Strava is unveiling what it describes as a significantly “cleaner, more intuitive, and engaging” user experience for its Apple Watch application, alongside the long-anticipated integration of its popular Live Segments feature. This update is not merely a cosmetic redesign; rather, it represents a deliberate response to the surging demand among athletes who increasingly rely on Apple’s wearable device as their primary companion for training and performance tracking.
According to Strava’s internal data, usage trends in 2024 illustrate the momentum of this shift quite clearly. The company observed nearly a 20 percent year-over-year increase in the proportion of device-uploading athletes who turned to the Apple Watch, a growth rate that underscored its rising importance in the connected fitness ecosystem. In fact, within Strava’s comprehensive 2024 *Year in Sport* report, Apple devices secured the top two positions on the list of preferred tools among runners, further solidifying the watch’s status as the favored device for a wide spectrum of endurance athletes.
Central to this rollout is the inclusion of Live Segments, one of Strava’s hallmark features. Live Segments provide immediate, real-time updates on performance within specific sections of a route that athletes have either starred themselves or that the broader community has identified as especially notable or competitive. For cyclists and runners alike, these segments offer both a challenge and an opportunity: participants can test themselves against their prior efforts or measure progress against fellow athletes, all in pursuit of virtual honors such as the coveted “King” or “Queen of the Mountain” titles. Until now, this motivating feature was exclusively accessible on GPS-enabled devices such as advanced sports watches and cycling computers from established manufacturers including Garmin, Hammerhead, Polar, and Suunto. By extending access to Apple Watch users, Strava is broadening the inclusivity of this motivational tool across one of the most widely adopted wearables.
The updated Apple Watch app has been carefully designed to make this experience immersive and transparent. As an athlete approaches a segment, the screen presents both a circular progress indicator and a banner, alerting them to the forthcoming challenge. Upon entering the segment, the highlighted circle dynamically updates in real-time, allowing the user to immediately assess whether they are outpacing or falling behind their personal record. At the conclusion of the segment, the app displays results in a concise summary, before seamlessly transitioning the athlete back to the standard workout recording screen. This design balances clarity, ease of use, and motivational impact, ensuring the performance insights enhance — rather than disrupt — the flow of the activity.
Reflecting on the significance of this update, Strava’s Chief Product Officer, Matt Salazar, emphasized that the investment goes far beyond simply offering another way to log a run or ride. In his words, the goal is not solely accurate tracking, but instead the delivery of real-time, game-inspired features that bring an element of competition, play, and immediate motivation into the athlete’s training session. By framing the workout through this lens of interactivity, Strava aims to amplify engagement and inspire continual progress.
This comprehensive redesign and feature expansion underscores Strava’s recognition of the Apple Watch as an indispensable part of the modern athlete’s toolkit. With global availability now in place, athletes across disciplines and regions can download the refreshed app and experience firsthand how intuitive design and features like Live Segments transform ordinary training sessions into more dynamic and goal-driven endeavors.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/771048/stravas-refreshed-apple-watch-app-adds-live-segments
