friend , we are well into the skilful time of the twelvemonth : football season . The Lions are off to an incredible kickoff , the Vikings look perilously good , and I ’m continually amazed by how bad the Browns are .
The 2024 season has been a lot of playfulness . Not only have the games been entertaining , but I ’ve also had a much better metre following the latest plays and scores on my phone . After begrudgingly using the ESPN app last year and the year before , I decide to go all - in on Apple Sports this year — and I could n’t be happier . If you have an iPhone and are n’t already using Apple Sports , this is your monitor that you dead need to .
A clean, simple, and ad-free interface
If you have n’t taste Apple Sports before , I do n’t pick you . The app launched in Februarywith very small tucket , and Apple only issuedone meaning updatethis August . That ’s been the app ’s entire account so far .
equate to other sports apps , Apple Sports is objectively much more limited . There are n’t athletics - have-to doe with news show article or videos , squad roster , replays , etc . It front moderately simple - bones at first glance , and for some citizenry , that may be off - putting . But for me , it ’s precisely why I have it away using it .
The app ’s only “ home page ” exhibit upcoming game . you could change the case of game displayed here by tapping the carte du jour Browning automatic rifle at the top allowing you to switch between your preferent teams and conference ( such as the NFL or college football ’s Big Ten ) . you’re able to also use the search function to graze specific team / leagues and add them to your favorite . It ’s a ill-scented user interface compared to Apple ’s other wandering apps , but once you get the bent of it , it work well .
Open Apple Sports during game twenty-four hour period , and the Today page provide a fantastic bird’s - optic view of the legal action . The scores are present clear . You see which team has monomania and where the ball is . The current after part and time persist are visible . You see everything you need to see at a glance .
Tap on a specific secret plan , and Apple Sports does a great job of exhibit you more granular details . For football games , there ’s a virtual football field below the grievance prove the current ball placement — and it actuate to a smaller rendering at the top of the screen as you scroll .
The Stats pageboy showcases a uncontaminating equipment failure of team stats for the current plot , manoeuvre - By - Play offers a more precise breakdown of each frolic , and the Standings page is an fantabulous reference to see where the teams stand in their current class . It ’s everything I want from a sports app without any unnecessary cruft .
Live Activities make it even better
While I love the in - app experience of Apple Sports , it ’s even better because of how well it work when you ’re not using it . When a game for one of your favorite teams is chance , you automatically get a Live Activity on your whorl screen door so you’re able to keep up with the game without having to open up the app .
The Live Activities appear great , present the scotch , time remaining , and the latest play - by - gambol . you could also have multiple games on your whorl screen if two or three of your favorite teams are playing .
If you have an iPhone with the Dynamic Island ( such as theiPhone 16 ) , your sports score can hold up here , too . You merely see each team ’s grievance by default , but if you recollective - public press on it , it expands to show the full Live Activities add-in . It ’s a really silken setup .
My new favorite sports app
I ’ve been exclusively using Apple Sports to track scores for the last several week , and I do n’t intend on going back to ESPN or any other app .
Do I wish there were more in - depth team / player stats ? Sure . Would it be prissy if the app navigation was more in line with other Apple apps ? Yep . Is it annoying that I ca n’t download Apple Sports on myAndroid phone ? sure .
Apple Sports is n’t a perfect app , but for one that ’s less than a year onetime , it ’s impressive how good it already is . It nail the basics of a good sports app without pestiferous bloat or advertizement . It ’s well worth using in its current state , and with a few more update down the road , it could very well be the best sports app out there .
