GoKawiilTL;DR Google has improved GPS route tracking on the Pixel Watch 5.
Tracking was improved by combining Android Location technology with 3D building models, a GNSS reference station network, atmospheric corrections, and building-reflection corrections.
Google boasts that its GPS route tracking outperforms that of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro.
Google has launched the Pixel Watch 5, its most advanced smartwatch to date. While it looks the same as earlier iterations, the device includes several new features and improvements. One of the most notable improvements is the GPS route tracking.
The company says that every stride you take is captured with precision thanks to its new GPS route-tracking algorithm, whether you’re running in a city with tall buildings or on a tree-lined trail.
Google adds that its GPS tracking delivers twice the route-tracking accuracy of previous generations. In fact, Google is so confident in the Pixel Watch 5’s GPS tracking that it is making some big claims. The firm boasts that its tracking outperforms that of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro.
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For route tracking, Google is using a new technique that combines its technology with third-party solutions. Specifically, the Pixel Watch 5 uses L1 (1575.42 MHz) and L5 (1176.45 MHz) GPS frequencies to implement a dual-band receiver.
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The GPS coordinates are sent to a server, where the data is combined with other factors such as 3D building models, building reflection corrections, and atmospheric corrections. Google says it then performs calculations after your run, making your map more accurate.
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