Apple Cuts the Watch Requirement From GymKit
Apple is expanding its GymKit fitness-tracking ecosystem with the upcoming release of iOS 27, allowing users to track indoor workouts using an iPhone and compatible wireless earbuds rather than relying exclusively on an Apple Watch. Set for release in September, the update brings changes to the company’s fitness application programming interface, which traditionally required users to pair an Apple smartwatch with commercial gym equipment like treadmills, stationary bikes, and rowing machines to capture precise workout metrics.
Connecting AirPods and NFC Readers
Under the new system slated for iOS 27, users will be able to pair an iPhone alongside AirPods Pro 3 earbuds—devices that feature built-in heart rate measurement capabilities—to track indoor exercise sessions. According to early public beta testing details, the connection process involves bringing an iPhone close to the NFC reader on a supported fitness machine and following the on-screen GymKit prompts. For instance, when using a treadmill, runners or walkers can select an indoor run or indoor walk session directly on the machine before beginning their workout.
Real-Time Metrics Without Chest Straps
During the exercise session, the system records heart rate data directly from the AirPods Pro 3 worn in the user’s ears. This integration removes the need to hold onto the heart rate sensors built into the stationary handles of gym equipment, offering a more natural running motion, while also eliminating the need for a separate Bluetooth chest strap. Fitness metrics such as distance, speed, active calories burned, and incline levels are automatically transmitted to the iPhone and recorded in both the Fitness application and the Health application.
Beats Integration and Ring Limits
Coverage from industry reports indicates that users can also utilize the more affordable Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones from Apple’s Beats subsidiary, which similarly offer integrated heart rate monitoring. However, certain limitations remain within the current beta framework. The three primary activity rings in the Apple Fitness application still depend on an Apple Watch to fully update, meaning Apple has not yet opened the complete ring-tracking architecture to a standalone iPhone and AirPods Pro setup, even though the hardware combination captures the necessary telemetry data.
Privacy Protocols and Safety Stops
Additional reporting highlights privacy and operational safeguards built into the new workflow. Health data recorded during the gym session remains private on the iPhone and is automatically erased from the gym machine once the workout concludes. To ensure seamless operation, users must enable heart rate measurement for the earbuds within the privacy settings on their iOS device. If a workout is initiated without the AirPods Pro 3 connected, the system terminates the session immediately due to the absence of a live pulse monitor. When an Apple Watch is worn instead, the system routes tracking data through the watch, though it permits workouts to continue if the watch is removed, with the exercise ring syncing up once the smartwatch is worn again.
Autumn Rollout for iOS and watchOS
Alongside the GymKit updates, users testing watchOS 27 report that general fitness tracking without GymKit has also improved through updated algorithms designed to more accurately measure walking and running distances. Both iOS 27 and watchOS 27 are scheduled for public release in the autumn.
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