Tech
Tonal Expands Offerings With Pilates, Ankle Straps, Generated Workouts
Kristin McGee is bringing Pilates moves like The Hundred to Tonal
Tonal
Tonal has been busy since the company introduced its second-generation machine in January of this year. Not only does the digital functional trainer now have Tonal Intelligence-powered Daily Lift workouts and new ankle strap workouts, but they’re introducing an entirely new way of using Tonal.
Pilates with Kristin McGee
At-home Pilates workouts are usually limited in what they can replicate because most moves require expensive reformer platforms that provide steady tension via springs. But Tonal is using its unique hardware to introduce Pilates to the Tonal 1 and 2. Even more exciting is that it’s partnering with celebrated trainer Kristin McGee (you likely know her from her tenure on Peloton or from her own fitness platform).
The new Pilates Loops will be required for the new workouts
Tonal
Additionally, Tonal is releasing exclusive Pilates Loops made just for Tonal in partnerships with Reformer Loops. The new accessories are available for pre-order now on the Tonal website, with the full Pilates experience rolling out about a month later on November 17 to both the Tonal 1 and Tonal 2 platforms.
The new workouts emulate the 10 different tension levels of reformer springs, using micro-adjustments to match your exact performance. The first series of workouts will be led by Kristin McGee. I sat down with McGee to find out more about the new Pilates programming as well as what might be next for her on the platform.
Anthony: In the time since parting ways with Peloton, you’ve established your own fitness platform — what was it about Tonal that enticed you to partner up?
McGee: I think it’s so innovative and data driven! Tonal establishes an individual baseline and tracks real progression. You’re not just guessing and saying “oh, I think I can go up a little on this exercise.” Tonal actually gives you all the data and then acts on it so that you keep progressing. And their programming is great — you can actually integrate this technology and your progress with tried and true workouts. For women, especially, it’s an amazing gateway. A lot of women have this apprehension about lifting and strength training. But when you have it in the comfort of your home and you don’t have to be self-conscious and you have data-supported workouts, I think that’s incredibly empowering.
Kristen McGee on the Tonal
Tonal
A: So do you incorporate a lot of strength training into your fitness routine? What does your perfect workout week look like?
M: I do! Strength training is great for longevity and stamina. I actually feel my yoga is now more of a moving meditation. If I have my perfect week, I think it would be two days of strength, two of pilates, and one day of yoga.
I think it’s so cool that Tonal gives you the ability to fuse all these elements into one workout session. I can start with Pilates as my warmup to get focused and into my core and then have that core activation that helps me during my strength. Then I’d enhance my mobility by finishing with yoga.
A: Pilates is well known, but for a lot of at-home fitness enthusiasts this might be their first full reformer-enabled Pilates workout. What advice do you have for first timers?
M: Reformers are humongous! And they’re intimidating if you’ve never used one. I really love that your Tonal becomes a reformer, essentially. You’re actually going to feel the same resistance but it’s even more fluid because of the digital tension. It’s safe. You can experience the resistance you get with a reformer, but in a compact package. I think Joe Pilates would’ve loved this, he was a big pioneer of innovation in fitness.
And it engages your core in different ways, which is so important for every kind of athlete. I completed my first marathon last year and Pilates has unilateral moves that are great for runners, that engage your core in ways that strength training can’t. You can push a lot of weight with your legs but you can cheat and use your back and skip your core. You can’t do that with Pilates. I’ve been doing Pilates sessions with Joe and Akeem [fellow Tonal trainers] and they’re fit guys and even they were like “this is hard!”
A: Will we be seeing more programming from you beyond the initial PIlates offering?
M: I’m bringing all three: floor content, pilates, and on-tonal strength. Strength without mobility or mobility without strength is pointless. But it’s different for each person, which is why I love how Tonal tailors workouts to each individual.
I’ll be adding in active aging content too. Once women go through perimenopause, estrogen and hormones in general decline. You don’t get that same testosterone boost from strength training. Women can lose up to something like 7% muscle mass per decade after 50. You have to have progressive overload to stay ahead of the curve and I think Tonal enables them to experience that.
I hope that for women who are on the fence, that this will hopefully inspire them to get into strength training. I think the Tonal community is really awesome and I’m looking forward to getting to know them more. The company is so forward-thinking and open-minded. I’m excited to be working with them.
A: Thanks for taking the time to chat today! I’m looking forward to checking out your classes!
M: It was my pleasure! Thanks so much!
