Grossly inaccurate step counts

[david58]

It's too bad that the Versa I got for Christmas is just a toy instead of a tool. It's kind of cool to get notifications and have a vibrating alarm on my wrist, but as a fitness tracker, it's an unreliable toy. I've gotten more accurate step counting from an analog pedometer that clips to my belt and only cost a few dollars. 

I wake up and the Versa says I've walked 30-50 steps. Then while looking at the app I happened to scratch my leg  and watched the step counter increase with each scratch. I gained 20 steps in 5 seconds! 

Type in the computer, gain steps. Eat breakfast, gain steps. Walk four steps to the bathroom, gain12 steps.

All the solutions offered so far are unacceptable or don't work. Switch settings to dominant arm. No change. Take it off when typing/eating or other offending activity? That defeats the entire purpose of the so-called smart watch. 

There should be a way to adjust the sensors to effectively address this well documented and wide spread problem. 

If my wife still had the receipt I'd return this thing. 

[Rich_Laue]

Of course the clip on pedometer will be more accurate, your hip usually only moves when your feet does. Just don't walk over a heavily padded carpet or a mod covered field, steps may be lost at such times.

On the other hand, your Versa is mounted on the wrist and really has no way of knowing what the feet are doing.

Fitbit is continually fine timing the algorithm but their will be times that because of am movements the tracker may record false steps.

This seems to be a problem with every arm based pedometer on the market.

So why has these are based producers become so popular, convenience and during a run counts are extreamly accurate.

The ability to add options like heart rate GPS, notifications etc. 

[personjo]

I've had my Versa for about a week and I think its a toy as well. I'm a truck driver and it will log 8,000 steps by the end of the day while i'm driving. I started not wearing at work, but as you mention, that kind of defeats the purpose. Also, a lot of the exercise tracking feature involve syncing with your phone. Like if you use strava or mapmyrun you still have to use your phone to track your gps. The sleep function is interesting, but ultimately doesn't really help you much. I already know when I go to sleep and wake up. It does have the heart rate monitor and it shows the weather and time. I bought mine from a website for only $73 and bought the band and charger separately. For what I paid I'm fine with it, but I would not be happy if I had paid $199.00. 

[LivMakwa]

I just spent 10 hours in the car a and logged 11,824 steps. What b*sh*t. I am completely disgusted. My inspire worked fine

[MIKEOMANIA]

I have both a Fitbit Versa 2 and Apple Watch Series 4 and I can confirm that when I shake my arm, etc the Series 4 does not track it as steps being made. 

[LivMakwa]

Thank you! Now does an apple watch 4 work with android phones? Maybe a
Samsung watch is better? I appreciate your help.

[MIKEOMANIA]

Unfortunately no. Apple Watches only work with iPhones. I’ve used an old Samsung smart watch and didn’t like it much but the new ones may be improved? Depends what you’re looking for. Maybe check out the Garmin Venu? 

[LivMakwa]

👍

[Rich_Laue]

@personjo how bumpy of a car ride is it? 

@LivMakwa doing a search of the web will find many that disagree about the apple watch. 

[MIKEOMANIA]

I’ve got hands on experience though. I’m literally wearing both of them at the same time right now. 

[LivMakwa]

Interstate the whole way. In a sedan. Ergo not bumpy at all