Apple has been quietly testing a wrist-worn device that pairs with the iPhone, according to people familiar with the project. Prototypes reportedly track steps, heart rate and notifications, and lean heavily on voice commands for anything longer than a glance.
The company has hired fitness and sensor specialists over the last year, a hint that health tracking will be at the centre of the product rather than a side feature. Battery life remains the hardest problem: early units are said to last a day at most.
Apple declined to comment. Analysts expect the device to reach stores only when the software and the strap ecosystem are ready, not before.