Torch Your Legs with Ankle Straps
You’ll learn to hate these but there’s no denying the results
Tonal
In addition to the new Pilates classes, if you’re looking for traditional strength training, you’ll want to check out the other recent addition to Tonal: ankle straps. Just like the name implies, these wrap around your ankles and unlock a whole new range of lower leg exercises that previously weren’t possible on Tonal including glute kickbacks, hamstring curls, donkey kicks, and more. They’re a welcome sight for anyone who’s tired of being stuck doing deadlift variations and squats to work their legs.
Don’t Call It AI
Tonal knows exactly what you need to stay on your game even if you’re not in a program.
Tonal
Introduced earlier this year, Tonal’s other new training modality since the Tonal 2 launch is the Daily Lift. Built on “Tonal Intelligence,” the company is emphatic that these aren’t just AI-generated workouts. The proprietary system combines unique training data from your workouts and uses performance science to deliver personalized training.
How does it work? Each Daily Lift workout is created by layering in multiple inputs. Tonal analyzes your recent workouts and performance in those workouts to figure out which muscle groups are ready to train. It also looks at workout duration and volume to determine intensity and workout length. It then puts together a combination of moves that make sense together (that’s the “performance science” element).
Other strength platforms have something like this as well, giving you targeted muscle maps based on recent workouts, but Tonal’s real-data workouts move beyond that basic concept to give you training that’s tailored precisely to match your current fitness level. Now out of beta, it’s available to all Tonal customers. Daily Lift is a great way to stay on track with your fitness goals even if you’re not currently working your way through a program.
Oppo Find X9 Pro
Prakhar Khanna
Oppo Find X9 series is all set to be launched outside of China next week. Ahead of the October 28 launch, the company has been teasing its new features one by one. In the latest announcement, Oppo has revealed a deeper collaboration with Google for several AI features on its upcoming phones. These include the likes of the Mind Space app, enhanced Gemini integration with first-party Oppo apps and more.
Oppo is teaming up with Google to personalize the AI experience and offer more capabilities on its new Find X9 series. Starting with Oppo’s Mind Space app, you’ll be able to save on-screen content via a three-finger swipe gesture and then have Gemini AI act on the saved info.
For instance, you can add your preferences and ideas for a trip to the said app and then ask Gemini to create a detailed itinerary. Moreover, Mind Space will automatically categorize saved content to offer a more organized experience.
The Oppo Find X9 and Find X9 Pro will run on Android 16-based ColorOS 16. It will also bring better Gemini integration with first-party apps and Nano Banana AI image editing capabilities. You’ll also get access to Gemini Live on Oppo’s upcoming flagship phones.
All the new AI features (Mind Space, AI Search, AI Call Summary, AI VoiceScribe, AI Recorder, and AI Writer) are built on Oppo’s AI Private Computing Cloud with Google Cloud protection. It is said to ensure that “sensitive data for AI processing is handled in a secure and encrypted environment.” Oppo Find X9 buyers will also be eligible for a free three-month Google AI Pro subscription.
While having new AI capabilities on flagship phones is great, most of these features aren’t always reliable. I’ve struggled to trust AI for personal use cases and important tasks. It’ll be interesting to see if the Oppo Find X9 series can change my perception.
“Working closely with partners like Google allows us to integrate next-generation AI experiences that are not only powerful but also highly personalized and secure,” said Kai Tang, President of Software Engineering at OPPO. “Our goal is to provide users with an AI assistant that both truly understands their personal needs and is also worthy of being entrusted with their personal data.”
Apple is working on a new iPad Pro for 2027 (already!) and it seems it will take one of the features which pleased fans in the iPhone 17 Pro: a vapor cooling chamber.
Apple iPad Pro – will the next model have a new cooling system?
Apple
“One of the best new features in Apple Inc.’s iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max is the vapor chamber, a liquid-cooling system that helps tame the heat generated by the smartphones’ powerful chips,”says Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
Personally, I never found the iPhone 16 Pro got uncomfortably hot, but Gurman correctly points out that with the latest models you can “now dive into intensive games, advanced video editing or processing-heavy Apple Intelligence tasks without feeling like you need an oven mitt.”
In early testing of the new iPad Pro with M5 chip, released on Wednesday, Oct. 22, I have not found any issues with the tablet getting even remotely warm.
Of course, that’s not the whole story: to run demanding apps and, more importantly, to sustain them, the processor needs to keep its cool more than ever. As Gurman puts it, “The iPad Pro also can occasionally hit its limits and overheat — especially as demands on the device grow… Now that Apple’s iPhone chips are nearly as powerful as laptop versions, this feature has become critical.”
