iOS 27 lets iPhones and AirPods tap into GymKit-enabled gym machines
With iOS 27, Apple extends GymKit support to iPhone, allowing users to tap their phone on compatible cardio equipment to sync workout data both ways, similar to Apple Pay. AirPods Pro 3 can supply live heart rate data to the iPhone, which then shares it with the machine and records the session in the Fitness app. The feature still requires gym equipment with GymKit integration, and workout information is deleted from the machine after each session.
Launched in 2017, GymKit struggled to gain traction because gyms rarely replaced equipment and an Apple Watch was mandatory. The iOS 27 update removes that wearable requirement, letting an iPhone's NFC chip and AirPods Pro 3's heart-rate sensors serve as the connection bridge.
The tap-to-connect process resembles Apple Pay. Heart-rate data travels from the earbuds to the phone, then to the machine, and workout metrics return to the Fitness app, with machine-side records deleted after each session unless a user is signed in. However, the feature only works on GymKit-enabled machines, and the iPhone disconnects if AirPods Pro 3 are absent, so a charged watch remains the smoother alternative.
This update could make GymKit more accessible to casual gym-goers who lack an Apple Watch, potentially encouraging fitness centers to invest in compatible cardio machines. It may also deepen Apple's ecosystem lock-in by making AirPods Pro 3 a near-requirement for advanced tracking. Yet the practical impact hinges on whether gym operators actually upgrade aging equipment, a slow and costly process that could limit the feature's real-world reach.