I found the Apple Watch feature every busy pro needs and I use it every workout

Date:
Sun, 02 Aug 2026 07:25:00 +0000

Description:
By pairing an Apple Watch with AirPods Pro, I unlocked a quiet dual-sensor trick that gives busy professionals chest-strap health accuracy with zero extra setup.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Apple Watch Ultra 3 owners tend to know the headline features by now: satellite messaging, the brighter always-on display, hypertension alerts.

What most people haven't noticed is a much quieter feature that only shows up if you also own a pair of the well-received AirPods Pro 3 the same earbuds you're probably already using on all those Zoom calls at work every day. For anyone else trying to squeeze a workout into a packed workday (or if you're trying to travel light on a business trip), I can tell you it's become the
one I actually rely on most. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: No more packing the chest-strap AirPods Pro 3 have their own in-ear heart rate sensors, enabled by default, which is easy to miss since Apple doesn't make a big deal about it.

On their own, they're a genuinely solid heart rate source, useful for anyone who wants to track a run or a lift without a watch at all. But when you wear both an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 3 during the same workout, the two
devices don't just duplicate the same job. You may like I ran 10km wearing
the Google Fitbit Air and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 here are all the differences in heart rate, calories & more The best workout headphones for 2026 The best running watch for 2026: Watches for every level of runner

They combine into multiple simultaneous streams of heart rate data, and the system automatically leans on whichever source has the highest confidence at any given moment. (Image credit: Future) That matters more than it sounds like. Wrist-based optical sensors, including the Ultra 3's, can struggle during movements that shift the watch on your wrist: heavy grip work, rowing, anything involving a lot of wrist flexion. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me
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In-ear sensors don't have that problem, but they can be thrown off by their fit or by their own motion. Fusing both sources means the watch is quietly falling back on whichever sensor is actually reading you correctly, workout
to workout and rep to rep, instead of you having to guess which device to trust.

Honestly, it's replaced the chest strap by now. I used to strap one on for anything where zone accuracy actually mattered, interval sessions, heavy lifting days, anything where the watch slides around enough on my wrist to throw the optical sensor off.

Is it clinically equivalent to a chest strap? Probably not. But after a few months of comparing the two side by side, it's close enough that I just don't bother anymore. What to read next The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is worth the investment for these 3 reasons 3 discreet, screenless fitness trackers I've personally tested, and where to buy them on Prime Day The best smartwatch for iPhone

As a professional, that feels like a win to me. It's one less piece of gear I have to cart around with me on a business trip or to a conference with the rest of my work gear. (Image credit: Future) Setting it up takes no extra effort. Heart rate monitoring is enabled by default on AirPods Pro 3, so if you already own both devices, this will likely happen in the background the next time you start a workout with both in use.

You can check or turn it off entirely from the Settings app on iPhone, under your AirPods' name, if you'd rather it not run.

It's a small thing, and Apple has barely marketed it. But it's the kind of feature that only reveals itself once you own the specific pair of devices it's built for.

In my experience, it's an ideal setup for busy professionals who still want accurate health data without adding extra setups and gear.

If you've already got an Ultra 3 and a pair of AirPods Pro 3, there's nothing to set up and nothing to buy. You're most likely already using it without realizing it. AirPods Pro 3 deals voucher gift 198 View 219 199 View voucher gift 219 199 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Apple Watch Ultra 3 deals voucher gift 749 View voucher gift 749 View deal 749 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/i-found-the-apple-watch-feature-every-busy-pro-n eeds-and-i-use-it-every-workout


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