Your iPhone gets a big free upgrade today that will set pulses racing

Want to lose a few pounds in the run-up to the festive period? Apple may have the answer thank to a heart-racing upgrade to its iPhone. Until now, anyone wanting to use the firm’s Fitness+ service needed to have an Apple Watch strapped to their wrist but that’s no longer the case. Once the latest iOS 16.1 update is downloaded onto your iPhone you’ll find the option to launch the premium workout platform which features fully guided sessions aimed at getting you active.

Fitness+ usually costs £9.99 per month but to celebrate the launch on iPhone there’s currently free access for a month. In fact, some iPhone owners will find they won’t have to pay a penny for the next three months with Apple offering a longer trial to anyone who has recently upgraded their device.

If you’ve never heard of Fitness+ and feel like burning a few calories if it’s definitely worth a try.

This service includes over 3,000 studio-style workouts and meditations from a team of top trainers. These include workouts such as Hiit, Dance, Core, Running and Pilates which can all be viewed on the iPhone itself or streamed to the big screen in your living room via an Apple TV device.

There are routines to suit all abilities and you can choose short or longer sessions depending on your fitness.

Once you start your workout you’ll see your daily move goal featured on the screen to help try and keep you motivated.

Sadly, you don’t get all the features found on the Apple Watch as the iPhone can’t show heart rate levels but it’s still a way to try and boost your fitness.

Along with bringing Fitness+ to the iPhone, Apple has also announced some big upgrades to this platform including Yoga sessions aimed at helping runners.

These feature one of the world’s top ultramarathon athletes, Scott Jurek, and are led by Fitness+ Yoga trainer Jessica Skye.

Another upgrade is music by Taylor Swift which is coming for the first time ever to Fitness+. Beginning with a dedicated solo Artist Spotlight series it features newly released songs from Swift’s album “Midnights”.

Finally, the Time to Walk option, which plays stories from well-known personalities as you take a stroll, gets some more content including Emmy-winning actor Hannah Waddingham, globally renowned singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, and former astronaut and colonel Eileen M. Collins.

“We built Fitness+ to be the most inclusive and welcoming fitness service in the world, and the response from our users has been overwhelmingly positive. We wanted the amazing impact of Fitness+ to reach iPhone users and make it easier than ever to get started on your health and fitness journey,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of Fitness Technologies.

“Whether users want to get outside and go for a walk with Time to Walk, improve their running with ultramarathoner Scott Jurek, or get moving to one of their favourite artists, like Taylor Swift, there really is something for everyone to stay motivated.”