Home / Tech / Smartwatches

I Wish Every Apple Watch Had This Simple Workout Feature

One of my favorite workout features is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s time Apple changed that.

Apple Watch Ultra Precision StartPhoto by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

By Tucker Bowe

Published

·

Apple already announced that it’s bringing one of the most requested features to the Apple Watch: rest days.

When watchOS 11 rolls out in a few weeks, you’ll finally be able to pause your Activity Rings for a day (or week). This will allow you to take a break from exercising when tired, injured or traveling. Hooray.

One feature that has not been announced — and I’m guessing likely won’t be — is the ability use Precision Start on a non-Ultra Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Workout countdown
Precision Start eliminates the need to see this countdown screen before a workout.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

What is Precision Start?

Precision Start is a feature that’s been exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra (and Ultra 2) — and it’s really quite simple.

When turned on, Precision Start eliminates the typical countdown — 3 … 2 … 1 … Start —  you see on your Apple Watch before a workout. Basically, it starts tracking your workout immediately instead of making you wait three seconds.

It’s a little thing, admittedly, but if you’re a runner whose serious about times and improving — or you’re just tired of waiting those three seconds to begin your run — it’s a little thing that matters.

The reason why Precision Start has been exclusive to the Ultra (and Ultra 2) is that they’re the only Apple Watches with an Action Button — the big orange button on the left side of the smartwatch — which you can program to quick-start a workout.

Apple Watch Ultra Precision Start
The Action Button seems to be a prerequisite for an Apple Watch to have Precision Start … but it shouldn’t have to be!
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

If you don’t have Apple’s big and expensive smartwatch — which the vast majority of Apple Watch wearers don’t — then you can’t use Precision Start at all. It’s not an option.

But as somebody who likes the smaller size of a regular Apple Watch and who runs quite frequently wearing it, I would love the ability to hit the “Outdoor Run” option in the Workout app and not have to wait the three seconds.

Please Apple, bring Precision Start to the non-Ultras. Regular Apple Watch wearers want to be able to quick-start a workout without the delayed countdown, too.

Apple Watch Ultra Precision Start
If you have an Apple Watch Ultra or Ultra 2, you can toggle on Precision Start via your Apple Watch or your iPhone.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

How to turn on Precision Start

If you have an Apple Watch Ultra (or Ultra 2), Precision Start is turned off by default. You’ll have to turn it on to not see the three-second countdown before a workout.

Turn on Precision Start from your Apple Watch Ultra (or Ultra 2):

  1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
  2. Scroll down and select the Workout app.
  3. Scroll down and toggle on Precision Start.

Turn on Precision Start from your iPhone:

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and select the Workout app.
  3. Toggle on Precision Start.

Read More

,