Apple Watch distance accuracy

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Level 1

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Apple Watch distance accuracy

Ok, so I tried calibrating the accuracy of the Apple Watch Workout app as explained by Apple Support. I went for and outdoor walk for 20 minutes with the Apple Watch Workout app activated and with the Iphone on my pocket. After the walk it showed that I walked for 23,36 minutes and a total distance of 1,29 (picture attached).

Ok so it looks like my Apple watch was calibrated let's head to the gym!!! I got on the Treadmill and launch the workout app and selected indoor run, I set it up for a goal of 2,0km (aprox. 1,24 Ml). On the treadmill on a slow with some sprints I am able to reach that distance in approximately 14 minutes. After that time I looked at the watch and it showed half the distance it was showing on the Treadmill. So I kept running for a couple more minutes and checked the final data showed on the Treadmill and on the Watch. It is ridiculous the gap between the distance on the Apple Watch workout app and on the Treadmill. On the Treadmill it showed that I ran for 18 min and a distance of 2,45km (aprox. 1,52 Ml) and burned 171 cal (picture attached) and on the Apple Watch it showed that I ran for 18 min and a distance of 0,76km (aprox. 0,47 Ml) and burned 52 cal (picture attached). That is a third of the real distance and calories on the Apple Watch!!!

Before I bought my Apple Watch I was using the Microsoft Band and before that I used the FuelBand, both of them was very accurate on measuring paces and distance without the need of special calibration and using the GPS of the phone... What happened with the Apple Watch???!!!

Looking forward on an update that solves this gap between steps and distance... Very disappointed...

Does anyone knows if there is a way to fix this???!!!

Apple Watch

Posted on May 11, 2015 10:53 AM

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Answer 1

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,769 points

Nov 12, 2017 9:33 AM in response to daanaron2000

Hi

Under watchOS 4.x, Apple Watch can pair and sync with compatible gym equipment, by following the instructions here:

Use gym equipment with Apple Watch

It may otherwise help to calibrate your Apple Watch, including resetting any existing calibration data.

Calibration teaches your Apple Watch how your arm movements relate to your stride lengths at different speeds when you are walking and/or running. It does this, during outdoor walk and/or outdoor run workouts that are recorded via the Workout app, by comparing data from the accelerometer with GPS (Location Services) data.

To calibrate your Apple Watch - and to reset existing calibration data - follow the instructions here:

Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

Resetting your calibration data can be equally as helpful for Series 2 & 3 models and will not erase your Activity history.

For the best results, be sure to allow the arm on which you are wearing your Apple Watch to swing naturally during treadmill-based workouts and also during calibration.

Keep in mind that, when estimating distances for indoor walks and runs via the built-in accelerometer, Apple Watch cannot recognise or adjust for inclines or declines on a treadmill.

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Answer 2

Nov 12, 2017 9:32 AM in response to RiRosenberg

I have the same problem. Just got (Nov 2017) a new series 3 Apple watch and iPhone 6 for entering into a 3rd party Study of Activity Patterns. The watch understates treadmill distance by at least 1/3 on the watch. I have found no fix. The treadmill distance covered is consistent with my normal pace, and the measurement of the tread movement distance should be very accurate. I just started to download an update to the watch, but nothing mentioned a change correcting the distance error. I'll see if this update changes the error when I workout again later today. Disappointing.

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Answer 3

RiRosenberg Author

Level 1

0 points

May 20, 2015 12:23 PM in response to RiRosenberg

So now the Watch probably went throw an update and the distance on the Watch isn't lower of the Treadmill anymore. Now instead of that it is higher!!! LOL...

Since I already did the calibration on an outdoor walk with the GPS of the Iphone for more then 20 minutes I don't know what else I can do to make this distance issue more accurate for an indoor run.

On the Treadmill the distance was 2,05Km and on the Watch the distance was 2,47km (pictures bellow). Before the Apple Watch I used the Microsoft Band for about 6 months and what I liked about it was that it vibrate every 1 Km that I completed, and it was always in sync with the distance showed on the Treadmill. Of course that there is no comparison on the Apple Watch versus the Microsoft Band regarding the versatility of the Apple Watch, with tons of Apps and features, but I am still disappointed since the Apple Watch has much more features and sensors that it is still off in accuracy for distance and the Microsoft Band was able to do it in such a simple hardware...

Does someone know if there is any way to fix this issue for indoor runs?

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