Apple Is Reportedly Developing a Screenless Fitness Tracker

Apple is reportedly developing a screenless fitness tracker, according to sources. This comes after several other companies have released screenless alternatives, such as Google's Fitbit Air, Garmin's Cirq Smart Band, and Amazfit's Helio Strap Pro. The new device is said to be similar to the Whoop wristband, which uses sensors to collect health data and beam it to a smartphone app via Bluetooth. Apple's Vision hardware team, known for working on the Vision Pro headset, is said to have been involved in the project.

However, it remains unclear whether Apple will actually launch the product, as it has not yet decided on this. Apple executives, including Executive Chair Tim Cook and Senior Vice President of Services and Health Eddy Cue, have shown interest, but a representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The new fitness tracker would likely feature Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, which would enable users to log their health information and ask questions through voice commands. This could be particularly useful for a screenless wearable, as it would allow users to interact with the device hands-free. The redesigned Health app, set to be released later this year, already includes features like readiness score and Health Age, which function similarly to Whoop's recovery score and Healthspan.

These features help users understand how prepared their bodies are to take on the day and estimate their biological age.

A screenless wearable could be appealing to those who prefer not to constantly stare at screens and those who find screen-based wearables bulky and uncomfortable, especially during sleep. However, the company's decision to potentially release a subscription-less tracker, like the Apple Watch, would be a positive step.