In accurate Step count & distance

[G_Kifle]

I have been tracking my charge 6 data for months, I have to say that it is pretty in accurate, at least in things I can easily verify - step count and distance. Every day I use the same route that takes exact amount of time. Yet, the step counts & distance covered pretty inconsistent. For example, there a 1 km and 2000 steps difference the one from yesterday. In contrast, my pedometer is pretty consistent. I wonder with gps & other features at least we shouldn’t have such inconsistency. If these things are not accurate, how should I believe that the other metrics are reasonably accurate?

[Julia_G]

Hi, @G_Kifle , well your step count difference could be real, as I have discovered since I have been on the Public Preview of the app and have engaged a bit with the AI (I know, it does seem weird at first.). I take the same walk regularly and the AI tells me when I cover the same distance with fewer steps.

I was a bit dubious at first - but since it has been highlighted to me I have noticed that my stride on the same walk can really vary quite a lot, depending on how I am feeling and even what I am listening to on my headphones.

All that being said, there is really a very simple test to make sure that the step count on your Fitbit is working correctly.  Simply go outside, and carrying nothing and without your hands in your pockets (i.e. gently swinging naturally by your side) walk and count 100 steps.  The Fitbit claims to be 95% accurate, so at the end of your counted 100 steps you should see on your Fitbit 95-105 steps gained.

The distance is a different and somewhat complex matter.  To be fair there have been a number of complaints about the Charge 6 GPS chip accuracy.  If you are using connected GPS, which saves battery on your Fitbit but relies on your phone, then it will only be as accurate as your phone’s GPS (and for both systems, of course, relying on a robust satellite connection).

If, on the other hand, you are not using GPS then the formula simply multiplies your stride length times the number of steps.  The Fitbit app automatically estimates your stride length based on your height, weight, and sex.  If you have entered a custom stride length it will use that instead.

Given that your stride length will change based on many factors, distances calculated using stride length could also vary day to day.

I hope this helps.  Welcome to the Community Forums!

[G_Kifle]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and share such detailed advice — I really appreciate it! 😊

I followed your suggestion and did the step count test (counted 400 steps with natural arm swing, no pockets). The Fitbit was spot on at 96% accuracy, so that part checks out and made me feel better.

Unfortunately, the inconsistency is still there on my regular route. The very next morning I took the exact same path (same pace, same time) and the step count was again about 2000 steps lower than my reliable pedometer, with the distance showing 5.3 km. Over the past weeks it has fluctuated wildly on the same route: 4.9 km, 5 km, 6.8 km, and today after switching to the built-in GPS it showed 9.55 km with 9500 steps (only ~250 steps higher than the pedometer).

It’s strange because the step count can be decent in a controlled test but then drifts so much on a real walk. I’m starting to think there might be a bug or calibration issue with the Charge 6 on longer activities. Have you (or anyone else) noticed the distance readings jumping around this much even with GPS on?

Thanks again for the helpful tips — really hoping this gets sorted because I want to trust the other metrics too!