The new Apple Watch 8 has many fitness features that make it a great choice for those who want to stay fit.
With sleep tracking and cycling, running and swimming tracking, as well as workout tracking and review, the watch is perfect for any activity. The always-on display makes it easy to see notifications without having them take over your entire watch screen. And with glanceable notifications, you can keep up with your current tasks without missing a beat.

Improved fitness features
This new version of WatchOS offers enhanced health and fitness features, including cycle and basal temperature tracking for women, split pace notifications for cardio workouts, and a more custom workout display.
- Looking to improve your fitness tracking capabilities on your Apple Watch? Look no further than the latest version of WatchOS, which introduces enhanced health and fitness features.
- With in-depth sleep tracking, cycle and basal temperature tracking for women, split pace notifications for cardio workouts, and a more custom workout display, you’ll be able to track all of your progress more accurately than ever before.
- Notifications are glanceable even if you’re working out, so you won’t have to miss a beat when it comes to staying on top of your fitness goals.
- Modeled after the Health app on iPhone, this new version of WatchOS offers a more comprehensive view of your health data and lets you graph it over time for even greater insight into your progress.
- All Apple Watch models dating back to the Series 4 are eligible to receive watchOS 9 update; however, not all features will be available at launch. For that reason alone (and because series 8 models offer many improvements), upgrading may make sense for some users
New cycling features
Apple Watch 8 fitness features include detailed cycling maps and stats, as well as a variety of other helpful tools. You can now receive notifications for both incoming calls and text messages while you’re out on your bike, so you never have to miss anything important.
There’s also a new Low Power Mode that helps conserve battery life by disabling some of the more unnecessary functions on your watch. Overall, watchOS 9 is an excellent update that makes cycling even more enjoyable and challenging. If you’re already a cyclist, then be sure to give it a try!
- This update improves performance and makes it easier to stay on track while riding.
- The updated cycling features include detailed maps and stats for your rides, as well as a variety of other helpful tools.
- You can now receive notifications for both incoming calls and text messages while you’re out on your bike, so you never have to miss anything important.
- There’s also a new Low Power Mode that helps conserve battery life by disabling some of the more unnecessary functions on your watch.
New running features
Among these is the overhaul to the Workout app, which has grown over the years and now focuses specifically on updating key training modes. With features like exercise types and goals for different sessions, as well as data tracking for runners using the traditional strength-training mode or HIIT workout mode, this update is sure to appeal to a wide range of athletes.
You can easily track your progress with the rolling pace feature in HIIT workout mode or set time and calorie goals for each session you train in traditional strength-training mode.
The Automatic Track Detection function uses Maps data to determine when you’re running at a track, then adjusts your lap count and speed accordingly.
Along with new individual session settings that allow you to specify time, distance, pace, and calorie burn, there’s also support for heart rate zones so that athletes can more accurately gauge their intensity during workouts.
Some of the most popular features found in other fitness wearables now make their way to the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is a favorite wearable for road running races because its display is bright, easy to navigate, and users love keeping track of their progress with the rolling pace feature.
New swimming features
The Apple Watch 8 has new fitness features like swim tracking and an improved heart rate monitor that make it easier than ever to stay on top of your aquatic routine.
- The watch can now track your distance, time and strokes while in the water (and even while swimming against the current), making it easier than ever to keep tabs on your progress. And thanks to its built-in GPS, you can also see where all of your laps took place with precision.
- If you’re into fitness competitions or simply want to better understand how well you’re performing relative to others, the Series 8 offers up a wealth of metrics that will let you know how YOU are doing compared to everyone else who’s tried Watch OS 9 out so far.
- Other newly added features include Swim Workout mode, which automatically transitions between swimming, biking and running exercises as needed; a redesigned Timer app that lets you set specific start and end times for workouts; better app efficiency when multiple apps are open at once; and support for larger text sizes on the watch face so that longer phrases are more visible without taking up too much space.
Improved workout tracking
If you’re looking for ways to stay motivated during your workouts, the new Apple Watch fitness app has some great improvements to tracking workouts. Not only does it track heart rate zones and custom workout edits, but it also improves battery life and the always-on display so you can keep working even when your watch is tucked away.
New health features
The updated features include enhanced health and fitness features, including in-depth sleep tracking, cycle and basal temperature tracking for women, split pace notifications for cardio workouts, and a more custom workout display.
Always On display and its notification functionality have also gotten a lift; rather than piling up and then quickly disappearing, notifications pop up at the top of the watch face and roll away without overwhelming your feed. Notifications are glanceable even if you’re working out.
It’s worth noting that Apple Watch models dating back to the Series 4 are eligible to receive the watchOS 9 updates, but not all the features — specifically, the health and fitness ones — will be available. For that reason alone, it may or may not make sense for you to make the upgrade to the Series 8.
Reflect helps you focus on thoughts that matter by asking you to complete short mindfulness challenges every day.
Breathe provides guided breathing exercises designed to help you center yourself mentally and physically
When was the Apple Watch 8 Release?
Are you excited to get your hands on this wearable? Good news.
The Apple Watch 8 was made available in September 2022. Have you already got one? Let us know in the comments what you love (or don’t love) about it?
Find out more about the Apple Watch Series 8 here.
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Last Updated on March 11, 2023
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