When it comes to staying active and keeping tabs on your general well-being, there are a variety of different solutions available. From the likes of Apple’s own Health app to dedicated apps like Jawbone or Nike+ Running, there are plenty of ways you can get a clearer picture of how much exercise you’re getting and how healthy your diet is. Google Fit is another great option, allowing you to track your activity and use that data as a means to improve your life. But how accurate is Google Fit? Do all devices support it? And if not, what devices can it track your activity? Let’s take a look.
How Accurate Is Google Fit?
Google Fit is a good basic tool for tracking your activity and calories burned, but it’s not as accurate as more specialized fitness trackers. For example, it may overestimate the number of calories you’ve burned if you’re very active, or underestimate them if you’re inactive. It also doesn’t track heart rate or other important health metrics. So if you’re serious about tracking your fitness progress, I would recommend using a more specialized fitness tracker instead.
Which Devices Can Use Google Fit?
1. Android Wear
The first device that can use Google Fit is Android Wear. It’s a smartwatch, much like the Samsung Gear S2, that is able to track your activity and display it in the form of a fitness tracker. The downside? It only tracks your activity when you’re actively using it. So, if you’re not wearing your watch at the time, then there won’t be any data to report on.
2. Android phones
Android phones are able to use Google Fit as well. When it comes to tracking activity, this is where it differs from other devices on the market. The best part about Android phones is that they can track all activity without needing a dedicated app or wearable device, unlike some other devices out there. As long as you have an Android phone with version 4.4 or higher and Bluetooth turned on, then you’ll be able to get up-to-date information about how active you’ve been and what foods you’ve consumed.
3. iOS devices
Apple devices are able to use Google Fit as well. The good news is that it works with the same version of iOS as Android, so if you have an iPhone 5, 6 or 6S, then it will be compatible with Google Fit. The bad news? It only tracks activity when you’re actively using your phone, so if you don’t have it in your pocket at the time, then there won’t be any data to report on.
4. Wear OS by Google
Wear OS was released alongside Android Wear 2.0 and is a smartwatch platform that can track your activity without the need for a dedicated app or wearable device like an Apple Watch or Samsung Gear S2. As long as you have Bluetooth turned on and an Android phone running version 4.4 or higher, then it will be able to track you.
4. Windows phones
Windows phones are able to use Google Fit as well, but you’ll need to use the Microsoft Health app. This app is only available for Windows 10 devices, and it’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices. You can download this app from the Windows Store. It’ll allow you to track your activity and get health data on your phone or tablet. Just like the other platforms, this will only be enabled when you have Bluetooth turned on and an active internet connection.
Can You Track Your Weight With Google Fit?
1. Weight
Weight is something that you can track with Google Fit on both Android and iOS. This is a pretty basic feature, and it works in a very similar way to many other fitness apps. You simply start the activity and then tap on the ‘Weight’ field to start your weight-tracking session.
2. BMI (Body Mass Index)
BMI is a measurement of your body fat based on your height and weight. It’s designed to be used alongside other measurements, such as waist circumference, in order to better understand your health.
3. Waist Circumference (WC)
One of the more obvious aspects of fitness that is often overlooked is your waist size – especially if you want to keep a healthy weight and maintain a fit physique. Google Fit can measure this for you, but only on Android devices.
4. Hip Circumference (HC)
This measurement is also only available on Android. It’s based on the circumference of your hips, as well as other measurements such as your height and weight. It can be used to assess if you’re doing enough exercise and if you’re eating enough healthily.
5. Abdominal Circumference (AC)
Tracking the circumference of your abdomen is another way to measure your health and fitness, but it only works on Android. The measurements will be taken from above the hip, below the waist, at the top of your shoulder blades, and at the point where your body begins to curve inwards towards your stomach. This measurement can be used in conjunction with BMI and WC in order to get a better idea of how healthy you are.
Who’s Google Fit For?
- Google Fit is for people who have a smartphone, and want to track fitness data.
- Google Fit is for people who want to know how active they are, how much sleep they’re getting, and more.
- Google Fit is for people who want to share their activity data with friends and family in order to improve their health and well-being.
- Google Fit is for people who want to use activity data as a means of improving their performance at work or school (i.e. tracking your steps during the day).
- Google Fit is for people who have an Android Wear smartwatch or a Chromecast-enabled TV set-top box (such as the Nexus Player or Playstation 4) which can track your activity using the app on these devices (see below).
Conclusion
When it comes to staying active and keeping tabs on your general well-being, there are a variety of different solutions available. From the likes of Apple’s own Health app to dedicated apps like Jawbone or Nike+ Running, there are plenty of ways you can get a clearer picture of how much exercise you’re getting and how healthy your diet is. Google Fit is another great option, allowing you to track your activity and use that data as a means to improve your life. The app can also be used to log your food intake and water consumption, allowing you to track your diet and keep tabs on your calories. There are a few other metrics available in the app too, such as the time you’ve slept and a sleep quality score. Overall, Google Fit seems to be a very accurate app that can record a lot of data about your general health.
