Apple Watch Nike+

Editor rating: 8.5 / 10

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By Mike Gray

All Nike Shoes

Apple Watch Nike+ Review Facts

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Apple is one of the biggest technology companies in the world. Nike is one of the biggest sports brands in the world. Combine the two and you may have a product that’s bigger than the sum of its parts. Or so the thinking behind the Apple Watch Nike+ goes. With a sporty neon yellow sports band and an exclusive watchface, the fitness overlay on the Apple Watch Series 2, there’s the Nike appeal with core Apple Watch features.

The Apple Watch Nike + is also almost indistinguishable from the Series 2, which has also blended all of the features of a smartwatch with a fitness tracker. This watch blends the best of both smartwatches and fitness trackers as a constant workout and wrist companion.

For workouts, pace, time, heart rate, and distance are recorded over a variety of activities, from indoor and outdoor walks and runs, stair stepper, and treadmill. But the Nike+ also records a variety of workouts, including strength training and swimming.

With a partnership with Nike, the Apple Watch Nike+, Apple is hoping that this will become the go-to fitness tracker for runners and athletes alike. With excellent accuracy, an easy-to-use menu, and great amount of options, the Nike+ may not differ so much from the Series 2 but with its minor upgrades and improved band, it’s still a still a more appropriate fitness watch than the Series 2. So although the Nike+ could be seen as just a Series 2 watch with a sports band and a Nike face, this gives the watch a little more fitness-minded edge than just straightforward smartwatches.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Excellent functionality highly similar to the Apple Watch Series 2
Highly accurate GPS provides location and records data
Waterproof up to 50 meters, both salt and fresh
Very comfortable sports watch band
Exclusive Nike Run Club app

Cons

GPS tends to drain the battery quickly
Requires an IPhone 5 and up

Activities

The Nike+ watch has built-in programs to record a variety of workouts, including running, walking, cycling, and swimming. In addition, it functions as an activity watch that records data from a number of other exercise routines, including rowing, treadmills, and even basketball and soccer. The Nike+ is highly adaptable to your specific workout goals, allowing the user to change their metrics to their specifications. With a built-in heart rate monitor and GPS, the Nike+ records distance, pace, maps out routes, and records heart rate.

Basic Features

Each activity and workout can be set to particular goals, whether it be calorie-, time-, or distance-based. The Nike+ can also just record your activity in a number of metrics for later review. . After a few sessions, the watch adapts to offer your most common workout routines from the list.

Your saved workouts automatically sync to the Activity and Nike Run Club apps on your IPhone. This provides an overview of the day’s activities like the amount of time you’ve exercised, your total movement, total distance traveled, steps taken, and workouts completed. Each workout is broken down by total time, calories burned, distance, and average heart rate. Other available metrics include weather conditions during the workout, average pace, and a map of your route. The Nike+ also uses the Nike Run Club app to provide the runner with further metrics with the recorded data.

Advanced Features

Its built-in GPS system begins working automatically once the watch is out of range from its paired iPhone. This highly accurate system uses what Apple has termed “assisted GPS” that uses a combination of WiFi, GPS, and locally stored satellite data to identify your location even in areas where connectivity isn’t ideal. The GPS tracks distance and pace to great accuracy and this data is uploaded to the Workout or Nike Run club app, highly detailed metrics are available, including pace and elevation, and a recorded map of your route. It also has a highly accurate built-in heart rate monitor that will record the runner’s heart rate and provide highly detailed metrics on the runner’s performance. Besides this, the Nike+ is also waterproof up to 50 meters in both salt and fresh water.

Accuracy

Thanks to its GPS and number of sensors inside, the Nike+ records pace, distance, and routes highly accurately. Even on treadmills, distance calculations are accurate to .1 miles of actual distance. Its heart rate monitor is also comparable in accuracy to chest strap heart rate monitors, as well.

Connectivity

The Nike + uses both WiFi and Bluetooth to connect to devices and receive and send data. However, unlike many other fitness watches, the Nike+ is only compatible with iPhones--specifically an iPhone 5 and up and with iOS 10 or later-- and require one to unlock its full capabilities.

Apps

Apple loves their proprietary apps, and for the Nike+ there is the Nike Run Club app. SImilar to Apple’s Workout app, this app was specifically developed for the Nike+. Straightforward to use, the NRC app features the regular host of recording activities--from distance, time, and average speed during the run--along with a GPS tracker that provides the runner with a breadcrumb trail of their current run on a map. In addition, the NRC also allows the user to compare their performance with friends who also use the same app. The NRC app also allows the runner to schedule their workouts, which the app will then remind them when it’s time to go on a run and what their preset goals are.
But there are a host of other apps, available through your iPhone and work in conjunction with the Nike+, including HealthKit, MyFitnessPal, RunKeeper, MapMyRun, Strava, and of course Nike. Of course, other Apple Watch sports apps also work with the Nike+, as well.

