Apple is making workouts more fun and interactive with a new feature called Workout Buddy, coming later this year in the watchOS 26 update for Apple Watch.
This new tool acts like a personal fitness coach that talks to you during your workouts. Powered by Apple’s own AI system, Apple Intelligence, Workout Buddy gives you real-time motivation and feedback based on your fitness history and workout data like heart rate, pace, and distance. For example, when you start a run, it might say, “Great job getting out for your run this Wednesday morning!”
It continues to encourage you as you progress and even gives you a summary at the end, congratulating you on your achievements. The voice is powered by advanced text-to-speech technology and is designed to sound like a real coach, inspired by Apple’s Fitness+ trainers. All data is processed on your device, so your privacy stays protected.
Workout Buddy will initially support popular exercises such as outdoor and indoor running, walking, outdoor cycling, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and strength training. It will first be available in English, with more languages to follow.
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To use Workout Buddy, you’ll need an Apple Watch that supports watchOS 26, Bluetooth headphones to hear the voice feedback, and an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence—specifically, the iPhone 16 lineup or the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Your iPhone and Apple Watch need to stay close together for the feature to work properly.
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Besides Workout Buddy, watchOS 26 also brings a refreshed design called Liquid Glass, smarter notifications, personalized music suggestions for workouts, and a simpler, more user-friendly Workout app with bigger buttons and easier controls. Overall, Workout Buddy is set to turn your Apple Watch into a personal trainer that motivates and guides you, making your fitness journey more enjoyable and personalized.
