This is an Apple Watch Ultra variant that treats strength training as the main sport, not a side quest. Everything is optimized for: 1RM attempts, squat/deadlift/bench, heavy doubles, high-intensity sets, long rests, wrist wraps, and zero screen-faffing.

1) The problem with “normal” smartwatch lifting

Lifting isn’t running. Lifters need:

  • Fast logging under fatigue (when your brain is static and your hands are chalked).
  • No accidental touches from wrist flexion (front rack, bench, low-bar squat).
  • Rest timing that hits like a coach, not a polite notification.
  • 1RM / e1RM tracking that actually understands heavy singles.
  • Depth / lockout / paused reps detection or at least clean evidence (video + metadata).
  • A watch that survives knurling, steel, chalk dust, wrist wraps, and sweat.

So: we redesign Ultra around those realities.

2) Hardware design changes (still “Ultra”, but gym-first)

A. “Knurl Guard” bezel + screen posture

  • Raised, sacrificial bezel that’s barbell-contact-friendly.
  • Slightly more recessed crystal so a bar brushing the watch doesn’t instantly become a scratch lottery.
  • Anti-glare priority for harsh gym lighting (big bright overhead LEDs).

B. Strength-first controls (because touch screens are useless mid-set)

Three physical actions. Always.

  • Action Button = SET
    • Single press: start set
    • Double press: end set
    • Long press: mark PR / “Top set”
  • Crown = WEIGHT / REPS dial
    • Rotating adds weight in plate-friendly steps (2.5 / 5 lb or 1.25 / 2.5 kg steps).
    • Press crown: confirm / next field
  • Side Button = TIMER
    • One press: start default rest timer
    • Double: add +30s
    • Long: switch to “Attempt Mode” (more below)

C. “Chalk Lock” input mode

A dedicated mode that assumes:

  • your hands are chalky,
  • you’re wearing wraps,
  • you’re bending your wrist,
  • you don’t want the screen to do anything weird.

In Chalk Lock:

  • touch is reduced to big, intentional zones
  • accidental swipes are ignored
  • everything important is physical buttons + crown

D. The band system: “WrapBand”

This is the killer feature.

WrapBand = watch band + wrist wrap hybrid

  • Under-layer: normal band attachment
  • Over-layer: a short integrated wrap tail that can cinch like a lifting wrap
  • Quick-pull micro-adjust so you can tighten/loosen between sets without re-threading

Optional: “Forearm Mount”

For front squat / clean / anything that crushes the wrist:

  • a low-profile sleeve that moves the watch 2–3 inches up the forearm
  • the UI auto-rotates into Forearm Orientation
  • you keep tracking without the watch becoming a barbell bumper

3) The software: “StrengthOS” workout experience

A. Home screen becomes a “Lift Stack”

No rings. No distractions. Just your session stack:

TODAY

  1. Squat — Work up to heavy single
  2. Back-off — 3×5 @ %
  3. Deadlift — 3×3
  4. Accessories — optional

Tap is optional. You can run the whole thing via buttons + crown.

B. Set screen: brutally simple, max readable

Imagine this on your wrist:

SQUAT

315  x  1

RPE: 9.0

REST  2:30

[SET]   [TIMER]

  • Big numbers
  • Big set count
  • Rest always visible
  • RPE is one crown-click away (or can be skipped entirely)

C. “Attempt Mode” for 1RMs (this is the magic)

When you enter Attempt Mode, the watch behaves like a meet-day coach:

  • Huge ONE JOB display:
    • “405 x 1”
  • A 3-second lock-in haptic countdown (optional)
  • Automatic “post-attempt prompt”:
    • ✅ Good lift / ❌ Miss
    • Optional: “Where failed?” (out of the hole / mid / lockout)

Then it does what lifters actually want:

  • Updates true 1RM PRs
  • Updates e1RM trend line
  • Suggests next attempt jump based on your prior jumps + fatigue pattern

D. “Warm-up autopilot”

You pick your top single goal (or it predicts from e1RM). It generates warm-ups like:

  • Bar × 8
  • 135 × 5
  • 225 × 3
  • 275 × 2
  • 315 × 1
  • 345 × 1
  • 365 × 1
  • 405 × 1 (attempt)

Each step is one Action Button press to progress.

