I tried Apple’s new at-home wellness assessment in iOS 27 — and gained valuable insights into my flexibility and balance

Apple’s newly revamped Health app for iPhone and Apple Watch is now available in the iOS 27.2 public beta. This new version offers a series of at-home longevity assessments that can be completed using your iPhone’s camera and Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor from the comfort of your living room. The assessments aim to provide insights into your strength, balance, flexibility, and more.

I tested both the balance and flexibility tests, which typically take around five to seven minutes each, and discovered some valuable, surprising information about my physical health.

Performing an assessment involves placing your iPhone on the ground, leaning against a wall, and walking back ten to 12 feet, ensuring your entire body is within the front-facing camera’s view. The assessments use a vision-based AI model to track your body movements without recording any video and all processing occurs on-device.

During the flexibility test, an on-screen trainer guides you through five stretches, providing detailed instructions for determining your overall upper and lower body flexibility ratings. These ratings fall into one of four categories: Needs Improvement, Fair, Good, and Excellent.

In my case, my upper body flexibility was rated as 'Good,' while my lower body flexibility was 'Fair,' which was a surprise. After repeating the assessment twice to ensure accuracy, I realized I had overlooked the importance of my lower body flexibility. Fortunately, the new Health app not only provides a rating but also suggests exercises to improve the areas that require attention.

The balance assessment was even simpler, involving just one test where you stand on one foot with the other foot suspended in the air for up to sixty seconds. This test is scored on the same rubric as flexibility. I scored an 'Excellent' on both attempts, which served as a nice ego boost after my lower flexibility score. These assessments form just two of 17 longevity checks in the new Apple Health app.

When all the assessments are complete, the app generates a comprehensive report for your doctor, potentially foreshadowing the future of healthcare, where AI-powered consumer tech and traditional doctor visits work together to help users better understand and improve their well-being.