GoKawiilApple extends GymKit workout syncing from Apple Watch to iPhone in iOS 27
Apple's GymKit feature, which lets gym equipment exchange workout data with Apple devices via NFC tap, is expanding beyond the Apple Watch. With iOS 27, iPhones can now tap compatible cardio machines to sync data, while AirPods Pro 3 measure heart rate, letting people without an Apple Watch use the feature. The underlying requirement for GymKit-enabled gym equipment remains unchanged.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
GymKit has struggled for adoption since 2017 partly because it required both an Apple Watch and specific gym hardware, a narrow combination for most users. Letting iPhones and AirPods substitute for the watch broadens the potential user base without needing new equipment purchases, though gyms must still have compatible machines, which remains the real bottleneck.
- iOS 27 lets iPhones tap GymKit-enabled machines instead of requiring an Apple Watch
- AirPods Pro 3 will supply heart rate data as part of the workout tracking chain
- Gym equipment still needs Apple's GymKit integration for the feature to work at all
Apple AirPods Pro 3 — The AirPods Pro 3 are the key piece of this new GymKit setup, since they handle heart rate sensing so your iPhone can log the workout without an Apple Watch. They also bring active noise cancellation and a secure fit that's handy for treadmill and elliptical sessions. If you want to try iPhone-based GymKit workouts, these are the earbuds that make it work.
See Apple AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Thomas Godwin, 2026-09-10
Published there as: “iOS 27 brings GymKit to iPhone and AirPods, but what does it actually do?”
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