iPhone vs. Apple Watch: which counts your steps better?
We walked 25 000 steps — pocket, backpack, wrist — and compared.
Here's a question we get weekly: "Do I need an Apple Watch for Pedometeryo to work?"
The test
One walker, one day, four positions. 25 400 reference steps measured with a medical-grade hip pedometer.
Where each device wins
- Apple Watch: most accurate overall, especially for short bursts
- iPhone in pocket: within 2-3% of ground truth
- iPhone in backpack/purse: undercounts by 5-10%
- Both on: HealthKit de-duplicates automatically
If you always put your iPhone in a backpack, add an Apple Watch — otherwise the phone alone is more than enough.
Does Pedometeryo need both?
No. Pedometeryo reads whichever source HealthKit considers most accurate at any given moment.