VO2 Max Levels

While Apple barely mentioned this when it debuted watchOS 7 at WWDC back in June, Williams reiterated that all of the Apple Watch models supported by watchOS 7 will now be able to measure a full range of VO2 Max levels, thanks to more advanced sensor algorithms, bringing another powerful predictor of overall health to the wearable.

VO2 Max is a measurement of oxygen intake during exercise, and it’s actually something that the Apple Watch is already capable of recording, even with watchOS 6 and prior versions. It looks like watchOS 7 merely improves the accuracy and range of these measurements, and it also doesn’t seem like the Apple Watch Series 6 will do any better in measuring this particular metric, since it’s based on sensor algorithms and data that can already be captured by existing sensors.

That said, Williams also added that Apple will be adding support for getting notifications when VO2 Max drops to dangerous levels during exercise, which could suggest the onset of a serious condition. This sounds like it will be coming as part of a watchOS 7.1 or 7.2 update later this year.