I used the Apple Watch 7 for cycling, weight training and more — here’s how well it works

I used the Apple tree Lookout 7 for cycling, weight training and more than — here'due south how well information technology works

(Image credit: Time to come)

The Apple Sentinel 7 is the all-time smartwatch and the ultimate iPhone accessory, but with GPS and a heart rate monitor, among other wellness features, it's besides a fitness tracker. And so how does information technology stack up against the all-time fitness trackers on the market?

Though many of the best Apple tree Watch apps tin take your activity tracking to the next level, Apple's native conditioning app supports dozens of movement types, as my dad found out when he tried the Apple Watch. You lot tin can run, cycle, swim, dance, practice HIIT, paddle board with the Apple Lookout man and more. If you lot've upgraded to watchOS 8, your Apple tree Watch can track Tai Chi, too.

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As with well-nigh fitness wearables, the Apple tree Sentry 7 tracks your time elapsed, calories burned, heart rate and distance traveled, when applicable. I put these metrics to the test in a week'southward worth of workouts wearing the latest Apple Watch. From daily dog walks to weight training, and even an attempt at automatic outdoor cycling detection, the Apple Watch 7 became my exercise buddy.

Here are the cardinal takeaways from my Apple Watch 7 workout test. My experiences could differ from working out with the Apple tree Scout SE or Apple Watch iii. We created a guide to aid you discover the best Apple Watch for you lot, so exist sure to check it out if y'all're interested in ownership one of Apple tree's smartwatches.

Apple tree Sentry 7: Outdoor Cycling

Apple Watch 7 workout test outdoor cycling automatic tracking — (Image credit: Future)

I started with cycling, since it's the workout blazon Apple tree beefed up most this year. With bike-specific autumn detection, auto-observe and automobile-pause features, you lot could say watch Os viii is a game changer for cyclists. Luckily, I didn't have to apply the first of those new tools — no cliffside rides like in Apple's Series 7 announcement video for me.

Instead, I embarked on a leisurely outdoor ride on a crisp autumn afternoon. I didn't launch the conditioning from my wrist on purpose, hoping auto-detection would notice I started cycling. Sure plenty, I received a fizz and a prompt asking me if I wanted to tape an outdoor wheel in under 5 minutes and in less than half a mile traveled.

I besides enabled car-suspension (it'south not enabled automatically) recalling the discrepancies I dealt with during my Samsung Milky way Scout 4 workout examination. Hopping off my bike to accept some pictures of a nearby bay botched my Apple Watch 6'south recorded distance, which I tracked aslope the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 for comparison. Luckily, using automobile-pause while biking with the Apple Sentry vii resulted in a near-identical measurement to my bicycle's odometer.

Apple Watch 7: Weight training

Apple Watch 7 heart rate monitor — (Image credit: Future)

Back in the gym, the Apple Watch offers traditional and functional strength preparation workout options. I opted for functional, incorporating a diversity of movements in my session. You can't track individual exercises like yous can on the Milky way Scout 4, though. I'm not the kind to do 100 reps of the same move in a row, then I didn't miss niche selections like arm curls, bench press, lateral raises and pull-ups. Still, I imagine users would benefit from on-screen guidance for form and counting reps like yous get on the Galaxy Watch iv and some of the best Fitbit devices.

I alternated between upper body, lower body and core exercises with dumbbells, all the while seeing my metrics on the Apple Watch 7'due south redesigned screen. The notable Apple Picket vii vs. Apple Scout half dozen differences are a twenty% larger brandish and lxx% brighter always-on way, making it easier to see more exercise information at a glance. I appreciated being able to meet my heart rate trends in throughout my workout in large, legible text. Improve withal, the Apple Spotter seven's heart charge per unit readings matched those of my Polar OH1 strap.

Apple Scout 7: Walking

Apple Watch 7 walking workout — (Image credit: Time to come)

Between taking my domestic dog to the park twice a mean solar day and opting to walk anywhere in New York City within an 60 minutes away, most of my exercise experience with the Apple tree Watch 7 came from walking. I used iOS 15 Apple Maps features to lead when I didn't know where I going, while the workout app buzzed me every mile with an update on my pace.

But when I walked my canis familiaris, my pace lagged. I wish the Apple Watch's automobile-pause option extended to walking workouts (it only works for outdoor cycling and outdoor running) so my dog'due south demand to say hi to every passerby and sniff every tree didn't outcome in a 30-minute mile average. I missed this Milky way Watch four feature.

Apple Watch 7 every bit fettle tracker: The verdict

Workouts using GPS drain the Apple Watch 7 battery life faster than workouts that don't, but even with regular hour-long walks, my smartwatch survived all twenty-four hours. Many of the all-time sport watches and all-time Garmin watches become better battery life with GPS, of course.

For fitness enthusiasts, a fitness tracker with longer bombardment life or more dedicated workout functions might be preferred. Otherwise, the Apple Sentinel vii is an all-in-one smartwatch with ample do features.

Kate Kozuch is a senior author at Tom's Guide covering wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related. When she'south not in cyborg mode, you can detect her on an practice bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army volition rule the earth one twenty-four hour period, but until then, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.