4) Tracking that actually respects lifting

A. Automatic set detection (but conservative)

StrengthOS watches for:

  • high-effort motion burst + grip posture + short duration
  • then asks: “Was that a set?”
    You confirm with SET or ignore it.

This avoids the classic smartwatch sin: confidently logging nonsense.

B. Rep counting that adapts to 

your

 technique

Rep counting is exercise-specific:

  • squat: descent + ascent pattern
  • deadlift: floor-to-lockout pattern
  • bench: eccentric + press + lockout
    …and it learns your tempo.

It also supports:

  • paused reps
  • touch-and-go
  • tempo prescriptions (like 3-0-1)

C. Metrics lifters care about (front and center)

  • Top set + back-off structure
  • Volume (tonnage) per lift / week
  • Intensity distribution (how much work happened above 80/85/90%)
  • Rest adherence
  • e1RM trend per lift
  • PRs by rep range (true gold for training)

Optional advanced:

  • Velocity proxy using wrist IMU (useful for bench and some pulls; less perfect for squat—so it labels confidence)
  • Fatigue flag when bar speed proxy collapses set-to-set

5) The “Plate Math” layer (because nobody likes mental math mid-hype)

A swipe (or crown-click) brings up:

PLATE LOAD

Target: 405 lb

Bar: 45

Per side: 180

→ 45 + 45 + 25 + 10 + 2.5

Also supports:

  • multiple bar weights
  • kilo conversion
  • different plate sets per gym

6) Video proof + form tools (without pretending the watch can see everything)

The watch becomes a remote control + metadata stamp:

  • “Record next set” → triggers iPhone camera on tripod
  • The set is saved with:
    • lift type
    • weight
    • reps
    • timestamp
    • optional RPE
  • Review later: tap a set → instantly jumps to the exact clip

Optional “Depth Coach” (iPhone does vision, watch does control):

  • squat depth cueing (below parallel) on the phone
  • watch gives haptics if you’re consistently high

No fake promises. Just a system that actually works.

7) Durability and gym survival details

  • Seals + mic ports designed for chalk dust (fine powder is brutal)
  • Sweat salt protection around buttons/crown
  • “Wipe-down mode” with big on-screen lock + quick unlock
  • Haptics tuned for:
    • loud gyms (you feel it)
    • longer rests (stronger pulse at the end)

8) What the watch ships with

In the box

  • Ultra “IRON” watch body
  • WrapBand (integrated wrap tail)
  • Forearm Mount sleeve
  • StrengthOS + built-in templates:
    • powerlifting
    • 5/3/1 style
    • Texas Method style
    • hypertrophy blocks
    • custom programs

Optional accessory

  • “Bar Tag” (tiny attachable IMU puck) for real bar-path/velocity on heavy lifts
    • watch pairs instantly
    • only used when you want serious data

9) A full session experience (how it feels)

You walk in. Hit Action Button.

SQUAT — Warm-up Autopilot

  • Press SET, do the set, press SET.
  • Timer starts automatically.
  • Crown twist to adjust weight.
  • No typing. No sweaty screen rage.

Attempt Mode

  • “405 x 1” fills the display.
  • Three heavy haptics: boom… boom… boom…
  • You lift.
  • Watch asks: “Good lift?”
    You tap ✅, it marks PR, updates e1RM, suggests your jump.

Then you move to deadlifts without doing admin work like a sad accountant.

If you want, I can also:

  • design the exact UI flow screen-by-screen (like a mini product spec),
  • write the set-detection logic at a high level (what signals it uses and how it avoids false positives),
  • or tailor the whole thing specifically to your style (powerlifting vs bodybuilding vs Olympic lifts, RPE vs percentage-based, kg vs lb, wraps/straps/hook grip, etc.).