Starting October 23, Orangetheory members at participating U.S. studios can connect their own Apple Watch to the chain's in-studio tracking system for a one-time $99 fee. Orangetheory calls it OTconnect for Apple Watch. During class, the watch shows your heart rate, heart rate zones, calories burned and Splat Points, Orangetheory's count of time spent in its higher heart rate zones. You start the workout on the watch once it connects, and after class the summary is right there on your wrist, with more detail in the Orangetheory app and by email.
It needs watchOS 11.6 or later and works on Apple Watch Series 6 or later, Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra. Orangetheory's own heart rate monitor, OTconnect Beat, stays on sale, Athletech News reported, so the watch is an extra option. The $99 also comes with up to two free months of Apple Music and Apple Fitness+. If your watch is a Series 6 or newer, that one payment lets you leave the Beat monitor at home.