The future of Apple Watch fitness might be GymKit

The Apple Watch can one-tap connect with cardio and fitness machines in certain gyms: this is how it works.

Sarah Tew

Dec. 11, 2017 12:40 p.m. PT

1 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

What is GymKit? It's a simple tap-to-pair process using NFC and Bluetooth that links the Apple Watch to fitness equipment.

Read the article

2 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

Once paired, a fitness machine shows the same workout stats on the Apple Watch and the gym display.

Read the article

3 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

I gave it a try.

Read the article

4 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

It also autopauses your Apple Watch if you pause a workout on the gym machine, too.

Read the article

5 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

The gym machine reads your heart rate data and estimated calorie info, while the watch gets extra information from the gym machine, like stairs climbed or elevation.

Read the article

6 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

Current GymKit partners include Technogym, Life Fitness, Matrix, Star Trac, Schwinn, Cybex and Stair Master.

Read the article

7 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

Workout data gets synced to Apple Health (and your iPhone), too.

Read the article

8 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

It basically means easy tap-in, tap-out for workouts.

Read the article

9 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

GymKit is launching in one fitness center in New York to start, but Life Time Athletic and Equinox centers will start using GymKit-ready machines in North America in 2018, along with Fitness First in Australia.

Read the article

10 of 18

Sarah Tew/CNET

Right now, GymKit is only being used on professional fitness machines in fitness centers. It's possible it might be used on home equipment in the future.

Read the article