Apple and Nike have introduced Apple Watch Nike+, the latest result of a long-standing partnership between the two companies. Apple Watch Nike+ is billed as the ultimate tool for anyone who runs, pairing exclusive Nike Sport Bands with Apple Watch Series 2, which features GPS, a two-times-brighter display, water resistance to 50m, a powerful dual-core processor and watchOS 3.
Apple Watch Nike+ also includes exclusive Siri commands and iconic Nike watch faces along with deep integration with the new Nike+ Run Club app for motivation to go for a run, coaching plans that adapt to individuals’ schedule and progress, and guidance from some of the world’s best coaches and athletes.
Apple Watch Nike+ is positioned as ‘the ultimate companion for those with a passion for running, whether they’re emerging runners or marathon veterans.’
“Apple Watch is the ultimate device for a healthy life and we wanted to push it further to create the best smartwatch in the world for runners and athletes,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer. “Apple Watch Nike+ takes performance tracking to a whole new level and we can’t wait to bring it to the world’s largest community of runners.”
“We know runners – and we know many are looking for a device that gives them an easy, fun way to start running,” said Trevor Edwards, President of the Nike Brand. “The market is full of complex, hard-to-read devices that focus on your data. This focuses on your life. It’s a powerful device with a simple solution – your perfect running partner.”
Features
Apple Watch Nike+, like all Apple Watch Series 2 models, features built-in GPS to track pace, distance and route, so users can run without an iPhone. With the brightest display Apple has ever made, metrics are said to be easy to read, no matter the sun’s glare, and if users decide to take a post-run dip in the pool, Apple Watch Nike+ is water resistant 50m for swimming.
The Nike Sport band is crafted from the same strong, flexible fluoroelastomer as the original Apple Watch Sport Band, but now it’s perforated for better ventilation and sweat management. The lightweight band is available in four, two-tone colour combinations that are unique to the collection. Apple Watch Nike+ features two exclusive watch faces inspired by Nike’s iconic style that can be easily personalized with useful apps such as Activity Rings, Heart Rate, Stopwatch and Weather, helping runners stay informed at a glance.
Nike+ Run Club
Apple Watch Nike+ takes advantage of the unique capabilities of Apple Watch Series 2 and the Nike+ Run Club app to be ‘the perfect running partner on your wrist’. The app experience is built into Apple Watch Nike+ and easily accessed right from the watch face, so users can get going with a quick tap.
The Nike+ Run Club app offers daily motivation through smart run reminders, challenges from friends and even alerts informing when the weather is right to get outside. Training data, including pace, distance and heart rate are available at a glance, and through shared run summaries, the app aims to promote friendly competition, ‘even allowing users to send fist bumps to each other right from the wrist’.
Pricing & availability
- Apple Watch Nike+ will be available in two different aluminium case sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm and pairs with four exclusive Nike Sport Band colour combinations including Black/Volt, Black/Cool Gray, Flat Silver/White and Flat Silver/Volt.
- Apple Watch Nike+ will be available in 38 mm at US$369 and in 42mm at US$399 from Apple.com, Nike.com, Apple Stores, select Nike retail stores, select Apple Authorized Resellers and select specialty stores and department stores.
- Apple Watch Nike+ will be available to order on Apple.com beginning Friday 9 September 9, with availability in late October, in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK and the US.
- For the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Macau, Poland, Qatar, Russia and Saudi Arabia, Apple Watch Nike+ will be available to order on Apple.com beginning Friday 23 September, with availability in late October.
Nike Sport Bands are available exclusively with Apple Watch Nike+ models and not sold separately. Apple Watch Series 2 requires iPhone 5 or later running iOS 10 or later. watchOS 3 and iOS 10 will be available beginning Tuesday 13 September 13 as a free software update. Some features are not available in all regions or all languages.
Every customer who buys Apple Watch Nike+ from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online, to help set up and personalize their new Apple Watch with calendars, notifications, apps and more. Anyone who wants to learn more about Apple Watch Nike+ or watchOS 3 can register for the free workshops offered at every Apple Store.
Apple Watch Series 2 has a water resistance rating of 50m under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. Stainless steel and leather bands are not water resistant.
