Level 1

31 points

Apple Watch Series 2 does measure elevation gain or altitude?

Hi,

I'm confused, the Series 2 watch is not supposed to have a barometer, but today after I looked up a workout (outdoor cycle) in the activity app on my iPhone I saw "elevation gain" (622 m) and it was spot on (when compared to a parallel measurement with a Garmin 920XT). I registered the workout on the watch but had my iPhone (6s) in my pocket. So, either the Watch Series 2 does altitude/elevation measurements or it's drawing these data from my iPhone... I will experiment further, next time without taking my iPhone along.

Meanwhile, has someone made similar observations?

And of course, I'd be grateful for any help on how to export workouts (write to GPX etc).

Best wishes and thanks

Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3

Posted on Oct 2, 2016 1:29 PM

23 replies

cycler15

Level 1

116 points

Oct 4, 2016 2:12 PM in response to samaki

Yes, i had my phone with me. I take it on all of my runs because I listen to Spotify.

Anyone else tracked a run with their watch and iPHone and had elevation gain tracked?

Awefawer

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2016 2:33 AM in response to cycler15

For me it works to. try resetting the watch.

if the iphone is in range, i get elevation data in workout app for running, biking and walking. (it's what i tried).

it also works the same with nike + app.

Nov 17, 2016 4:52 PM in response to samaki

This is really stupid. You don't need a barometer to measure elevation. GPS calculates your position in three dimensions. You have to purposely dumb down the data to NOT get elevation.

How this thing can be marketed to athletes is beyond me! My 12 year old Garmin GPS watch passed elevation data to any mapping software that cared to interpret it. The people in the advertisements look pretty serious, I doubt they would be OK ignoring the fact that they climbed 2000ft in that 4 mile run.

Lack of this feature turns this thing into a 2nd rate fitness tracker. Fairly useless for anyone that is even partially serious about tracking their runs.

And if I may.... Bringing my phone along is just a ridiculous expectation. The watch holds my playlist and can stream to bluetooth headphones pretty much removing any need for a phone. What serious runner wants to carry her phone in her pocket or on her arm when she just dropped a bunch of money on a GPS/HR Monitor/MP3 player? Just so I can have elevation data?

Really stupid. This should really be marketed as an enthusiast device, not a real training device.

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Nov 17, 2016 5:41 PM in response to jeskandarian

It isn't marketed to athletes or as a fitness device, it is marketed as a health device. If it doesn't suite your needs then don't use it. For others it is fine.

samaki Author

Level 1

31 points

Nov 17, 2016 11:30 PM in response to deggie

??? Are we discussing a product or are we talking about us?

samaki Author

Level 1

31 points

Nov 17, 2016 11:36 PM in response to jeskandarian

Agreed. Would be nice to use it also for elevation data, especially since there also seems to be a barometer inside the watch (produced I believe in the neighbouring town - so additional motivation to use the almost home-made technology).

On the other hand, a bit off topic, the swimming tracking is fantastic. I used a Garmin before (latest model for athletes, a Forerunner 920 XT), which counts 3000 m when in fact, I only did 2000 m. The apple watch gets it right down to a single meter (or well, laps).

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Apr 20, 2017 5:31 PM in response to hinder90

Which iPhone do you have?

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Aug 8, 2017 1:53 AM in response to orionisdj

Be sure to submit your feedback to Apple (via the link in my previous reply to your previous post).

You are not talking to Apple here - this is a user-based technical support community.

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Apple Watch Series 2 does measure elevation gain or altitude?