Cardio Recovery is a feature part of watchOS 9

Jun 8, 2022 19:03 GMT  ·  By

watchOS 9 is a big update for the Apple Watch, there’s no doubt about it, and as it turns out, the Cupertino-based tech giant is working around the clock on reducing the gap between its device and activity trackers developed by its competitors.

One of the new features coming to the Apple Watch with the release of watchOS 9 is called Cardio Recovery, and it’s essentially an estimate of how long it’ll take for your body to recover after a workout.

If you’ve been using a smartwatch from Garmin, for instance, you probably know that recovery times have been around for a very long time.

In the case of Garmin smartwatches, however, the recovery time is calculated using a complex algorithm that includes data like the training effect of the complete activity, stress levels, the quality of sleep, training intensity, and daily activity levels.

“Recovery time provides an estimate on how long it will take for you to fully recover and be ready for your next workout. This time can range from 0 hours to 4 days,” Garmin says.

Apple, on the other hand, hasn’t provided too many specifics on the Cardio Recovery, though the company confirmed the score would be offered for activities like walking, running, and hiking. It’s not yet clear if these are going to be the only activities supported for Cardio Recovery and whether new ones would be added at a later time.

“Cardio Recovery is a useful fitness metric that can be an indicator of cardiovascular health. Apple Watch now provides estimates of Cardio Recovery after an Outdoor Walk, Run, or Hiking workout, even when the workout does not reach peak intensity. This metric can be tracked over time in the Health app,” Apple said.

watchOS 9 will launch for the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer in September.