Apple will include an updated processor, the M6, Gurman says, perhaps built with a 2-nanometer production technique, which would add performance and efficiency.
It’s worth noting that there’s already a cooling system in the iPad Pro, with a copper heatsink, as reported by 9to5Mac. But the vapor cooling chamber in the iPhone, a deceptively small and slim element that moves heat around at speed.
So, to add it to the iPad Pro would be another way to differentiate it from other iPads in the range. It already has an OLED screen, and it’s thinner than the iPad Air, but the more differences to justify the price difference the better, Apple may consider.
Gurman says that he thinks Apple is using an 18-month cadence for the iPad Pro, which means the iPad Pro with M6 is likely to arrive in spring 2027.
Now that the latest iPhones are out, you may want a case to go with it. After all, although the price increases predicted didn’t properly materialize, the iPhone is a valuable piece of kit.
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
Apple
Before you ask, last year’s cases don’t fit, and anyway, do you really want a year-old case on your brand-new phone?
Here are a dozen of the newest releases, and they come in varying styles, from wraparound wallets to high-protection sleeves. Choose from leather, Apple’s new TechWoven or a transparent case to show off the colorful phone within. Unless otherwise stated, all cases here are available for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Look out for whether the case has an open section where the Camera Control sits, or a cover that still allows the pressure-sensitive and capacitive control to work.
The deals highlighted in this post were independently selected by the Contributor and do not contain affiliate links.
Smooth Leather Case
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
$75 from nomadgoods.com
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
Nomad
Camera Control: Cover
California-based Nomad makes a wide range of products, including iPhone cases and a just-released Apple Watch Band. Horween leather is one of the options for the back cover of the Modern Leather case, though other leather options are also available, and are $20 cheaper.
Horween leather, especially, gains a unique patina the more it is used. The case is strong enough to survive an eight-foot drop, the company says. The bumpers are 2.2mm thick and they rise above the display at the corners for further protection. The edges have a concave finish, designed for extra grip.
Slim Protection
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
$59.99 from ipitaka.com
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
Pitaka
Camera Control: Cover
Protection on the Pitaka cases partly comes from cushioning on the rear corners and partly from what’s described as aerospace-grade aramid fiber. The back is textured, to add extra grip.
Unlike some cases which have dealt with the complex needs of the Camera Control capacitive button, Pitaka has developed a cover that’s slim but responsive when you press or slide your finger on it.
Fashion-Forward Protection
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
$79 from beatsbydre.com
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Beats, the other brand that Apple owns, has a case that doesn’t look rugged. Rugged usually means bulky but the choice of colors, such as Sierra orange makes this case more style-focused. If orange is too much for you, Everest black and rocky blue will suit quieter tastes.
There’s a big lip over the edge of the display designed to keep it safe. The bottom half of the case, including the back and edges, is rougher to make it stay in your hand, while the top half is completely smooth.
Transparent Protection
Mous Clarity MagSafe
$69.99 from mous.co
Camera Control: Cover
Mous made its name with phone cases claiming to have exceptional protection – and the company’s stunts throwing phones high up in the air outside the Apple Store aimed to prove the point. It uses a proprietary shock absorption material called AiroShock which is in the corners of the case. The case is designed so that the top and bottom edges are raised for extra safety, but lower at the sides so it fits your face during calls.
The protective cover on the Camera Control requires a firm press to activate.
Apple’s New Material
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
$59 from apple.com
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Colours: Blue, purple, sienna, green, black
Apple no longer makes cases and accessories from leather, citing environmental concerns. TechWoven is a bespoke woven fabric made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. It feels rough rather than smooth, unlike the smoothness of the leather cases Apple used to make, and has contoured edges. There are five colors to choose from: blue, purple, sienna, green and, the quietest of the lot, black.
There are also holes to allow compatibility with Apple’s latest accessory, the Crossbody strap, which holds the phone on an adjustable long strap.
Comfort-oriented Case
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
$59.99 from nativeunion.com
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
Native Union
Camera Control: Open
Paris-based Native Union has a range of iPhone 17 case designs. The frame here is made with a 100 per cent recycled materials. The colors are black, navy and slate green which are muted, though the tan option is a bit brighter. The back and edges have a textured finish while the lining is soft. Unlike some cases, this is slim and light, adding little to the bulk of the phone.
Apple’s Clear Case
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
$49 from apple.com
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Some clear cases, like the Mous Clarity, have opaque panels on the edges. However, this one has completely clear sides and buttons, so the phone inside is fully revealed. The only non-clear button is the cover for Camera Control. Apple says the new case has a scratch-resistant coating and won’t turn yellow — that’s been true of previous Apple clear cases.
