{"id":531997,"date":"2026-07-08T22:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T22:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/531997\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T22:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T22:54:13","slug":"i-manually-counted-5000-steps-to-test-the-apple-watch-11-vs-fitbit-air-and-apple-wins-the-accuracy-battle-while-offering-superior-elevation-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/531997\/","title":{"rendered":"I manually counted 5,000 steps to test the Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air, and Apple wins the accuracy battle while offering superior elevation data"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple Watch Series 11 or Fitbit Air, which popular wearable is the more competent\/reliable fitness tracker? I decided to find out by performing one of my renowned head-to-head walk tests.<\/p>\n

For this showdown, I wore the Apple Watch 11<\/a> on my left wrist and the Fitbit Air<\/a> on my right wrist for a 5,000-step walk around beautiful Seattle, Washington. How do I know it was 5,000 steps? I counted every darn one, with some assistance from my trusty tally counter (one click= 100 steps).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Now, if I were a betting man (I’m not), my money would be on the Series 11 to come out victorious. Not only is it one of the best smartwatches<\/a> in 2026, but it’s also four times the cost of the Fitbit Air: $399 vs $99.<\/p>\n

Then again, the Fitbit Air may be affordable, but it’s also one of the best fitness trackers <\/a>in 2026. Not only that, when I pitted in a separate walk test versus the Apple Watch SE 3<\/a>, the Air surprisingly came out victorious. Will this be a repeat win? Read on!<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fitbit Air vs Whoop: Don\u2019t Pick Wrong! – YouTube
\n\"Fitbit<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\nApple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air: tech compared<\/p>\n

\n

\"Close-up\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia\/Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

When it comes to wrist-based trackers, the Fitbit Air and Apple Watch 11 couldn’t be more different. The former has no screens, buttons, or notifications, and lasts up to a week.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

The Series 11, meanwhile, is a super-connected device, boasting a large, bright touchscreen, multiple physical buttons, and compatibility with a dizzying array of apps. That said, the Series 11 comes up short on battery life; 24 hours per charge is the norm.<\/p>\n

Another major difference: the Fitbit Air has no onboard GPS for location tracking or altimeter for elevation data, so you need to carry a smartphone along when logging an outdoor workout. The Apple Watch 11, on the other wrist, has both GPS and an altimeter.<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

With that out of the way, let’s move on to the results!<\/p>\n

Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air: Walk test results Swipe to scroll horizontally5,000-step walk comparison: Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit AirHeader Cell – Column 0 <\/p>\n

Apple Watch 11<\/p>\n

Fitbit Air<\/p>\n

Control<\/p>\n

Steps<\/p>\n

5,053 steps<\/p>\n

5,108 steps<\/p>\n

steps (manual count)<\/p>\n

Distance<\/p>\n

2.63 miles<\/p>\n

2.72 miles<\/p>\n

2.39 miles (Strava)<\/p>\n

Climb<\/p>\n

372 feet<\/p>\n

205 feet<\/p>\n

328 feet (Strava)<\/p>\n

Average pace <\/p>\n

18 mins 51 secs<\/p>\n

18 mins 03 secs<\/p>\n

17 mins 22 secs (Strava)<\/p>\n

Average heart rate<\/p>\n

119 bpm<\/p>\n

119 bpm<\/p>\n

n\/a<\/p>\n

Max heart rate<\/p>\n

153 bpm<\/p>\n

153 bpm<\/p>\n

n\/a<\/p>\n

Calories burned<\/p>\n

312 calories <\/p>\n

373 calories<\/p>\n

n\/a<\/p>\n

Battery usage<\/p>\n

6%<\/p>\n

1%<\/p>\n

n\/a<\/p>\n

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that Strava appears to have had a “hiccup” while recording this walk test. How do I know? The app logged just 4,506 steps, which is a major red flag. Normally, Strava’s step-count data is within 10-20 steps of my actual count. TLDR: Take Strava’s distance, climb, and pace data with a grain of salt.<\/p>\n

Anyhow, both the Apple Watch 11 and Fitbit Air performed admirably when it came to keeping an accurate tally of my steps \u2014 anything within ~150 steps of the control is considered excellent in my book \u2014 but the Apple Watch was just a little closer!<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

Distance data between the Apple Watch and Fitbit Air is similar enough for my liking. The Fitbit noted slightly more ground covered but also a faster pace, which checks out.<\/p>\n

The Fitbit Air’s elevation metric is concerningly inaccurate (this walk was particularly hill-heavy), which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, given the device can piggyback off of the iPhone 16 Plus’s climb data. This also isn’t the first time I experienced less-than-precise elevation tracking insights from the Fitbit Air; it was also way lower than expected versus the Apple Watch SE 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the Fitbit Air finishes strong: Heart rate data is a perfect match with the Apple Watch Series 11, a result I love to see. Meanwhile, the Air logged slightly more calories burned, but used way less battery during my ~42-minute stroll.<\/p>\n

Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air: Winner <\/p>\n

\n

\"Close-up\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia\/Tom’s Guide)<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the Apple Watch Series 11 wins this showdown of fitness tracking accuracy against the Fitbit Air, with a more precise total step count and climb data.<\/p>\n

Which fitness trackers or smartwatches should I pit head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below. Also, which do you prefer, the Apple Watch 11 or the Fitbit Air? Share your opinion in the poll below.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Google\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. <\/p>\n

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