Two years in the past, Apple launched a devoted Sports activities part in Apple Information, offering a spot for followers to get the newest scores, schedules, and information for his or her favourite groups. It turned out to be a preferred sufficient concept that Apple moved it into its personal tab in iOS 16.5 final spring, and now Apple has gone the additional mile and rolled out a standalone app for sports activities followers.
Dubbed merely Apple Sports activities, the free app gives a easy and environment friendly technique to get real-time crew scores, stats, upcoming video games, play-by-play data, lineup particulars, and even stay betting odds.
Apple Sports activities is presently solely accessible within the US, UK, and Canada, so it’s primarily in English, though it additionally helps French and Spanish the place accessible. You’ll additionally should be working iOS 17.2 or later to obtain it, which leaves some older iPhone fashions out of the occasion.
We created Apple Sports activities to provide sports activities followers what they need — an app that delivers extremely quick entry to scores and stats. Apple Sports activities is obtainable without spending a dime within the App Retailer, and makes it straightforward for customers to remain updated with their favourite groups and leagues.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of Companies
The brand new app arrives simply in time for the 2024 MLB season, which begins tomorrow, however it additionally covers a large number of sports activities, naturally together with Main League Soccer (MLS) in addition to the NBA and NHL, males’s and girls’s NCAA basketball, and Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga MX, Ligue 1, Premier League, and Serie A soccer.
The NFL is conspicuously absent from this record proper now, though Apple says it’s coming, together with NCAAF, NWSL, and WNBA, all of which ought to be accessible “for his or her upcoming seasons.” First up ought to be the Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League (NWSL), which is anticipated to kick off its twelfth season on March 15, 2024. The WNBA will doubtless observe that in Might, after which the soccer leagues within the fall.
Fingers-on with Apple Sports activities
Apple says Apple Sports activities is designed to provide followers “a easy and quick technique to keep on top of things on the groups and leagues they love.” From our fast hands-on, plainly Apple is following within the footsteps of its iOS 17.2 Journal app, with an identical design language and a clear and minimalist interface that focuses on fast navigation.
Upon launch, you’ll be prompted to choose your favourite leagues or groups to get began, though these also needs to be synced from the TV and Information apps. It’s also possible to search for and filter your record by every other league or crew. The primary view will present that filtered record with the flexibility to see yesterday’s video games, at this time’s video games, and any upcoming video games for the subsequent week. Tapping on any sport will open a card that reveals betting odds (if accessible), together with stats and different particulars.
You possibly can dismiss the present card by swiping down or swipe left or proper to maneuver between playing cards in the identical view. Video games in progress will present play-by-play data, plus a button to open the Apple TV app to observe stay video games from any linked streaming apps.
Betting odds may be toggled off, however you’ll need to go to the Sports activities part of the iPhone Settings app to take action. Apple notes on this display screen that the betting odds are offered by DraftKings.
Whereas Apple Sports activities is an attention-grabbing first kick at a streamlined sports activities app by Apple, it’s surprisingly devoid of any superior options or integrations. For instance, there aren’t any Dwell Actions (though you’ll be able to presumably nonetheless get these by means of the TV app) and no help for the iPad or Apple Watch.