Note that the cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a white panel that exactly matches the glass rectangle on the phone itself, complete with its own logo. This is less noticeable on the silver iPhone, but more prominent if you have the cosmic orange or navy blue colorway. The regular iPhone has a fully clear back, apart from the MagSafe magnifying glass.
Colorful Case
Nomad Modern Case
$49 from nomadgoods.com
Camera Control: Cover
This is similar to the leather case from Nomad above, with the same side bumpers and metal button covers. It also has the same Camera Control cover. If you don’t care for leather, this case has similar attributes but has a satin PET backplate which is shiny and smooth.
As well as two quiet colors, Vulcan black and lunar grey, there’s also Volt which has a neon-bright quality to it.
Case With Kickstand Accessory
Beats Kickstand Case $59 from beatsbydre.com
Beats Kickstand Case
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
This isn’t the only case with a kickstand but the way Beats has achieved it is novel. A lanyard in a contrasting-color is attached to the left edge of the case. The lanyard is short, long enough to slip your hand through — which may make some users feel they are holding the phone more securely in less salubrious surroundings.
At the end of the lanyard is a smooth plastic lozenge that slides open to reveal an adaptor which holds the iPhone in landscape orientation. There’s a magnet in the adaptor that connects to another in the edge of the case.
Card-Friendly Case
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
$29.99 from smartish.com
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
Smartish
Camera Control: Open
Smartish makes a range of cases and other smartphone accessories. The Wallet Slayer has an external slot on the back of the phone that holds up to four credit cards and cash. It is designed so that each card is held in place by a springy mechanism.
The flexible material has air pockets in the corners to act as shock absorbers — Smartish says it can protect the phone from a drop of six feet. Note that the card pocket means wireless charging doesn’t work with this case.
Case With Camera Panel Protection
Native Union Active Case
$49.99 from nativeunion.com
Native Union Active Case
Native Union
Camera Control: Cover
If you’re worried about scratching the panel where the cameras sit, this case has a black covering within the plateau, protecting everything except the lenses and sensor. This panel gives a darker look to the back of the iPhone. Unlike Native Union’s other case, above, this one has a cover for the Camera Control. Where the (Re)Classic has more recycled material, here it accounts for 40%. Native Union says it can survive a drop of 10 feet. Choose from apricot crush, black, sandstone or slate green.
Folio Cases
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
From $225 from lucrin.com
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
Lucrin
Camera Control: Open
Lucrin makes a dizzying variety of cases (and other leather goods). So along with the Luxury Wallet there’s also a sleeve, a sleeve with a pull-tab, a pouch with a pocket, a back cover, a zip wallet, a belt case and more.
Once you’ve decided on the form factor, there are different finishes: plant-based material, smooth leather, pebbled leather and crocodile style calfskin, for example. And the smooth leather comes in more than 20 colors. And that’s before you get to the personalization options. The Luxury Wallet has a sleeve for banknotes and three card slots, plus a magnetic flap to hold the wallet closed.
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
$44.99 from snakehive.com
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
Snakehive
Camera Control: Open
UK company Snakehive makes leather wraparound folios from leather but at prices lower than many rivals. The leather has a suede-like finish on the outside and smooth, shiny leather inside. There is a sleeve for banknotes and space for three credit cards to nestle.
A small leather flap with magnetic closure keeps it all intact. The large camera panel on the Pro and Pro Max means there’s a noticeable amount of the TPU inner case visible.
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
From $75 from nomadgoods.com
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
Nomad
Camera Control: Cover
Like the other folios here, the Nomad Modern Leather Folio has three card slots and a longer slot for cash. It also has a magnetic clasp but this one is optional: you slide it through a discreet gap in the edge of the case if you want to use it.
Colors vary according to leather and model. For iPhone 17, there’s regular leather and two colors, brown and black. For 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max there’s also a tan variant with regular leather. The Pro models also have Horween leather available ($109), in rustic brown, black and a limited edition called burgundy chromexcel.
Bluebonnet Executive Leather iPhone Wallet Case Folio
$95 from bluebonnetcase.com
Camera Control: Cover
There are only two card slots in this folio, plus the sleeve for cash. The Tuscan Tan finish uses full-grain calf leather but remains slim and has a magnetic closure. That closure lets Bluebonnet’s pale blue shine through — the same color is in the company’s cartoon images which sit inside the sleeve on the microfiber and cotton lining.
Bluebonnet says the color pays homage to the Texas state flower (the bluebonnet) — the company is based in Texas.
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