Apple has been insisting for years that its devices are not just technologybut tools to take better care of yourself every day. The latest ad focused on the iPhone and Apple Watch comboUnder the slogan "Listen to your body. Not everyone else," it once again focuses on that idea: your health data is worth more than the thousands of tips, opinions, and judgments you receive every moment.
The campaign revolves around an everyday scene: a woman queuing to order a coffee While everyone around them is commenting on their lifestyle, Apple uses this constant noise of unsolicited recommendations to counter it with something much more solid: the real health metrics collected by the Apple Watch and clearly displayed in the iPhone's Health app.
Apple's "Listen to your body" ad: here's the story
The ad, titled “Health with iPhone + Apple Watch”It lasts around 30 seconds and has a simple but very effective staging. It doesn't rely on big special effects or an exaggerated visual display, but instead focuses on a situation that is incredibly familiar to almost everyone.
The protagonist waits in a queue at a coffee shopShe seemed calm, just about to order her drink. However, within seconds, she began receiving comments about her health and physical condition from other people in line, passersby, drivers who stopped nearby, and even pets with their owners.
Each character offers a different recommendation.They suggest running more often, cutting back on caffeine, changing their exercise routine, following a specific diet, or signing up for a new miracle workout. The scene quickly devolves into a chaotic chorus of advice, somewhere between absurd and relatable.
That mix of voices perfectly represents the current environmentwhere everyone seems to have something to say about everyone else's health: social networks full of wellness gurus, friends recommending methods that have worked for them, eye-catching headlines, trendy nutrition or fitness practices… The ad condenses all that noise into a few seconds.
The turning point comes when the Apple Watch emits a notification about the new cardio fitness trend of the protagonistThe ticking of the clock cuts through the cacophony of opinions, the noise is abruptly cut short, and finally, the focus shifts to what really matters: the objective data that the device has been silently recording for some time.
From the noise of opinions to real health data
After receiving the notification on her Apple Watch, the protagonist checks her iPhone. and open the Health appThere you can clearly see that his cardio fitness level is above average for his age and fitness level. What seemed like a barrage of veiled criticisms about his physical condition is dispelled by a single figure backed by consistent measurements.
At that moment, the campaign's key message appears on the screen: “Listen to your body. Not everyone else.” This motto sums up the philosophy that Apple has been building around its health ecosystem for some time: less noise, less generic advice, more precise information based on what your body does and how it responds in real life.
The protagonist, after checking her health data, simply picks up her coffee and goes on with her day.Without giving too much importance to everything she's just been told. The ad doesn't seek to dramatize or give moral lessons, but rather to show something very commonplace: you're surrounded by opinions, but if you have reliable metrics about your body, you can make decisions with peace of mind.
The advertising approach fits with one of the great strengths of iPhone + Apple Watch comboThe ability to transform complex measurements into easy-to-understand indicators. Parameters such as VO2 max, heart rate variability, and activity trends are presented to the user as graphs, notifications, and summaries that anyone can interpret without being an expert in medicine or sports.
This campaign reminds us that the value of the Apple ecosystem is not just in the hardware, but in the integration between devices and softwareThe Apple Watch collects data thanks to its sensors, the iPhone processes and organizes it in the Health app, and together they form a kind of "personal advisor" that adapts to your reality, not to trends or generalizations.
Cardio fitness, VO2 max and why Apple insists so much on this data
One of the concepts underlying the advertisement is that of cardio fitnessan indicator that Apple directly associates with VO2 maxThis value measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body is able to use during intense exercise. Simply put, it's a very useful indicator of your cardiovascular fitness.
The Apple Watch uses its sensors and algorithms to estimate your VO2 max While you perform certain activities, especially during outdoor workouts like running or brisk walking, the Health app on your iPhone uses this data to classify your cardiorespiratory fitness into different ranges (low, medium, high, etc.), adjusted for your age, sex, and other factors.
Apple introduced VO2 max measurement more prominently around 2020And since then, it has been enhanced with additional features. Today, you not only see the current value, but also how it evolves over time. This allows you to understand if your aerobic capacity is improving, remaining stable, or starting to decline.
If the cardio fitness level falls to a range considered low Based on your profile, the Apple Watch can send you a notification alerting you to this trend. Along with the alert, the system offers general suggestions to help you improve, such as increasing the frequency of aerobic exercise, incorporating brisk walking, reviewing your sedentary habits, or introducing more regular routines.
