If you don t have a smartwatch, fitness band, or pedometer that keeps track of your steps, don’t¶ÿworry. Assuming you carry it in your pocket, your smartphone can monitor the number of steps¶ÿyou take and how far you walk.
Sure, exercise trackers provide several awesome features, but if all you need is the basic fitness¶ÿstuff, marketers who sell cell phones attest that your smartphone is sufficient for your needs.
This feature is built-in on iPhones via the Apple Health app and on Android phones via the¶ÿGoogle Fit app.
Step Tracking Is Best Suited on Newer Smartphones
Tracking your steps using your new smartphone is possible due to low-power movement¶ÿreceptors incorporated into modern mobile phones. This is why it s only possible with the¶ÿiPhone 5s and newer models. If you have your iPhone with you, it’s possible to track how you¶ÿmove, determine the number of steps you take, the distance you run or walk, and the flights of¶ÿstairs you climb.
It’s a bit complicated on the Android side, though. Google Fit will strive to operate even on older¶ÿAndroid mobile phones. However, it will function most accurately – and with the minimum¶ÿbattery drain – on newer smartphones with built-in low-power receptors. So, if you have a new¶ÿsmartphone that includes sensors just like the ones found in the new iPhone, it should work¶ÿwell. If you have an older mobile phone, it will work with data from other sensors to estimate¶ÿthe number of steps you took, though it may not be nearly as accurate.
Apple Health on iPhones
To launch this data, simply:
- Tap the “Health” app icon on your phone s home screen. The dashboard, by default, will¶ÿshow these cards: Steps, Walking + Running Distance, and Flight Climbed.
- Tap the Day, Week, Month, and Year cards to check the steps you took, the distance¶ÿyou’ve walked or run, and the flights of stairs you’ve climbed.
With these data, it s easy to see how active you ve been in the past days, weeks, and months.
Google Fit on Android Phones
Google’s answer to Apple’s Health app is Google Fit. The app is bundled with several new¶ÿAndroid smartphones. It’s possible to install the app via Google Play on older mobile phones, but¶ÿas mentioned above, it won’t work as accurately as with newer phones.
To get started:
- Install Google Fit via Google Play.
- Roll out the Fit app.
- Set up the app. This includes giving it access to the receptors it needs to track your step¶ÿcount.
- Launch the Fit app and swipe to check out the number of steps you took along with¶ÿother fitness details you may need (ex. estimate of the calorie count you ve burned).
Everything is linked to your Google account, so it s possible to access it on Google Fit online.
Just don’t forget to bring your smartphone with you. Using wearable tech works well because¶ÿyou ll constantly have it on your body, while you may leave your phone sitting somewhere while¶ÿyou do your daily exercise. If you failed to carry your smartphone, it ll wind up under-counting¶ÿthe distance you ve traveled.