Comfort

With an updated Nike Sports Band that’s comfortable on the wrist, the Nike+ works as both a smartwatch and activity tracker. This adjustable sports band secures the watch firmly in place and can be worn without irritation throughout a workout. The Nike Sports Band is also outfitted with a number of holes for both ventilation and overall weight reduction. Weighing a little over a pound, the Nike+ is slightly heavier than other fitness trackers.

Style

Apple is possibly the most influential designer of personal technology devices in the 21st century: the company has stripped down their products to make them as easy for everyone to use as possible while also providing top-notch software. The design of the Nike+ follows this same philosophy but with Nike’s more sports-minded style overlaid on top of it. While the watch is ostensibly the Apple Watch Series 2, design-wise it seems Nike took the lead of its aesthetics. With the Nike Sports Band and the new black and neon green watch face that’s been specifically designed for the Nike+, this is the closest Apple’s gotten to making what could be considered a true sports watch. For fans of Nike’s apparel and overall style, the Nike+ provides Apple fans with an activity watch on the surface and a powerful smartwatch underneath.

Durability

Waterproof up to 50 meters and with built-in water lock and water expulsion features, the Nike+ is as durable as the Series 2. Its design can take the jostles and bumps that occur during physical activity and its Ion-X scratch-resistant face means visibility won’t be impaired (or destroyed) if an accident or collision should occur. Its silicone sports band is also highly durable as well as being comfortable.

Face

Like the Series 2, the Nike+ has a scratch-resistant Ion-X glass 1.5-inch display. The Nike+ has an exclusive watch face display that’s bright and easy-to-read and navigate, making it easy to read even in the bright midday sun. This touch screen device uses the Force Touch interface, which is easily navigated with just a few swipes and taps. As with all Apple Watches, the face of the Nike+ is bright, offers the trademark Apple clean design, and is full color. Since this is an Apple Watch with proprietary Nike and fitness activity tracker functions, runners will find the Nike+ to be much more than just a pedometer and heart rate monitor.

Band

One great features of the Nike+ is that it comes with one of four different perforated silicone bands, which are exclusive to this model of Apple Watch. With perforated holes throughout the band, the overall weight is slightly less than other versions of the Apple Watch. In additions, these perforations also allow for greater breathability and adds a bit of sportiness to the overall aesthetic.

Sizes

There are two standard sizes for the Nike+: 42mm and 38mm. While there are a number of replacement bands that can be purchased separately, the exclusive sports band that comes with the Nike+ is a great improvement over the standard band and fits the purpose of the Nike+ as a sports watch.

Ease of Use

In keeping with Apple’s user-friendly philosophy, the Nike+ is incredibly easy-to-use. Many of its components are automated, so the user has to pick their workout and start--the watch will do the rest. This includes syncing your data automatically with the Nike Run Club and Activities app on your iPhone. Just a few taps and swipes and you’re off to the races!

Power Sources

The Apple Watch Series 2 comes with two different power cables. One is a standard magnetic charging cable that plugs into the wall while the other is a USB power adapter, which makes it very easy to actually charge this phone wherever you are.

Price

While not the cheapest fitness tracker on the market, the Nike+ is both a solid sports watch and smart watch. Pretty much an Apple Watch Series 2 with fitness watch capabilities, this is a more versatile activity tracker than many others on the market. Its slightly above-average price also makes this a worthwhile investment for the fitness enthusiast looking for a smartwatch. After all, this is more than just a fitness tracker - it’s an Apple Watch.

Accessories

The Nike+, being an Apple product, has a lot of accessories that complement it. With numerous band options available, a docking and watch charging station and a variety of screen protectors, watch cases, and protective bumpers are also available.

Key Features

- Nike Run Club app is helpful and easy-to-use
- Highly accurate GPS that records pace, distance, and maps out route
- Easy-to-navigate menus and colorful touch screen
- Highly versatile smartwatch with solid fitness tracker functionalities
- Comfortable, exclusive Nike Sports Band
- Waterproof for up to 50 meters

Bottom Line

Apple is known for its great, user-friendly products and the Apple Watch Nike+ is no different. With a number of built-in workout options besides just running, this is a highly accurate fitness tracker. In conjunction with synced apps on your iPhone--including the exclusive Nike Run Club app--a complete picture of your workout regimen is created, from distance to pace to calories burned to mapping out your route. Although only compatible with iPhone 5 and up and iOS 10 and later, which may dissuade Android users from the purchase, for the dedicated Apple user and fans of the Nike brand, the Nike+ is a smartwatch and activity tracker that runners and exercise enthusiasts alike will appreciate.
The Nike+ is an example of a major sports apparel company working with the largest tech company in the world on one of their newest products, and in skewing towards the fitness-minded, Apple hopes to gain new users that are looking for a little more in their activity tracker than what many offer. In the Nike+, it’s not just a sports watch but also a music player, smart watch, and--with this version--even Siri-capable. While this may be much more than many runners are looking for, combining the best of Apple and the sleek, sports-minded aesthetic and design of Nike, the Apple Watch Nike+ is an impressive, brand-name entry into the fitness tracker market.