iOS 27 brings GymKit connectivity to iPhone with AirPods Pro 3
iPhones can connect to GymKit-enabled cardio machines through NFC, while AirPods Pro 3 provide heart-rate data for Apple Fitness.
Apple’s iOS 27 reportedly allows iPhones to connect with GymKit-compatible cardio machines, extending a workout feature previously centred on the Apple Watch.
According to Engadget and Apple’s GymKit documentation, users can tap an iPhone on a compatible machine’s NFC connection point, in a process similar to contactless payment. The equipment can then contribute workout information to Apple’s Fitness app.
AirPods Pro 3 provide live heart-rate data during the session. The material says that, as of its reporting, GymKit-supported machines will disconnect from an iPhone without the earbuds also connected.
The system still depends on GymKit-compatible equipment. Treadmills, ellipticals, bikes and stair steppers are among the equipment types cited, although the material does not establish how widely compatible machines are available or whether other units are supported.
GymKit launched in 2017 to exchange data between Apple Watches and compatible gym equipment. The iPhone and AirPods Pro 3 setup removes the need for an Apple Watch during a connected workout, but does not replace its broader continuous, all-day and overnight health-tracking functions.
