Strava’s iPhone app now supports Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 heart rate feature, letting runners, cyclists, and gym regulars log heart rate data straight from the earbuds. The update also works with Apple Watch, so Strava can pick whichever signal looks best rather than making users choose between devices.
That’s a neat little flex from Apple and a useful one for Strava. Wireless earbuds are no longer just for music and calls; they’re creeping into the same territory as basic fitness sensors, which puts more pressure on apps to make that data actually usable instead of merely impressive on a spec sheet.
AirPods Pro 3 heart rate data in Strava
Strava says the latest version of its app can stream heart rate live from AirPods Pro 3 into Mobile Record. Apple’s headphones are the first AirPods with built-in heart rate tracking, so the feature works even if you leave the Apple Watch at home.
If you do wear both devices, Strava says it will automatically use the strongest signal for the most accurate reading. The company says there’s no extra setup, but there is one catch: the feature requires iOS 18 or later and AirPods Pro 3.
A small but smart upgrade for workout tracking
For Strava, this is the kind of support that keeps the app feeling current without trying to become a full-blown hardware platform. It also gives Apple another reason to push AirPods beyond audio, while making the Apple Watch less mandatory for casual athletes than it used to be.
Strava has been on a small feature streak lately. It recently added physical therapy as a sport category, letting users track exercises, frequency, and total time spent on rehab-style workouts. The app also rolled out offline maps for Apple Watch and a raft of new workout types earlier this year.
Price and availability
- Strava iPhone app: free on the App Store
- AirPods Pro 3: $229, down from $249 on Amazon
- Requirement: iOS 18 or later with AirPods Pro 3
The real question is how fast other fitness apps follow. Once heart rate lives in the earbuds, the pressure is on to make that data work everywhere, not just inside Apple’s own software. And yes, the Apple Watch still has the advantage of being a watch.