Bloomberg reported last week that Apple is developing a screenless fitness tracker similar to the WHOOP or Fitbit Air. Having used the WHOOP for the past six months, I find the concept promising, but there are improvements Apple could make.
Details about Apple’s upcoming screenless fitness tracker remain scarce, as the device is still in early development and may not arrive until 2028 at the earliest. Bloomberg describes it as a thin fabric band equipped with a sensor-packed computing module.
Earlier this year, WHOOP and Chase ran a promotion offering a discounted or free WHOOP to Sapphire cardholders, which I took advantage of. Since then, I’ve been using the WHOOP, though I haven’t fully committed to it.
The reason I didn’t fully embrace the WHOOP is straightforward: automatic workout detection is imperfect, and I found it frustrating to pull out my phone to log workouts, either before or after. The Apple Watch allows you to start a workout directly on its screen, and the WHOOP syncs the data via Apple Health, which is why I continue to wear my Apple Watch.
While using your phone to log a workout may be acceptable at the gym, I’d prefer not to fiddle with it during casual biking or long walks.
For Apple’s screenless fitness tracker, I’d like to see a button and an indicator LED that lets you start and stop workouts easily. Although you’d still need to use your phone later to categorize the activity, I’d prefer that to handling everything on the device itself. Apple could also create a classification model based on specific metrics.
Wrap up
If Apple can create a screenless fitness tracker that isn’t cumbersome to use without a phone, it could be very appealing. The form factor offers benefits such as comfort, extended battery life, and the ability to wear it together with a regular watch.
After using the WHOOP, I personally prefer a smartwatch, despite its shorter battery life. I understand the appeal of a screenless device for minimizing distractions, but I simply enable Do Not Disturb mode on my watch.
What are your thoughts on Apple developing a screenless fitness tracker? At what price would you consider purchasing one? Share your opinions in the comments.
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