This year’s WWDC may have been dominated by talk of iOS 18 and macOS Sonoma, but watchOS 11 also made its debut, bringing a host of new features to the Apple Watch.
While the update might seem modest compared to some previous years, there’s plenty to get excited about and make you reconsider buying an Oura Ring.
Whether you’re ready to dive into the developer beta or waiting for the official release in September, let’s find out why the Apple Watch will soon be a more compelling choice than the Oura Ring.
Introducing the Vitals App
The star of watchOS 11 is definitely the new Vitals app. This is likely a major competitor to the Oura Ring, potentially causing concern for the company.
Apple has always been at the forefront of health and wellness technology, and the Vitals app takes this a step further by providing a comprehensive look at your sleep and recovery metrics.
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So, what sets this app apart from the existing health tools on your Apple Watch?
According to Apple, “The Vitals app in watchOS 11 allows users to measure and review key health metrics during sleep, including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels.”
While these metrics were already being tracked individually, the Vitals app consolidates them into a single, easy-to-read interface, providing better context and actionable insights.
The idea is simple: wear your Apple Watch to bed, and it will record these metrics to establish your normal range.
If two or more of these metrics deviate from this baseline, you’ll receive an alert, prompting you to examine potential causes.
One of the Vitals app’s main benefits is the ability to view a summary of your last seven days of sleep data right on your wrist.
While the Health app on your iPhone can show you this information, the Vitals app contextualizes it with graphs and lifestyle-oriented prompts.
For example, if your heart rate and wrist temperature were higher than normal, the app might suggest that it could be due to factors like illness or alcohol consumption.
This holistic approach to health tracking is similar to that of other wearables, like the Oura Ring, which predicts oncoming illness by tracking similar biomarkers.
It’s great to see Apple bringing these advanced health monitoring features to the Apple Watch.
So here’s the question: Why would you invest in an Oura Ring, which costs up to $350 plus an ongoing monthly membership, when the Apple Watch will soon offer similar (if not superior) features?
Bottom Line
While watchOS 11 might not have made as many headlines as other updates, the new Vitals app represents a significant step forward in health monitoring for Apple Watch users.
The Vitals app enhances the overall wellness experience by consolidating key health metrics into a user-friendly interface and providing actionable insights.
As always, we’ll be closely monitoring how these features develop and what new they bring. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore everything watchOS 11 has to offer.
True – but who actually enjoys wearing their watch to bed. I do from time to time but it’s a little much. A smaller wearable like the Oura (I don’t own one) probably has a place in the market.
how can you wear the watch at night if it has to be charged?
My Garmin Venu 3 goes 2 weeks between charges that which take less than 90 minutes to fully recharge to 100%.
I have complete sleep, health, pulse-ox, and exercise info on my wrist.
Apple Watches need useful battery life without daily recharges. There are more cost effective options that integrate well with the Apple ecosystem.
I am passing.