I’ve tested every version of the Apple Watch and used many of them as my main running watch, thanks to the unrivalled combo of great sports tracking and smart features they offer.
When the Apple Watch Ultra launched, it became my go-to for running because of the upgrades it offers over the standard Apple Watch, including an extra button for taking laps, dual-band GPS, and longer battery life.
I don’t expect any of those features to make their way to the Apple Watch 11, or any future Series Apple Watch, really — they are major hardware upgrades that it makes sense for Apple to restrict to the sportier Apple Watch Ultra.
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However, one Apple Watch Ultra 2 feature that I think should be available on the Apple Watch 11 is Precision Start, which would be a simple software upgrade that would improve the experience of using the watch for runners, cyclists and hikers.
(Image credit: Future)
When you start a workout on the Apple Watch 10, you get a quick countdown and then you’re off and running. This is fine for most workouts, but when you’re exercising outdoors and relying on accurate GPS tracking, it helps to know that the GPS is locked on from the start of your session.
This is what Precision Start offers. On the Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can wait to see if the GPS and heart rate tracking are locked in before you actually start your workout, giving you peace of mind that you’re getting accurate info from the get-go.
It’s a standard feature on the best Garmin watches and other sports watches, so it was certainly welcomed by many when it arrived on the Apple Watch Ultra.
Why is Precision Start important?
(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom’s Guide)
The Apple Watch 10 is still a great running watch that offers reliable GPS tracking that I’ve found mostly matches up pretty well with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for accuracy in my testing, despite not having dual-band GPS or Precision Start.
However, there are times when missing out on having GPS locked on before you begin an outdoor workout is important, especially when running in city centers where tall buildings decrease GPS accuracy in general.
Precision Start is also useful when you’re running a race, because you can get everything locked on and then hit one button to go, rather than having to time the countdown or tap the screen again to skip it.
Even if many people don’t use it, Precision Start is a small and easy upgrade that could be made to the Apple Watch 11 to improve it for outdoor workouts, and it wouldn’t really tread on the toes of the forthcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3.
I’ve been testing out the watchOS 26 beta software update on the Apple Watch 10, and the general updates to the Workout app are great in making it easier to set up your workout and in-run audio before you start, but Precision Start would be the cherry on top.
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