5 days Ago
On April 24, Apple Watch users will be encouraged to take on a personal challenge—whether that’s sticking to a favorite activity, pushing themselves a little harder, or trying something entirely new. The goal? Close all three Activity rings and share the achievement with #CloseYourRings. Those who complete the challenge will receive a limited-edition award, along with 10 animated stickers and a custom badge for Messages.
In celebration of Global Close Your Rings Day, Apple is also offering a special pin inspired by the award. Available at Apple Stores worldwide starting April 24, the pins will be given out while supplies last.New Insights into Apple Watch Activity and Health ResearchFitness and health are more connected than ever, and new findings from the Apple Heart and Movement Study highlight the positive impact of Apple Watch’s Activity rings on sleep, heart health, and mental well-being.
The study, which involved over 140,000 participants, revealed that individuals who regularly closed their Activity rings experienced significant benefits across these areas, regardless of gender or age.Compared to those who rarely closed their rings, those who did so consistently were found to be 48% less likely to suffer from poor sleep quality, defined by frequent nighttime awakenings. They were also 73% less likely to have elevated resting heart rates—a key marker of fitness and cardiovascular health—and 57% less likely to report higher stress levels, according to the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), a common measure of stress.
Conducted in partnership with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association, the Apple Heart and Movement Study has amassed over 200,000 participants across the U.S. The study continues to offer valuable insights into the relationship between daily activity and long-term health outcomes.
Activity and Health on Apple WatchThe Activity app remains a cornerstone of the Apple Watch experience, urging users to close their three Activity rings—Move, Exercise, and Stand—by reaching daily targets for calories burned, minutes of activity, and hours spent standing. These goals can be personalized by day or week, and users can even pause them for a well-deserved rest day.Beyond just Activity rings, Apple Watch offers a suite of features designed to help users manage their health.
The Workout app tracks a variety of exercises, offering personalized heart rate and calorie data with advanced metrics for running, cycling, swimming, and hiking. Apple Watch also tracks sleep, monitors heart health, and offers insights on stress, menstrual cycles, medication, and environmental noise levels.The accuracy of these features is grounded in scientific research, with rigorous testing and validation processes.
Apple Watch leverages machine learning models built from data gathered in large-scale studies to ensure accurate heart rate measurements, calorie estimations, and fitness-related insights.Apple prioritizes user privacy, ensuring that all health and fitness data is encrypted, both on the device and in transit to iCloud. With strong data protections in place, Apple Watch users can be confident that their personal health information remains secure.
Note: Dhruv, the writer of this article, is an Apple Watch Series 10 user who wears it every day to manage his weight and track workouts. With a custom focus mode designed for the gym and LTE support, he doesn't need his iPhone nearby—music can be streamed directly from the watch, and calls can be taken on the go. For iPhone users considering an Apple Watch, Dhruv recommends giving it a try.
If you can afford the Ultra or Series 10, they’re fantastic options, but if not, the Apple Watch SE still offers great value and is a solid entry point into the ecosystem..
