Steps and miles very different from iphone health app

[Demo65]

Just got the Versa 2 for xmas. Large disparity in steps and miles compared to iPhone health app.

• 15k vs 20k steps
• 5.3 vs 9.1 miles 

larger number is on the Versa 2

[MrMarv]

Sorry, but totally expected.

Unless you have an apple watch reporting to Apple Health, then apple health will only report steps when your phone is on your body and placed in a manner that it will recognize steps, whereas the Versa 2 is probably always on your body and will be reporting virtually every step you take.

Place your phone on a table and walk outside to the mailbox. Your Versa 2 on your wrist will count the steps taken and your phone will not.

Your Versa 2 is not paired with Apple Health. It is paired with the FitBit app.

[Demo65]

I had my phone in my back pocket at the same time. Did the same thing today at work with similar results. Fitbit steps almost 3k and 3 miles higher. I heard something about different algorithms between the 2? Dropped my height by an inch on the Fitbit and will if that does anything tomorrow.

[MrMarv]

I'd say that while the mileage difference could easily be a stride length issue, the step count is one of two things or a combination of both.

With the rounded figures given, stride length values are 28.8 for FitBit (assuming no GPS assisted walks that would affect the distance reported) and 22.4 for Apple Health which uses GPS to average out your stride length but I do not know about using GPS 24/7 for distance calculation. I do know that the Apple Watch depends on stride length unless in "exercise mode" to conserve battery life.  I will share my two stride lengths later.

I took a 200 step walk around the 20 x 35 foot family room, with my Versa 2 on my wrist and my iPhone in my sweats pocket - unlike my Wranglers, the phone is going to rattle around a little bit more and will probably over-count steps a bit. My Versa 2 counted 195 steps and Apple Health 210.

Took the same walk with the phone in my right hand and allowing it to swing just like the left - Versa 2 203 and Apple Health 186. 

Third walk with phone in pocket again - Versa 2 194 and Apple Health 226.

So I am getting the opposite as you as far as steps go. My Versa 2, on average understating by 2.5% and Apple Health (or my phone's accelerometer) overstating by an average of 3.6%.

Mileage-wise - FitBit shows .3 miles though the first test was in one 15-minute block of time and the other two were in a second 15-minute block and both rounded to one-tenth of a mile for a total of 3-tenths. Apple Health shows .27 miles (.09 and .18).

For the short test I would suspect them to be very close even with the step count difference. Current stride length on the two devices - FitBit 29.9 and Apple 30.7.

Once again - unless you have your phone on your body for every minute of the day your device is on your wrist it is "comparing apples and oranges time" - no pun intended.

Good luck and welcome to the boards.

[Demo65]

Thanks for the input and welcome!! I will experiment some more and report back.

[MrMarv]

I actually performed a fuller test during my afternoon treadmill session.

I made sure to start the session at the top of the hour as Apple Health buckets hourly.

I set the treadmill at 2.5 mph and kept it there to minimized differences in strides cause by speed.

Sixty minutes later:

My exercise record shows 5,907 steps while AH shows 5,972, 1.1% higher.

My exercise record shows 2.74 miles where AH shows 2.4 miles 14% lower but if the treadmill mph is correct, pretty much right on the money.

The FitBit values extend to a stride length of 29.39 inches while AH comes in at 25.46.

I have always suspected a reduction of 3 inches while on the treadmill forcing an overstatement of miles walked, and the above, assuming the mph stays at 2.5 or even 2.4 with 180 pounds on it is proof.

I've never been that concerned with that measurement - now heart rate is a different matter. Being 68 years old and the victim of a viral attack on my heart in 2017, valid heart rate numbers are the most important thing to me. And it is the issues to heart rate monitoring the FitBit firmware updates this year have caused is what made me, a FitBit user for over six years, order a Series 6 yesterday.

Good luck. 

[Mike2050]

Mine basically records 8 steps per 2 steps taken saw it on Fitbit app happen while synced 😱