GoKawiilStudy finds Apple, Samsung, Garmin, Fitbit watches misjudge workout calories
A study covered by The Conversation had 58 adults cycle while wearing devices from Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Fitbit alongside a metabolic analyzer that measures actual gas exchange to determine calorie burn. Comparing the watches' estimates to that gold-standard measurement, researchers found substantial inaccuracies, with errors reaching 100% or more in some cases, particularly among people with higher body fat percentages.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Because many people use calorie-burn readings to guide weight-loss efforts, consistent overestimation could lead users to eat more than they should while believing they're maintaining a deficit. The finding suggests wearable makers may need to improve algorithms that account for body composition differences, though the study doesn't establish why the discrepancy grows with body fat.
- 58 adults cycled while wearing watches from four major brands plus a metabolic analyzer for comparison.
- Calorie estimate errors reached 100% or more, especially in people with higher body fat percentages.
- Researchers advise treating smartwatch calorie counts as rough estimates rather than precise figures.
Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-09-22
Published there as: “Your smartwatch might be giving your workouts more credit than they deserve”
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