Step counting not accurate

[xs_kurtosis]

I just bought a Charge 2 and have been using it for a week now. I also have an Apple Watch 3. I use them together, one on my left wrist, the other on the right. After testing for a week, i noticed that fitbit counts significantly more steps than Apple Watch. And I think AW is accurate. I have been using AW for quite a while, and i have tested its accuracy with other activity trackers. I will test Charge 2 for couple more weeks and i iwll return it if the inaccuracy continues. 

[JohnnyRow]

The AW might indeed be more accurate but I am suspicious of just saying you think it is right without doing a simple test to check.

The way to see what is accurate is to go outside, or at least somewhere you can walk continuously, and count the steps as you walk, swinging arms naturally, not looking at tracker as you walk, the more steps the better, preferable at least a couple of hundred, and then see how your count compared to each tracker's count. 

[Rich_Laue]

@xs_kurtosis which tracker is on the dominant arm? Have you switched the trackers between arms? 

Both look at arm movements, not feet movements. 

[xs_kurtosis]

yes, I have done that many times. Thanks

[JJmus]

Got mine a few days ago and very disappointed with the accuracy. If out for a walk it counts fine, but round the house its nuts. This morning I sat up in bed and it added 297 steps. If it can't do the basic step counting its of little use - though I do love the app and the sleep info.

[JulieCob]

Found the same problem. Changing bed linen apparently accumulated 500 steps....!???

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wrote:

Got mine a few days ago and very disappointed with the accuracy. If out for a walk it counts fine, but round the house its nuts. This morning I sat up in bed and it added 297 steps. If it can't do the basic step counting its of little use - though I do love the app and the sleep info.

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[JJmus]

Yes, it keeps adding huge amounts if steps. Wonder how accurate other fitness trackers are. Seems like a basic thing to get right before all the other stuff!

[xs_kurtosis]

Swithching the wrists definitely makes a difference. When i wear it on my non-dominat arm it gets closer to AW in step count, but still counts more steps. 

[Rich_Laue]

Neither unit is actually counting your steps, both are looking at arm movements to determine the movement of the feet. Each device used their own logic and I would be surprised if they matched. 

[JJmus]

Yes. Interesting though that I've been walking outside with my hands in my pockets (cold here at the moment)...or watching the Fitbit screen to check steps so arms not swinging by any means, and it is counting accurately on these walks.

[BiuBao]

I did 2 trials today by (1) wearing the wristband on my left arm and set as non-dominant (2)hold my iphone in my left hand.

1st trial result (roughly 20min walk): 1487 steps (fitbit) vs 1632 steps (apple health app)

2nd trial result (roughly 10min walk): 691 steps (fitbit) vs 504 steps (apple health app)

so, the fitbit/apple ratio is roughly 100:75.

[Rich_Laue]

May I ask @BiuBao how many steps did you physically counted?

We need to compare to a known count .

[BiuBao]

Well, I wish I could count by myself. It’s difficult to keep counting without distraction for 10min and more.

[HelenaN]

I find when I'm driving it adds on an extra 1000 steps!check before start driving and after

[PattyRain]

If your numbers are posted here correctly:

Fit 1487/1632 app

Fit 691/504 app

Then the ratio you figured can't be right because one ratio has fitbit being higher and the other apple being higher.

[BiuBao]

My fault, just checked screenshots. 1st trial should be the reverse: Fitbit 1632/1487 Apple app

[SteveWalks]

 I am having the same issue. I got an Apple Watch for for Christmas. I’ve been using my Fitbit for years. I’m wearing both of them now, however, for a few weeks. The numbers vary, sometimes the Apple Watch reports more steps, more often the Fitbit reports more steps. I have not gotten scientific about it, and that is really the only way to know if the Fitbit is over counting steps. But generally the Fitbit is at least 1000 steps higher at the end of the day, compared to the Apple Watch. 

[Rich_Laue]

Have you kept a daily log off the steps, then compared step totals over a week and month.

[SteveWalks]

I have kept a log for 10 days.
fitbit readings are always higher than Apple Watch readings.
I have not yet kept a monthly log.
SD

[Rich_Laue]

While on a walk, which unit is accurate, or do their steps come close.