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It’s official: Apple’s Fitness + streaming service will finally be available starting December 14. For $ 9.99 per month (or $ 79 per year), the streaming service offers tons of workouts based on a variety of skill levels, all of which can be done from the comfort of your own home.
With the pandemic still in full swing, you’re probably wondering if hitting the subscribe button is a good idea or not.
But simply owning an iPhone isn’t enough to grant you access to Apple’s new gym. You will also need an Apple Watch and maybe an iPad, and you might want to include an Apple TV as well, and maybe even a damn treadmill while you’re at it and, well, you get the idea.
Sure, that $ 10 monthly subscription seems tempting (especially since it can be shared with up to six family members for the same price), but the cost of the ideal Fitness + setup adds up. To test this, we’re going to break down all the accessories you need to start breaking a sweat with specially selected Apple trainers and workouts.
1.) An Apple Watch to track your metrics
There’s no getting around it – you need an Apple Watch for Fitness +
Image: brenda stolyar / mashable
Like I said before, you can’t use Fitness + without one of Apple’s smartwatches. Throughout each workout, Apple Watch tracks your heart rate and calories burned while displaying real-time metrics on your screen.
But here’s the thing: it only works with Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
So that means you are spending to less $ 200 for the third-generation model. The latest Series 6 is more expensive, starting at $ 400. There’s also the inexpensive Apple Watch SE, which starts at $ 279 if you don’t need fancy features like an ECG reader or an always-on display. And, although Apple has discontinued the Series 5 smartwatch, you can still find it at stores like Best Buy or Amazon for around $ 320.
It’s not worth it that if you buy a Series 3 or later, you will automatically get three months of Fitness + free.
2.) An iPhone to use said Apple Watch
To use that Apple Watch, you will need an iPhone
Image: zlata ivleva / mashable
Now to use that Apple Watch, you need to have an iPhone, you know, because of the company very closed ecosystem. But since you need an iPhone running iOS 14, you will have to make sure you are on iPhone 6S or later.
Apple released five shiny new iPhones in 2020 alone. If you’re looking for a new one, you can choose from the second-generation iPhone SE (from $ 399), iPhone 12 (from $ 799), iPhone 12 Pro (from $ 999), the iPhone 12 Pro Max (from $ 1,099) or the iPhone 12 Mini (from $ 699). But apple it is still keeping your old iPhone 11 and iPhone XR in the mix, which start at $ 600 and $ 499, respectively.
Regardless, if you get a new iPhone specifically for Fitness + and the Apple Watch, you will find yourself spending an additional $ 400 or more.
3.) An Apple Music subscription, if you really need it
I think you can skip the Apple Music subscription.
Image: screenshot / apple
For its guided training sessions, Apple selects specific playlists using Apple Music. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a music subscriber to use Fitness +, saving you money Some money throughout this process.
But if you want to download the exercise playlists for offline listening, you have no choice but to subscribe. As for pricing, Apple Music costs $ 9.99 per month or $ 14.99 per month for a family subscription (up to six people). But you get three months of free listening before Apple starts charging you.
4.) An iPad for a bigger screen
An iPad isn’t completely necessary, but it’s better than that little phone screen
Staring at the small screen of your phone while exercising can get awkward after a while. But aside from your TV (which I’ll get to later), you’ll probably want to invest in an iPad to get that full-screen view.
Fitness + is compatible with iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad Air 2, iPad Air (3rd generation or later), and iPad mini 4 or later. So if you have an older iPad that you’ve clung to, then you’re in luck and probably won’t have to upgrade to access your workouts.
But those of you looking to invest in a new one have the following options: iPad (8th gen) starting at $ 329, iPad Air (4th gen) starting at $ 599, iPad Pro (2020) starting at $ 799, and iPad Mini starting at $ 399.
5.) Apple TV for a larger monitor
Who doesn’t want to broadcast workouts on a television?
I’m not judging, if you want a screen that’s bigger than an iPad to follow these exercises, I totally get it. Not having access to a gym for almost a year has made me realize that it is best to clean your living room and broadcast your workouts on a giant television.
But to access the Fitness + app, you will need to purchase an Apple TV device. That will cost you from $ 149 for the HD version to $ 179 for the 4K model. Sure, it’s expensive, but both models are way cheaper than either of the iPads mentioned above.
6.) Some additional fitness equipment
The FAQ section of the Apple site indicates that you may need even more special equipment:
It depends on the training you choose. While many don’t require special equipment, for some they need things like weights, a yoga mat, an exercise bike, a rowing machine, or a treadmill.
I don’t know about you, but the equipment listed there has a wide range when it comes to pricing. You can buy dumbbells for as little as $ 15, while a “cheap” treadmill costs around $ 600.
Of course, there may be already You accumulated most of these things during the last eight to nine months, so you won’t have to worry about an additional expense. But if you don’t have any equipment, or just don’t want to spend more money, you can stick with the floor workouts available.
And the grand total is …
Although I’m absolutely lousy at math, I took it upon myself to add up how much it would cost me to start over with Fitness +.
If someone were to buy the less expensive accessories mentioned above, they would be looking at:
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Fitness + subscription: $ 9.99
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Apple Watch Series 3: $ 200
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iPhone SE (2020): $ 399
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Apple Music: $ 9.99
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iPad (8th generation): $ 329
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Apple TV: $ 149
They would be spending a total of about $ 1,097, and that’s for the “budget” devices in Apple’s lineup.
I know a lot of Apple loyalists already own most of these devices, so it’s very likely that Fitness + will be a nice little add-on to their existing ecosystem. But for those just starting out with an iPhone, it can get a bit confusing.
Of course, you’ll also get by with just an iPhone and an Apple Watch, which will cost you at least $ 620 (for iPhone SE, Series 3, Fitness +, and Music subscriptions). But if you plan to work out at home, you’ll want that ideal setting to keep you from dreading those daily workouts.
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