Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

No phone necessary: Runkeeper’s app now uses Apple Watch’s built-in GPS

runkeeper apple watch app gps nike  sports large
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Perhaps the biggest update to the Apple Watch for Series 2 was that it gained GPS tracking, essentially meaning that you no longer necessarily need to pair it with your phone for mapping your runs and other location-based activities. It looks like Runkeeper is now taking advantage of that change — the Runkeeper app has been updated to use the Apple Watch’s GPS, offering more comprehensive stats and a detailed map you can later check out on your phone.

You’ll now also be able to use a customizable activity screen on the Apple Watch that allows you to choose what you want to see on the screen when you’re working out — all without needing to take your phone with you on your runs and workout sessions.

There are a few interesting ways that you can customize the Runkeeper activity screen, including by adding a new heart rate graph that gives you a quick look at your beats per minute (BPM) over the preceding five minutes. You can also use the target pace graph, which shows your run compared to your speed goal, which you will have entered into the app before you started.

The app is also getting a few new updates to how you’re notified of information during your run. For example, the watch will now vibrate each time you run an extra mile.

To check out the new Runkeeper Apple Watch app for yourself, head to the App Store. Of course, keep in mind that if you want to use many of the new features, you’ll need the Apple Watch Series 2 — the Series 1 doesn’t have GPS and therefor won’t be able to get location information.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Apple may have delayed a critical Apple Watch upgrade
Smart Stack on the Apple Watch Series 9.

It seems Apple’s highly anticipated display upgrades, especially for the Apple Watch, will have to wait a few more years. According to Bloomberg, Apple has shuttered in-house efforts to design and develop microLED panels that would have appeared on its smartwatches — and eventually more products down the road.

The current-gen Apple smartwatches rely on an OLED panel, but Apple has been eyeing microLED screens for the Apple Watch's future iterations. These in-house panels, which would have offered “brighter and more vibrant visuals,” were ultimately put on cold ice due to cost and complexity concerns.

Read more
Why you shouldn’t buy a new Apple Watch right now
The curved screen on the Apple Watch Series 9.

It has been over six months since the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 launched, and they are still considered two of the best smartwatches on the market. However, there are two significant reasons why you might not want to purchase either of these models.

Those reasons are the Apple Watch Series 8 and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra. That's right — buying a 2022 Apple Watch over the newer models might be a better choice for you.
Why now's a great time to buy an old Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 9 (top) and Apple Watch Series 8 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
8 iPhone browser apps you should use instead of Safari
iPhone browser apps

By default, the Safari web browser is available on every iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, several other web-browsing options can be found on the App Store, each with at least one unique feature that distinguishes it from the others. While some web browser apps like Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo, and Microsoft Edge might already be familiar to you, others such as Aloha and Arc Search may not be.

If you're looking for a Safari alternative, here are our favorite iPhone browser apps you should consider using instead.
Google Chrome

Read more