This approach fits perfectly with the message “Listen to your body”It's not about following the latest training trend, but about making decisions based on how your own body responds. The Apple Watch and iPhone become a kind of translator of what's happening "inside," offering you signals when something is improving or worsening.
Privacy, Search, and Apple's other major focus: your security
Beyond health, Apple has also been building a strong narrative around security and privacy.especially with everything related to the Find My network. Although it may seem like a different topic from the Apple Watch ad, it ultimately shares a common thread: that technology should be on your side, not against you.
The Search network allows you to locate devices and accessories. such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirTag or certain AirPods models (AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max), as well as third-party accessories that are part of the Find My network program. When you set them up, they appear in the Devices or Objects tab of the Find My app.
These accessories, especially those designed to track objects like AirTagsThey have been designed with a clear premise: to help you find your belongings without becoming a tool for monitoring people without their consent. That's why they incorporate Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently and use end-to-end encryption within the Search network.
Furthermore, Apple and Google have worked together to create an industry standard. This feature allows for cross-detection of Bluetooth location trackers on iOS and Android. This way, if someone tries to use an AirTag or other compatible device to track your movements without your knowledge, your phone can alert you, regardless of whether it's an iPhone or an Android device.
How unwanted tracking alerts work on iPhone and iPad
If you carry around an AirTag, a Find My network accessory, someone else's AirPods, or a compatible Bluetooth tracker for a while If your device is far from its owner, it may display a security notification. These notifications exist precisely to discourage tracking attempts without your permission.
On iPhone or iPad, you'll see different types of notifications depending on what has been detected near you. Some examples are messages such as “You are wearing an AirTag,” “AirPods detected,” “AirPods Pro detected,” “AirPods Max detected,” or notifications with the product name, such as “detected” when it is a Find My Network accessory or other compatible tracker.
If the system detects a nearby accessory but has trouble connecting With it or with the server, it will display the alert “Unknown item detected.” This message is reserved for AirPods, Find My network accessories, or compatible Bluetooth trackers, excluding AirTags. It often implies that it could be, for example, AirPods that someone has left nearby or that have been lent to you.
When the iPhone detects that an AirTag or accessory moves with you over timeA history is also generated within the Find My app. There you can see a map with red dots indicating where the unknown object was detected near your device. Dashed lines connect these dots to give an idea of the sequence, although they don't indicate when the owner last checked the location.
In the event that you borrow an AirTag or other compatible item from someone in your Family groupYou can open the notification and disable alerts for that accessory for a day or indefinitely. This prevents unnecessary notifications when tracking is voluntary and known by both parties.
Requirements to receive tracking notifications on your Apple device
For these tracking alerts to work correctly on iPhone or iPadYou need to meet a series of configuration requirements. Simply carrying your phone in your pocket isn't enough: the system needs access to location, Bluetooth, and notifications, as well as an updated operating system.
First, you must update your iPhone or iPad to iOS 17.5 or later, or iPadOS 17.5 or laterStarting with these versions, full support for the cross-platform tracker detection standard and the latest security enhancements are incorporated.
Next, go to Settings > Privacy and security > LocationFrom there, activate location services and make sure that System Services has the "Meaningful Locations" option enabled. This feature allows you, for example, to receive alerts when you arrive at or leave important places like your home.
Bluetooth must also be enabled.Go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure the switch is green. Without Bluetooth, your device won't be able to detect AirTags, AirPods, or other accessories that periodically emit their signal within range.
In the notifications section, go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking notifications and enable “Allow notifications”. Otherwise, even if the system detects something, it won't display an alert on the screen or sound any kind of notification.
Finally, make sure you don't have airplane mode turned on.If the device is in that mode, you will not receive tracking notifications, as the connectivity needed to manage these alerts and their communication with the Search network is blocked.
What to do when you receive a notification about an AirTag or unknown accessory
If your iPhone or iPad alerts you that an AirTag, AirPods, or other compatible tracker is moving with youThe first thing to do is stay calm and follow a few basic steps to locate the accessory. The system is designed to give you concrete tools, not just alert you.
Tap on the notification that appears on the screenA screen will open where you can tap "Continue" and then "Play sound." The unknown device will emit a tone that will help you find it among your belongings.
If you need more time to locate it, you can play the sound again.The tracker can often be found in pockets you don't usually check, in the outer compartments of backpacks or suitcases, or even in a hidden space in your car. It's a good idea to carefully check all the places where it could be concealed.
