Apple Watch Series 7: Three things to know for fitness fans

"There are questions, and it seems like your watch knows all the answers – which is cheating", says the chirpy voiceover behind the advert for the Apple Watch Series 7. 

The latest Apple Watch model was unveiled last week, boasting a raft of fitness features including access to Siri, loads of unique sport profiles boasting advanced sports-specific data, alongside all the usual advanced sleep and health metrics that are common in the best fitness watch models today. Paired with Apple Fitness+, you'll of course be able to get all this data on your smart TV as you work out, too.

The latest much-hyped model is set to premiere "later this fall" in an unusually vague timeslot for Apple. You can visit the store and find out everything you need to know about pre-orders here, but for the gadget-friendly fitness fans, here's three things you need to know about the latest, greatest rival for your coveted wrist space.  

1. It's building on its predecessors

The Apple Watch Series 5 and the Apple Watch Series 6 were huge leaps forward in wrist-mounted technology. The Series 6 introduced the wrist-mounted electrocardiogram, or ECG, and a Pulse Oximeter sensor which works with the Blood oxygen app to gauge your oxygen levels. Apple Watch Series 7 has the same sets of sensors as its predecessor, so all that good stuff is still included in the package.   

2. It comes with new wellness tools

However, even though it's got all the stuff that was great in the Series 6, the Apple Watch Series 7 has enough to shine on its own. The new watch will sport Watch OS 8, a new software system including Apple's new Mindfulness app, which is a larger version of Apple's previous Breathe app. The new software is designed to monitor key health metrics during guided meditations.

Watch OS 8 also comes with Health Sharing, providing your iPhone also has iOS 15. Health Sharing allows you to grant a loved one, or doctor, access to your suite of health metrics. 

Apple says: "Users have full control over which data they share and with whom, whether they’re an aging parent who shares their activity or heart health data with a family member, a partner who chooses to share their fertility window insights, or a person with Parkinson’s disease who wants to share their mobility data with a physical therapist."

3. Sophisticated workout profiles and Siri access

Apple Watch users have been able to ask Siri questions for a while now, but the promotional video showcases the skill in conjunction with individual workout profiles. The bigger screen on the Watch means the beatuiful metrics show up bigger and more vibrant than ever before.

Showcasing how fast your serve is in tennis, or how many waves you caught while surfing, all (presumably) piped into your earpods (or one of the non-Apple branded best workout earbuds entries) will make for a seamless workout experience rather than having to check your phone for the information.