Apple Watch and Fitness+ Launch New Programs as Research Shows Users Outlast “Quitter’s Day”

RMN Digital Consumer Desk
New Delhi | January 3, 2026

Apple has unveiled a comprehensive suite of new programs and features for Apple Watch and Fitness+ designed to help users maintain their fitness resolutions throughout 2026. This launch coincides with new research from the Apple Heart and Movement Study which suggests that Apple Watch users are significantly more likely to stay active past the early January period when many typically abandon their goals.

Beating the Resolution Slump: Data from approximately 100,000 study participants shows that Apple Watch users consistently maintain exercise levels through “Quitter’s Day”—the second Friday in January— and into the spring. In early January, over 60 percent of users increased their daily exercise by more than 10 percent compared to December. Furthermore, nearly 80 percent of those who increased their activity maintained those levels through the end of January, with 90 percent of that group sustaining their progress through February and March.

New Fitness+ Content and Programs: To support this consistency, Apple Fitness+ has introduced four new workout programs specifically designed to build momentum:

Make Your Fitness Comeback: A four-week plan featuring 10-minute Strength, HIIT, and Yoga sessions.
Strength Basics in 3 Weeks: Aimed at beginners or those returning to strength training.
Build a Yoga Habit in 4 Weeks: Focused on flexibility and stability.
Back-to-Back Strength and HIIT: 20-minute sessions pairing cardio and power.

The service is also expanding its entertainment-driven workouts. The Artist Spotlight series will feature new playlists from KAROL G and Super Bowl LX performer Bad Bunny. Additionally, the Time to Walk audio experience returns with new guests, including Penn Badgley, Mel B, and Michelle Monaghan.

Motivational Challenges and Rewards: Apple is offering several incentives to keep users engaged this month. Users can earn a limited-edition “Ring in the New Year” award by closing all three Activity rings for seven consecutive days in January. For the first time, a “Quit Quitting” challenge is available on Strava, where users who log 12 workouts in January earn a specialized Apple Watch badge.

Hardware and Pricing: The latest Apple Watch lineup is designed to support these health goals with varying features:

Apple Watch Series 11: Features hypertension notifications and a thin design, starting at INR 46,900.
Apple Watch SE 3: Offers core fitness and safety features at a value price of INR 25,900.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: The premium sports watch with a 42-hour battery life, starting at INR 89,900.

Apple Fitness+ is available as a subscription for INR 149 per month or INR 999 per year, and can be shared with up to five family members. New hardware purchases may include three months of the service at no additional cost.