At WWDC 2022, Apple announced that it was adding a number of major fitness updates to watchOS 9. Most importantly, it included a lot of new running metrics as well as a new multi-sport mode for triathletes. As a reviewer of runners and wearables, the presentation immediately made me think, “Holy guacamole, Apple is coming for Garmin.”
Right now, smart watches fall into two categories. First of all, you have flagship watches with all the features. These are the ones that have a not so long battery life, but the most advanced technology. They can call emergency services if you are injured, have integrated voice assistants, control your smart home, have third-party applications, enable advanced health features such as electrocardiographs, and support cellular connectivity. The Apple Watch obviously falls into this category.
The second category is essentially fitness trackers in a smart watch case, and within that category are multi-sport GPS watches. These watches have a massive battery life, but generally don’t bother with energy-consuming displays. They depend on your phone for things like receiving calls, but they often make up for it with a stellar GPS and more data than the average person can understand. These are your Garmin, Polar and Coros watches.
Power is a new performance metric that appears in watchOS 9. Image: Apple
In general, dedicated athletes should choose between two categories: do you want a multifunction smartwatch for everyday use or a more specific tool for tracking exercises and workouts? With watchOS 9, it looks like Apple is trying to attract more people into the running community with the possibility of a clock that can do it all.
WatchOS 9 introduces several metrics that you would normally find in a Garmin or Polar watch. This includes metrics such as output power, pitch length, cadence, and vertical oscillation. It also adds new workout views that include elevation charts, custom interval routes, rhythm alerts for a certain distance, and the ability to compete with yourself on the routes you usually do. Even now you can set heart rate zones, which has been a big omission for really dedicated athletes. The question is what can you do with all this extra data.
“I think the next step from here is to incorporate all of this data that watchOS 9 is capturing and keep in an active plan,” says Carson Caprara, Brooks Running’s vice president of footwear and merchandising product management. “While the form’s metrics are valuable, it can leave some runners a little confused about what to do about it. There’s incredible value in taking that data and using it to make sure everyone has a coach by their side who encourages them. to take the next step “.
This partially charged Garmin Fenix 7S still has 28 hours of GPS running in the tank. Photo of Victoria Song / The Verge
Rumor has it that Apple plans to release a premium and robust version of the Apple Watch later this year. WatchOS 9’s greater focus on running data and triathlete support seems to support this. On paper, it looks like Garmin and Polar should feel the heat. However, they still have the advantage when it comes to an important feature: battery life.
“For runners who use watches, battery life is essential for the experience,” says Caprara. “It can be a huge barrier, making a race non-existent if the battery runs out. Even if there is a remote risk, the value is reduced.”
“For runners who use watches, battery life is essential for the experience.”
Apple has not strayed from its claim of 18 hours of battery life in what seems like a lifetime. If you ask for it, Apple Watch fans will not hesitate to tell you their charging regime to avoid the fact that you need a daily charge. But Garmin and Polar fans like to have a minimum of 14 days on a single charge and between 30 and 40 hours of GPS activity. In comparison, you get approximately 5 to 6 hours of GPS activity on your Apple Watch. This is more than enough for the average person, but it still requires endurance athletes to do some math or specifically remember to charge the watch before running. With a Garmin or a Polar, you don’t have to think about it at all. You can only go there.
In addition, longer battery life is more convenient than scheduled fast charging if you prioritize sleep tracking. You also have a better chance of sticking with a device if you don’t have to remove it so often.
“Experienced, long-distance runners who use watches tend to understand metrics like rhythm pretty well,” says Caprara. “Informal runners, on the other hand, don’t have it at their disposal. With watchOS 9, it encourages them to ask more questions about their careers and makes them more proactive in the running experience.”
The Polar Pacer Pro is a running watch that also measures wrist power. Photo of Victoria Song / The Verge
Apple may not find it easy to persuade people accustomed to a very long battery life to switch to their ecosystem. After all, you’re not the first to add these metrics to an iconic smartwatch. Samsung has had deep performance metrics for a long time, though its mediocre performance has not beaten the Garmin crowd.
However, Apple could play an important role in introducing broader operating metrics into the mainstream. This in turn could allow for research on a much larger scale. For example, the Apple Heart Study with Apple Watch had an unprecedented 400,000 participants.
“What’s exciting for us in the running industry is the opportunity to look at the measurement of shape and adapt it to performance,” says Caprara. “With these available metrics from a wider community of runners, ranging from casual to elite, it will advance studies on biomechanics and the correlations between career shape and performance.”
Still, it’s hard to imagine the vast majority of Garmin users leaving the platform. Guaranteed or not, battery life is still a major reason why some people opt for Fitbit, Garmin and Polar devices. Now, what if Apple found out the battery life of several days? It would be a completely different story.