Apple is expanding its GymKit workout system with iOS 27, letting iPhone users connect directly to compatible gym equipment without an Apple Watch. The update gives people another way to record workouts and share information between their devices and supported cardio machines.
GymKit was introduced in 2017 with a straightforward idea: an Apple Watch could be tapped against compatible gym equipment to create a two-way data connection. The machine could display information measured by the watch, while the watch could use equipment data to improve its workout calculations.
iPhone gets a new role in GymKit workouts
The biggest change in iOS 27 is that the iPhone can now replace the Apple Watch when connecting to GymKit-enabled equipment. The basic connection process remains familiar: users tap their iPhone against the machine’s NFC or GymKit connection point, then select the workout type and start their session.
Supported equipment includes common cardio machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes and stair steppers. However, the feature still depends entirely on whether the equipment has Apple’s GymKit integration. Updating an iPhone to iOS 27 does not make an ordinary gym machine compatible with the system.
This requirement has been one of GymKit’s biggest limitations since its introduction. Gym equipment is expensive to replace and can remain in service for many years, meaning gyms may continue to have machines without the necessary Apple integration. The same issue applies to people who exercise at home, where replacing existing equipment to gain access to GymKit may not be practical.
With a compatible machine, the iPhone essentially becomes the main interface and record-keeping device for the workout. The equipment provides workout measurements, while the iPhone sends the resulting data to Apple’s Fitness app.
AirPods Pro 3 add heart rate tracking
Apple is also using AirPods Pro 3 as part of the updated GymKit setup. When worn, the earbuds can provide live heart rate information to the iPhone, allowing that data to become part of the workout session and be shared with compatible equipment.
The resulting system connects three devices. The iPhone manages the workout and Fitness data, AirPods Pro 3 provide heart rate information, and the exercise machine contributes measurements collected during the session. This lets users combine information that previously required an Apple Watch.
The connection is designed to work similarly to other NFC-based interactions with an iPhone. Once a compatible machine is available, the user taps the phone against the designated connection point, chooses the appropriate exercise and begins the workout.
Apple’s GymKit privacy information also states that workout information is removed from connected equipment when a session ends, unless the user has signed into the machine. This is intended to limit the amount of personal workout information left behind on shared gym equipment.
The update could be particularly useful for Apple users who don’t own an Apple Watch or arrive at the gym without their wearable. Someone whose Apple Watch battery has run out can also use an iPhone and compatible AirPods to record a workout, as long as the gym equipment supports GymKit.
GymKit still cannot replace an Apple Watch
Despite the expanded compatibility, iOS 27 does not turn the iPhone and AirPods into a complete substitute for an Apple Watch. The new setup can provide much of the information needed during a workout, but Apple’s wearable offers a much wider range of health and activity tracking throughout the day.
An Apple Watch can continuously provide context around daily activity, exercise and other measurements, including information gathered outside individual gym sessions. An iPhone-based GymKit workout is instead focused on the exercise session itself and relies on having the phone and compatible AirPods available.
Practical requirements also limit who can take full advantage of the new feature. The iPhone must run iOS 27, and AirPods Pro 3 are required for the heart rate tracking component. Currently, GymKit-compatible cardio machines may disconnect from an iPhone when AirPods Pro 3 are not in use.
The availability of compatible gym equipment remains an even larger concern. GymKit has never been supported by every treadmill, bike, elliptical or stair machine, so users cannot assume that an iPhone will connect simply because the equipment has an NFC reader or supports other forms of wireless connectivity.
For people who already own an Apple Watch, the new iPhone functionality is therefore more of a useful backup than a replacement. Those who regularly forget to charge their watch or leave it at home can still record workouts using an iPhone and AirPods Pro 3, provided the necessary equipment is available.
For users without an Apple Watch, meanwhile, iOS 27 provides a more accessible way to take advantage of GymKit. Even so, a charged Apple Watch plus compatible equipment remains the simpler option for people already invested in Apple’s wearable ecosystem.