In the case that the accessory is an AirTag or an AirPods Pro 3 charging case If you have an iPhone that supports Ultra Wideband, you'll see the "Find Nearby" option. This feature activates Precision Search: your iPhone will show you the approximate distance and direction of the accessory on the screen.
By pressing “Find nearby”, you just have to follow the on-screen instructions and move around the space until the system establishes a connection. When you're close enough, in addition to the direction and distance, you'll have the option to "Play sound." If needed, you can even activate the flashlight from the interface itself to search in dark corners.
If the option to play sound is not availableThis could mean the item is no longer with you, that it has returned to its owner, or that its identifier has changed overnight. The Find My app uses a rotating identifier to determine if it's the same accessory you've been carrying.
How to disable an AirTag or unknown tracker
If you eventually find an AirTag or accessory from the Search network that you don't recognize If you believe it is being misused, you have several options to obtain information and disable it.
Bring the top of your iPhone or any NFC-enabled phone close to the NFC-enabled device. on the white side of the AirTag. A notification should appear on the screen; tapping it will take you to a webpage with the accessory's basic information: serial number and the last four digits of the owner's phone number who registered it.
This information may be useful if you know the personFor example, if you suspect it's from a family member, coworker, or someone you know, you can always take a screenshot of that information to document it before making any decisions.
If the AirTag is marked as lostA message with contact instructions left by the owner may also appear. In that case, it's possible to return the item in good faith, knowing that the other person is looking for it.
Within the Find app, on the Objects tab, you have an option called “Identify the found object” at the bottom. Tapping it will show you more details about AirTag, Find My network accessories, or compatible Bluetooth trackers that have become separated from their owner and that the system has detected near you.
If you decide that this accessory should no longer share your locationYou can tap on “Instructions to deactivate” and follow the steps that appear. Once deactivated, the owner will no longer receive updates about their location, and you will also no longer receive notifications related to that specific item.
List of detected unknown objects and third-party support
If at any time you want to check which trackers have recently triggered alertsYou can do this directly from the Search app. It's a useful feature for keeping track of security incidents your device has detected.
Open the Find app, go to the Objects tab Scroll to the bottom. There you'll find the "Unknown objects detected with you" section. Tapping it will show you a list of accessories that have recently triggered unwanted tracking alerts.
In the case of compatible third-party Bluetooth trackersDeactivation instructions and additional information will be displayed within those manufacturers' own search networks. These processes They may vary depending on the manufacturer and will not always be available in all languages.
If at any time you feel that your safety may be at riskThe recommendation is to move to a public place, stay with someone if possible, and contact local authorities. They can request additional information from Apple about the item, such as the serial number linked to the AirTag, AirPods, or a Find My accessory.
It's also important to physically check your belongings. If you suspect a tracker is still with you but you can't locate it using digital methods, it can sometimes hide in inside pockets you rarely use, unnoticed compartments in suitcases, or hidden spaces inside a vehicle.
AirTag and tracker detection on Android
Protection against unwanted tracking is not limited to Apple devicesAs part of the collaboration with Google, mechanisms have also been implemented so that Android phones can detect AirTag and other trackers compatible with the Search network.
Android devices with version 6.0 or later can receive automatic notifications When an AirTag or other object tracker moves with them for a certain amount of time, your Android phone can alert you, even if someone tries to follow you using an accessory designed for the Apple ecosystem.
Additionally, Google Play offers the Tracker Detect app.It was created to search within Bluetooth range for any object tracker that is separated from its owner and compatible with Apple's Find My network. This list includes both AirTags and other certified third-party devices.
With Tracker Detect you can start a manual scan at any time If you suspect there's an unknown accessory nearby, the app will give you the option to play a sound to help you locate it. If it detects an AirTag or other compatible tracker that stays close to you for at least 10 minutes, it will help you find it.
These mechanisms complement the open standard created between Apple and Google., and reinforce the idea that the user should be able to know when someone is using a tracking device without their consent, regardless of the mobile platform they use.
This whole network of functions, from the "Listen to your body" announcement to the unwanted tracking alertsThis all points in the same direction: that the Apple ecosystem revolves around user well-being and security, both in terms of physical health (cardio fitness, VO2 max, activity tracking) and protection against malicious uses of technology. Having reliable data about your body and control over who can track your movements allows you to be the one making the decisions, without being swayed by the noise of others' opinions or by hidden tracking you can't see.
