TV.
When you start a workout, even if you don’t have an Apple Watch, you’ll make progress on your Move ring using estimated calories burned from the workout you selected.
Apple will lift the Apple Watch requirement and work with partnerships to expand the user base for Fitness+. The service usually costs $9.99/£9.99 per month (or $79.99/£79.99 per year and is included in Apple One PremierTo make this service more accessible, Apple has partnered with SilverSneakers and Target as well as UnitedHealthcare and Mobile Health. SilverSneakers will make Fitness+ accessible starting January 2023 via select Medicare Advantage plans. Target will offer four months of Fitness+ for members of its Target Circle loyalty program. UnitedHealthcare, Mobile Health and Mobile Health will also offer Fitness+ as part the employer-provided plans.
Other features to be added on October 24
Apple has some other goodies for Fitness+, which will be available starting October 24.
Music by Taylor Swift will be available in Fitness+ for the first time ever, with a dedicated solo Artist Spotlight series featuring newly released songs from her album “Midnights,” out October 21.
Apple will introduce a new Yoga for Every Runner exercise featuring Scott Jurek (ultramarathon runner).
Apple Watch owners have full access to the app. Time to Walk feature, which gets new episodes beginning with Hannah Waddingham (from the hit TV+ show Ted Lasso).
Apple will finally add three new curated collection: Totally ’80s Cycling, Best Mindful Cooldowns to Athletes?, and 14-Day HIIT/Strength Challenge.