With the upcoming release of the AP Pro 3 and their native heart rate support, I’m thinking about picking up a pair to simplify my indoor training setup.
According to the messaging from Apple this isn’t a standard bluetooth heart rate sensor. Sounds like it will require app developers to add support for the feature.
Just curious if TR will support this feature at launch and if not, is there a timetable to add the feature?
+1. Would be swell if this could be supported…assuming it is reasonably accurate vs the chest strap.
If I understood DC Rainmaker’s review correctly the heart rate monitor only works with Apple’s fitness app at this time.
According to DC Rainmaker’s testing, it’s pretty accurate but doesn’t work with 3rd party apps yet.
Wouldn’t hold your breath. I think it’s same as the Apple Watch in that it doesn’t broadcast in the same way a dedicated HR monitor would.
No, Watch OS offers APIs to access heart rate data in real time. There have been apps for many years that turn the Apple Watch into a standard heart rate sensor. So TR could very easily make a companion app for the watch that — apart from transmitting heart rate — also allows the user to control the trainer or workout via their Apple Watch (e. g. to pause and resume it).
The only thing that is missing is a “transmit heart rate” feature built into the OS.
Apple could do — and curiously — has done the same with heart rate data coming from earbuds. They sell a pair of Beats earbuds with heart rate sensors, although their data is atrocious. I don’t know why Apple hasn’t enabled that functionality on their AirPods Pro 3.
Using their own protocol also has advantages: if you are using an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 3, Apple’s software will combine the heart rate data and improve the overall data, apparently. I don’t think that precludes a simple “transmit heart rate” feature, but it is an advantage of overall integration.
Seems unlikely for something so new and niche and not using standardised protocols. Effort better spent elsewhere.
If we step back, then Apple seems to have cracked it, all of the reviews have praised the accuracy — and that this is the first time earbuds with a heart rate sensor produce usable, good data. It’d be nice if we could have it all, though 
Ah great to live in a world where everyone will HAVE to listen to music while running/riding if they want accurate HR data, should be great for overall awareness out there!
[Sarcasm obviously; agreed it’d be nice to have this as a publicly available source of HR data, though I’d only maybe use it indoors]
Just in general the fact that there is still no HealthKit integration in 2025 is a bit crappy. Lack of HK integration in TR is the only reason I bother with Strava. No other health related app that I use, some from much smaller vendors, lacks this.
I’m not saying I think a lot of people would do it, but with AirPods Pro in Transparency Mode with no music, it actually enhances clarity for me in some situations. I totally agree with your point that it’s infuriating to try to pass someone who has music in their ears and isn’t aware you’re behind them. I guess I’m just saying don’t assume everyone with an AirPod in is completely oblivious to the noises around them.
Yup.
Thing is that this isn’t a small oversight. TR e. g. imports workouts from other clouds (Garmin, Wahoo, TP, etc.), but not Apple Health. I’d imagine that a lot of TR athletes use an Apple Watch on runs, swims and strength workouts.
For a long time the answer was “use Strava”, but that’s no longer a reliable, good faith partner. Support for Wahoo was added in a concerted effort (yes, I know head unit vs. watch, but still).
OTOH, it’s unlikely that this is the thing that makes me churn. I am, however, increasingly unhappy about this.
I’ve never used it, but how did it work when you do TR workouts through Fitness on Apple Watch? TR was a launch partner when Apple added that functionality. Does that not require Healthkit to pull in the workouts (and heart rate data) after completing a workout on the watch?
I reached out to TR support and they confirmed they don’t support HR from Airpods yet. Sounds like maybe Apple hasn’t made the documentation avialabile yet. I’d imagine there’s probably some branding deals in place with the apps that support it at launch .Hopefully they can get on top of that. Airpods with HR will likely become one of the most ubiquitious heart rate sensors on the market.
I can’t actually find it on Apple’s website, but here’s a screenshot from CNET with the list of apps that support HR at launch.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM SPORT got pretty bad ratings for accuracy and use methodology, I can appreciate everyone wanting it to be all in one and working and i can see in a pinch having it work but really would question the accuracy. If they can’t make watches as good as the mainstay chest or arm strap how can the ear bud be any better. I’m sure knowing apple they will do their research to make it better than the momentums but TR, how about support for the CORE temperature or the sweat monitoring. The engineering team only has so much bandwidth and having them chasing down support for something that is untested seems eh.
@dcrainmaker tested the AirPods and says they’re good. I’m not about to go grab a pair at the moment, but I probably will if either my chest strap or current AirPods die. It’s not like I need these to monitor my vitals while in surgery.
All the reviews I have seen, including @dcrainmaker, point out how accurate and usable the data is. It seems Apple has cracked the problem. And it seems there are situations (e. g. on the trainer) where I am wearing AirPods Pro anyway and they’d give better accuracy than a watch in many circumstances, then this seems like a no-brainer.
Moreover, not supporting the #1 smartwatch brand on the planet seems like a weird choice. If TR isn’t careful, they may accrue a lot of technical debt for a significant share of TR’s population. If you follow @dcrainmaker, he makes a point of how serious Apple is about sports. Not sure how big of an effort you need to make to allow for AirPods Pro heart rate, but I reckon it isn’t much.
And the idea that the Apple Watch doesn’t produce reliable heart rate data is pretty old. It took them a couple of generations, but I think DC Rainmaker would consider it to be one of the best wrist based heart rate sensors these days.
I think it is mostly that the heart rate sensors of any watch can struggle when you articulate your wrists a lot (e. g. when you are in the aero hoods position) or if there is a lot of vibration. Whenever I am riding over cobbles, my Wahoo Rival (which, admittedly is the opposite of king-of-the-hill when it comes to heart rate data) gives up.
What I found interesting is that Apple will combine heart rate data from the Watch and the AirPods Pro 3 when both are used.
Bumping this thread, can anyone from TR comment on if this is in the works?
