In the two years since the launch of the original Apple Watch the device has come on leaps and bounds in terms of what it offers runners. The Apple Watch 2 added on-board GPS to allow runners to track their workouts accurately without a phone, and now the new Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + 4G) on EE has gone further still by introducing mobile connectivity.
This newfound connectivity means runners can take calls, receive texts and emails, and stream music all through the new Apple Watch itself when connected to an EE iPhone, leaving their phone behind when they head out for a workout.
The new Apple Watch 3, uses the same number as your iPhone, so both the iPhone and your Apple Watch need to be on EE if you want to call, message, use apps and stream music, without having your iPhone on you. If your iPhone is on another network and you buy the new Apple Watch, you simply won’t get access to all of the great 4G functionality.
Being able to stay connected while on the go is the cherry on top of the comprehensive running experience offered by the latest Apple Watch on EE. Whether you’re a new runner attempting to get from the couch to 5K, or an experienced pavement-pounder with a marathon PB in mind, the new Apple Watch will serve you well.
This is because of Apple’s unrivalled range of run tracking apps. As well as the native Workout app, every popular third-party fitness tracking option has a dedicated Apple Watch app, including the likes of, Nike+ Run Club, and Runkeeper.
The native Workout app is delightfully smooth and easy to use, and with one swipe to the right you can control your music directly on the Apple Watch 3. On the main run screen you get all your key stats, such as time, distance, heart rate and pace, in one list, and you can set calorie, distance or time targets for each run you head out on, or just opt for an open goal.
After the run you get a map of your route and breakdown of your workout data including, thanks to the new barometric altimeter in the new Apple Watch, elevation gain – a vital detail if you’re a committed hill climber. You also get a graph of your heart rate throughout the run and, intriguingly, details on how quickly you recovered after finishing. This new feature on the Apple Watch arrived with WatchOS 4 and shows how quickly your heart rate returns to normal after finishing your exercise, with a faster recovery indicative of a higher level of fitness.
The Workout app offers a simple and highly effective approach to run tracking, but if you desire even more depth or the ability to connect with other apps, then there’s plenty of other options to consider.
The most deeply-integrated running app on the new Apple Watch on EE is Nike+ Run Club, which takes a proactive approach to your training with run reminders, training plans and coached sessions. The latter is especially impressive, with star athletes like Mo Farah as well as Nike coaches talking you through guided workouts straight from the watch.
One other app that’s worth flagging up is iSmoothRun, which offers runners the chance to customise every aspect of their training with the new Apple Watch and their EE iPhone. The two data screens on iSmoothRun can be set up to show all manner of intricate details, including stats like cadence, your pace over the past 30 or 60 seconds, and your time ahead or behind a preset target. You can also set up step-by-step workouts and follow them on the latest Apple Watch with iSmoothRun, which can be very handy for runners following a training plan ahead of a major event like a marathon.
Of course, whichever app you decide to use, you get the benefits of the Apple Watch 3’s extra connectivity through an EE data plan. Even with your EE iPhone sitting at home or in a desk drawer at work, you can remain fully connected to the world, taking calls and checking your emails. No more fiddling with arm bands or having to endure your phone slapping against your thigh with every step as it flaps around in your pocket – no small thing when you consider just how sizeable some phones are nowadays.
This connectivity makes it easier than ever before to fit running into your schedule, as you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything important while you’re out training. You can even reply to important messages and emails through the new Apple Watch, either by dictating your response through Siri, writing a quick note through the nifty Scribble feature, or using one of the preset responses like “Let me get back to you” or “thanks!” Let’s be honest, that last option will suffice for the vast majority of emails most of us receive each day.
The benefits of having the EE mobile connectivity on the watch also extends to runners who don’t want to receive texts and emails while they’re exercising, as you can stream music through Apple Music and tune the rest of the world out. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber you don’t have to agonise over a playlist before setting out any more, because you can pick and stream tunes on the fly with access to your entire music library and the extensive Apple Music catalogue through the watch. It’s also a great way of making the most of your 6 months of free Apple Music that you can get with your iPhone’s EE pay monthly plan.
Apple have also improved the Music app on the watch for those who don't have an Apple Music subscription, automatically syncing recent additions to your iPhone’s music library to the Watch, as well as the music you most frequently listen to. For those who regularly forget to update the music they have on the Apple Watch, which, in truth, is pretty much everyone, this auto-add feature and the ability to stream music directly through the watch are both brilliant additions as you’re no longer forced to listen to the one playlist you did remember to put on the watch over and over again.
Introducing mobile connectivity to the new Apple Watch, with EE, has made it a uniquely comprehensive running tracker. No other smartwatch can match the range of apps available on the latest Apple Watch, which means every kind of runner can find the perfect tracking experience for them. The ability to also make and receive calls, check and respond to emails, and stream music on the fly, with no need to carry a chunky smartphone with you, then adds a completely new dimension to the latest Apple Watch, and once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever got on without it.
EE offers the Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + 4G) from just £25 per month with unlimited data, and customers require an iPhone 6, SE (or later) on a EE pay monthly or EE SIM Only plan.
