HT204516: Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy

Learn about Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy
dbwass

Q: I ran with my watch (and my phone) yesterday for the first time.  I also had my Nike + app running at the same time for comparison.  The watch was WAY OFF BASE.  Calculations for distance and pace weren't even close.  Will this be calibrated over time??

I ran with my watch (and my phone) yesterday for the first time.  I also had my Nike + app running at the same time for comparison.  The watch was WAY OFF BASE.  Calculations for distance and pace weren't even close.  Will this be calibrated over time??

Apple Watch, iOS 8.3

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 5:08 AM

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Q: I ran with my watch (and my phone) yesterday for the first time.  I also had my Nike + app running at the same time for compa ... more

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  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 26, 2015 8:35 AM in response to dbwass
    Level 9 (58,419 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 26, 2015 8:35 AM in response to dbwass

    My experience with the Nike app, compared to multiple Garmin GPS watches, is that the Nike app is way off. However, as I understand it, both the Apple Watch and the Nike+ app use the iPhone's GPS.

  • by robertleeking,

    robertleeking robertleeking Apr 26, 2015 9:00 AM in response to dbwass
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 9:00 AM in response to dbwass

    The watch, has to use the iPhone for GPS to get accurate location data. It needs that data to formulate pace, distance and actual steps. The watch has to learn from the iPhone for a while from what Apple have said, once it does, it should be much more accurate though it will never be 100% because it lacks GPS.

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Apr 26, 2015 12:04 PM in response to dbwass
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 12:04 PM in response to dbwass

    The watch needs the phone's GPS to measure distance. It uses that information over time to calibrate your stride length, so it can estimate s=distance and pace without the phone.

     

    Mine has been very accurate (compared to Runkeeper, which was my app of choice). I don't have Nike to compare so I can't comment on it

  • by b_straub,

    b_straub b_straub Apr 26, 2015 2:05 PM in response to dbwass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 2:05 PM in response to dbwass

    Same issue. Running with iPhone 6. Distance was measured approximately 10% to short compared to reality and iSmoothrun.

    The even more annoying problem was the fact that shown pace had absolutely nothing to do with the measured distance and time.

     

    I passed first kilometer mark around 7 minutes both values shown on watch like this but at this time the displayed pace value was 11:33 min/km.

    Pace value was also constantly changing.

     

    I think when running with attached phone there can be no excuse for not having accurate distance and pace.

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Apr 26, 2015 3:18 PM in response to b_straub
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 3:18 PM in response to b_straub

    Check that the pace was not in miles rather than kilometres

  • by dbwass,

    dbwass dbwass Apr 26, 2015 3:54 PM in response to nick101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 3:54 PM in response to nick101

    I ran again today with both my phone and watch.  It seemed more accurate as far as mileage and the overall average pace was definitely more on par.  I did run a much shorter distance today so I'm not sure if that made a difference.  But while I was actually running, when I looked down at my pace on the watch, it still seemed way off...so I was actually quite surprised to see the overall pace almost match what was measured on my Nike + app.  I'm just wondering how long it takes the watch to calibrate my stride before becoming as accurate as it can be? 

     

    This is the main reason why I bought the Apple watch so if the accuracy of the mileage and pace are going to be consistently off, I will return the watch.  I understand it most likely won't ever be perfect since the watch itself does not have GPS.  And I'm by no means an elite runner or need fancy stats, but I'd like the basics to be somewhat accurate. 

  • by b_straub,

    b_straub b_straub Apr 26, 2015 10:03 PM in response to nick101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 10:03 PM in response to nick101

    nick101 wrote:

     

    Check that the pace was not in miles rather than kilometres

    All was correct. With metric settings the pace will always shown metric as well. The summary did show the correctly calculated pace as well.

     

    I think the pace algorithm is either buggy or stupidly implemented. Even when we consider the mileage calculation has some errors, the distance/time ratio should fit.

     

    Strange, because fitness is one of the most hyped features and for sure many people from Apple are runners.

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Apr 26, 2015 11:03 PM in response to b_straub
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 11:03 PM in response to b_straub

    Something weird going on then - mine is spot on for pace, distance etc.

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Apr 27, 2015 2:12 AM in response to nick101
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Apr 27, 2015 2:12 AM in response to nick101

    I ran again this morning - distance and pace in the summary were correct. Pace during the run seemed right.

     

    I'm using Runkeeper in parallel to provide a benchmark, and they seem to tie up pretty well. This is alos over a course whose distance I know.

     

    There will be some differences in the rate at which GPS is polled for data, and the algorithms for calculating distance, but they should be as wide as you're seeing.

  • by 22xxxWC,

    22xxxWC 22xxxWC Apr 27, 2015 11:04 AM in response to dbwass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2015 11:04 AM in response to dbwass

    I ran the launch day w it, the main reason i purchased the watch was to use for running.  I used mapmyrun which i was also running on my phone, i was disappointed that they didnt have a pace screen on the watch.  So i switched to Nike+ and the pace seemed ok.  I ran yesterday and attempted to use the work out app, the pace was WAY off, so I also than opened Underarmours Record watch app to see how that one would be, it was alot better, but im still not sold on the pace being accurate.  my phone was running map my fitness the entire time and was accurate with the other 2 guys i ran with.  My biggest questions is, what will be accurate with the PACE, that is huge for me, i want to be able to look down at my wrist to make sure Im pacing correctly.  I have a big 10 mi run sunday, and I am hoping for a PR, so i really need to get this figured out so im not messing around w it while running. 

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 28, 2015 6:29 AM in response to 22xxxWC
    Level 9 (58,419 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 28, 2015 6:29 AM in response to 22xxxWC

    22xxxWC wrote:

    I have a big 10 mi run sunday, and I am hoping for a PR, so i really need to get this figured out so im not messing around w it while running. 

    Broad Street? If so, it's a fun one. Good luck regardless of what run.

  • by 22xxxWC,

    22xxxWC 22xxxWC Apr 28, 2015 6:36 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 28, 2015 6:36 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Yes, broad st.  ran again today trying Underarmour record, pace on the watch didnt seem accurate at times, but over all was good.  all though activity was WAAAAY off.  didnt seem like it tracked me, but says i worked out for 21 minutes. 

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Apr 28, 2015 6:54 AM in response to 22xxxWC
    Level 9 (58,419 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 28, 2015 6:54 AM in response to 22xxxWC

    Haven't been among the lucky to have gotten my Apple Watch yet. However, I've never found the phone GPS to be nearly as accurate as my Garmin 620. As the Watch uses the phone's GPS, I would expect it to be only as accurate as the phone. Only time will tell if I think I can trust it for serious training.

     

    Enjoy the race.

  • by bfromsan antonio,

    bfromsan antonio bfromsan antonio Apr 29, 2015 6:14 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 6:14 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    I have had the exact same issue. I've now done five runs or walks with my watch, my phone with me, and each time the distance results have been between 2% and 10% below my tom-tom GPS watch and the run keeper app that was also running off my phone's GPS. It seems like it is getting slightly better each time, but I cannot figure out why there would be any difference at all when compared to another app using the exact same GPS. I'm in conversations with tech-support, and they are supposed to get back to me tomorrow with a response. If they have a fix, I will be sure to post it here.

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