It's about time Apple got a Readiness score to compete with Fitbit and Garmin
but I'm disappointed it's not coming to the Series 11

Date:
Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:00:00 +0000

Description:
Apples latest smartwatches finally give me something Ive wanted for years
but Im not sure I can justify the upgrade yet.

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 Ive been a tech journalist and reviewer for about eight years, and in that time Ive had most Apple Watch models on my wrist at one point or another. Ive always loved how Apple s wearable looks, and how its an extension of the iPhone in all the ways that matter, making it easy to triage notifications, check the weather, control music, and more.

Its also been an ideal fitness companion since I began using one with the Series 0 back in 2015, but while my current Apple Watch Series 11 is a fantastic device, Ive been testing alternatives and theres one thing many of them do that Apple Watch doesnt until now. Apple Watch is finally getting the feature Id buy a Fitbit for In case you missed it, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will introduce a new Readiness feature to watchOS. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

If that sounds familiar, its because Google and Fitbit , Garmin , Whoop and others have been offering a similar feature for years. Googles Daily
Readiness Score acts as a sort of fulcrum between all captured metrics, including heart rate, sleep, exercise, rest, and much more. It takes all of those data points and turns them into a single, easy-to-parse number that shows how prepared your body is for the day ahead.

The idea is that if youve had a rough night of sleep, have had a lot of stress, or just havent been moving much, youll get a lower score, which suggests youll probably want to take it easy. You may like 5 new Apple Watch features that are more than just health-tracking tools Apple Watch Series 12 vs. Series 11: Key differences explained I test smartwatches for a job, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 beats Apple and Samsung in 5 key ways

On the flip side, if youre well-rested and have been smashing your workouts with energy to spare, youll get a higher score to help push you to keep it
up.

I cant tell you how many times Ive been begging, on this very site and elsewhere, for Apple Watch to take a leaf out of Fitbits book. The best Apple Watches excel at making fitness tracking easy and accessible to all, and this felt like the biggest missing piece of the puzzle after years of very welcome improvements. 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. How
does it work? (Image credit: Apple) Apple went to great lengths to highlight that the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 offer the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable (which presumably includes the best smart rings , too). A big part of this is a revamp to the underlying sensor technology that Apple Watch uses, with the new hardware checking for heart rate readings 60 times more frequently than last years models, as well as 24 times as many HRV readings at night.

Because theres a lot more data to work with, Apples algorithms and the S11 chip are able to more accurately determine your readiness score. It also ties into the Vitals app, which arrived with watchOS11, to allow you to more
easily spot patterns and trends in health data, and understand how your body is responding to exercise and daily life.

So, will I put my money where my mouth is? Its hard to say. I moved from the original Apple Watch Ultra to an Apple Watch Series 11 last year, and absolutely love my current wearable. That makes it hard to justify the upgrade, as much as Ive been banging the drum for this feature for almost a decade. Maybe next year 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/its-about-time-apple-got -a-readiness-score-to-compete-with-fitbit-and-garmin-but-im-disappointed-its-n ot-coming-to-the-series-11


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