Apple Watch's new health upgrades are more than just fitness tracking tools here are 5 features that could change how you monitor your wellbeing

Date:
Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:50:28 +0000

Description:
The new Apple Watch health monitoring tools are broader, smarter, and more personal.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The Apple Watch Series 12 and its big sibling, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 , were the latest wearables
announced alongside the iPhone Duo at Apples Surprise and Shine event , and the array of new health features havent let me down.

Though I didnt get the design upgrades I was hoping for (I wanted Apple to do a 180-degree turn and debut a completely fresh look for its watches), we got some smart new color options in the process. But that aside, the new monitoring tools do more than make up for the lack of visual upgrades theyre smarter, insightful, and more personal than ever. Its hard to tell if all the new wellbeing tracking tools will be available for previous models for anything powered by Apple Intelligence, its likely that these will remain native to the Series 12 and Ultra 4 but we still think theyll make for welcomed additions for health-conscious users. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: @techradar

original sound - TechRadar On-camera fitness testing (Image credit: Apple) As part of the wider Health app revamp, health monitoring using the Apple Watch paired with the iPhone's camera is a new feature, starting with full body assessments. The assessments allow the Health app to measure VO2 max
the the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use while exercising, a key measure of fitness along with flexibility, strength, balance, and movement mechanics.

All you have to do is prop your iPhone vertically against a wall so that your whole body fits in the frame, and it will get you to follow a coach-guided workout. Apple says in order to measure VO2 max, youll need an Apple Watch, AirPods Pro 3, or a third-party heart rate sensing device. You may like Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Series 11: Key differences explained Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: What's changed? The best Apple Watch 2026: Which wearable is right for you? Health Age (Image credit: Apple) Apple is slightly behind on the Health Age feature Garmin and Whoop got there first with Fitness Age and Whoop Age, respectively but its finally coming to Apple Watch.

Health Age can be found under the new Longevity tab in the Health app, a hub for displaying deeper insights for different health topics including heart health, mental wellbeing, nutrition, and hearing health. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Your Health Age reading takes different aspects of your health profile into account and combines them into one score to show how your metrics compare to the average health and fitness level for your age and gender. Health Sensing System (Image credit: Apple) This is a technical upgrade to the Apple Watch itself, and a welcomed improvement to how the wearable reads your health
data.

Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 come fitted with new LED sensor arrays designed for better skin contact, including a new heart-rate sensor for more accurate heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements which helps to determine the new Readiness score, which we'll discuss in a moment. What to read next Your Apple Watch may soon get a fitness feature rivals have had for years The latest Samsung Galaxy Watches are all about preventative health I test smartwatches for a job, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 beats Apple and Samsung in 5 key ways

Under the new sensors are larger green LEDs, which now measure your heart
rate up to every five seconds, all day long. Apple claims that it's the most accurate heart rate measurement on any wearable, and it can back this up with testing results. We can't wait to try it ourselves against an electrical
heart rate monitor. Readiness Score Much like the Health Age metric, the new Readiness Score is a tool that's been widely adopted by rival wearables in
the past and now its Apples turn. @techradar

original sound - TechRadar Diving into your Vitals, Sleep Score, recent activity, and other metrics, you'll be presented with a score from 0-10,
along with a brief explanation to tell you if your watch thinks you need to pace yourself, or if you have the capacity to push yourself further.

It's a clever and handy tool that could stop you from overtraining, or change your plans to fit in a long run on a day in which you're ready for action. Readiness also updates multiple times a day as your Apple Watch gathers new data, telling you exactly what's affecting your overall score. Insights tab (Image credit: Apple) The Health app's new Insights tab looks very comprehensive. Throughout the day, Insights displays timely information about your health metrics including heart, sleep, readiness, fitness, vitals, and cycle tracking data.

It gives you short summaries about how different fitness categories are impacting your long-term health, while the 'For You' section offers personalized recommendations and even relevant health articles based on your data. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/apple-watchs-new-health- upgrades-are-more-than-just-fitness-tracking-tools-here-are-5-features-that-co uld-change-how-you-monitor-your-wellbeing


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