Apple event 2021: big updates coming to Apple Fitness+?

If you've been eagerly awaiting this year's Apple Event, where the company traditionally unveils its latest iPhone, we now know the US tech giant will host the annual event on September 14th. 

In the weeks leading up to the September live stream, there's been a regular succession of leaks, rumors, and speculation about what Apple will unveil. If things pan out as hoped, it could be good news for Apple Fitness+ subscribers.

The service launched in late 2020 and quickly became regarded as one of the best fitness apps, combining data gathered from your Apple Watch with a personalized video workout on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. 

In the months since, Apple has been busily adding new features to the premium membership, including curated playlists to accompany your sessions. 

Likewise, the Time to Walk feature is a podcast-style 'audio walking experience' to encourage you to get out of the house for some movement, guided by celebrities including Dolly Parton, NBA star Draymond Green, and Paralympian Kurt Fearnley. 

According to a recent Power On newsletter from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is set to release new episodes of Time to Walk for Apple Fitness+ subscribers, as well as a series of guided meditations. This makes sense, as the tech firm has shown a particular interest in wellbeing in recent years. 

If you've been thinking of becoming a subscriber, be sure to check out our Apple Fitness+ review before taking the plunge. Perhaps you'd also like to see how it fares with other fitness subscriptions. Fortunately, we've compared FITT vs Apple Fitness+ to help you decide. 

The company is also widely believed to be launching the latest iteration of its popular smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 7. The Apple Watch Series 6 is one of the most successful wrist-worn gadgets worldwide and integrates tightly with the company's other products, including the Apple Fitness+ service. 

In fact, the Apple Watch is central to the personalized workout subscription. Whenever you stream a coached Apple Fitness+ workout via your smartphone or Apple TV, real-time performance metrics, including heart rate, calories burnt, and duration, are shown on the screen using the watch's built-in sensors. 

According to a set of patent applications filed over the past few years, Apple may also be working on bringing blood pressure measurements, blood sugar monitoring, and skin temperature tracking to the Apple Watch Series 7.

However, a report from Nikkei Asia suggests that the announcement will be followed by a pre-order period, rather than general availability, as the watch manufacturers are struggling to produce a high-quality finished product. 

Similarly, there could be some fitness-focused features coming to the AirPods 3 wireless earbuds, widely expected to launch this fall. There's some speculation that the latest earbuds could come with the same dynamic head detection technology as the AirPods Pro - one of the top picks in our best running earbuds guide. 

Earlier in 2021, 52audio published a series of photos of what were believed to be early prototypes of the AirPods 3 with the more AirPods Pro-style design. Alongside this, integration with Apple Fitness+ might be on the cards, with some industry sources anticipating real-time workout performance and exercise feedback offered directly through the AirPods 3. 

Of course, while the annual event is a time of great excitement for many people, it's also a budget-busting experience as the company's devices can be pricey. After all, there's nothing wrong with simply grabbing a set of the best adjustable dumbbells and learning how to deadlift if you want to stay in shape for less.