Why does my Apple Watch SE record fewer steps than my Fitbit during cycling?

• Cycling should not be counted as steps. If your Fitbit is recording cycling as steps, then that would be inaccurate.
• Your Apple Watch is doing much more than your Fitbit, so of course you would expect it to use more battery. The display alone on the 2 devices are dramatically different with a sizable difference in energy needs.

If your only requirement is a fitness tracker that shows the time, then the Fitbit is what you should have. The Apple Watch is much more than a fitness tracker with features that are not found on a Fitbit, but if you have no need for those features, then it would not make much sense to have an Apple Watch. The same is true if you just want something on your wrist to tell you the time, there are many better options for that single use task then an Apple Watch, or even a Fitbit.

The Apple Watch uses the movement of your watch arm to count the steps.

If your arm is not moving freely, because you hold your dogs leash, or push a stroller or shopping chart, carry a bag, the watch will count less steps.

On the other hand, some users reported getting steps counted while knitting, for example.

CJRichards1701 wrote:

I regret purchasing the apple watch SE. The Fitbit seems to do a better job of not only tracking steps but tracking my heart rate & sleep cycles. The apple software seems primitive by comparison. Just to be clear, I've been a apple devotee going back to the apple IIGS days.

As you can tell from my post, I would always suggest to get whatever device would best meet your needs, and that would include if you want a device that counts cycling as steps. Not only would that apply to a Watch, but feel the same way for a phone or a computer. It makes no difference no difference to anyone here. For your question of why the watch does not count cycling as steps, it's because cycling should not be counted as steps.