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ZDNET Highlights
- I tracked my steps with three health trackers.
- This includes Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch and Ora Ring.
- Of the three tested, the Pixel Watch was the most accurate.
It’s been more than a decade since the original Fitbit, with its step-tracking functionality, arrived on the scene. Still, people are as passionate as ever about getting their foot in the door.
Tracking your steps with a health tracker is one way to keep track of your activity levels and make sure you’re moving enough throughout the day. Wrapped around the wrist or finger, these devices can also serve as helpful reminders to maintain activity, thanks to pings that encourage movement or screens that display daily activity progress.
Also: Best Smartwatches of 2026: Expert Tests and Reviews
However, the big question is: do these step counters actually work? The companies behind your favorite smartwatches have spent millions of dollars on research and development, perfecting their step counters and calorie trackers to track your every step and log it into your operating system.
My 3,000-Step Experiment
I tested the step-tracking functionality of my top three health trackers to see if they hold up. I used the Ora Ring, Apple Watch Series 11, and Google Pixel Watch 4 for this purpose.
To do this, I went to Prospect Park in Brooklyn and recorded a walking and running workout simultaneously on each device. Then, while exercising, I counted to 1,000. Once I reached 1km, I stopped the trackers. I did this twice while walking and once while running. I wore all the trackers on the same arm
Before we get to the conclusions, I’ll preface all this by saying that my three exercise tests, while helpful in understanding how these devices compare in a real-world setting, were nowhere near as comprehensive as the time and endless testing these companies put into developing these products. This test isn’t scientific enough to be definitive, but it’s fun to compare.
How to find step-tracking on every device
It’s easy to see total steps taken per day on the Apple Watch, but after testing these three devices, I was surprised to find how difficult it is to see how many steps I took during my recorded workouts, especially on the Apple Watch. Both Oura and Google provide this information immediately after you finish logging a workout. Simply tap on the details of that logged workout to find your steps.
Also: Is AI Health Coach Subscription a Scam? My verdict after testing Fitbit for a month
But Apple…not so much. I had to dig into the sub-tab of Apple’s Health app to get this information for three of my logged exercises—not even the Exercise app. I hope this is a feature Apple will pay more attention to in future software updates.
Result
| walk | Apple see (step) | Mistake | Google Pixel (Steps) | Mistake | ora (step) | Mistake |
| walk 1 | 977 | -23 | 964 | -36 | 909 | −91 |
| walk 2 | 1091 | 91 | 1018 | 18 | 949 | -51 |
| walk 3 | 1092 | 92 | 992 | -8 | 1013 | 13 |
| mean error | 53.3 | 18 | −43.0 | |||
| Mean abs. Mistake | 53.3 | 18 | 51.7* |
*Chart data calculated with the help of cloud.
In the first walking test, the Ora recorded 909 steps, the Apple Watch recorded 977 steps, and the Google Pixel Watch recorded 964 steps. In the second test (where I ran), the Ora recorded 949 steps, the Google Pixel recorded 1,018 steps, and the Apple Watch recorded 1,091 steps. In the last walking trial, Ora recorded 1,013 steps, Apple Watch recorded 1,092 steps, and Google Pixel recorded 992 steps.
The health tracker with the lowest average absolute error of these three tests is the Google Pixel Watch 4, which was off by an average of 18 steps per time. The Apple Watch ranked second with an average of 53.3 steps missed per walk, and the Aura ranked last with an average of 56.3 steps missed per walk.
As I said earlier, three trials are not enough to make any definitive assessment. But this quick test shows differences in data collection across these three popular health-tracking devices.
Author’s decision
The Google Pixel recorded the most accurate steps of the three devices during my tests. I’ve already praised the Pixel Watch 4, and this quick test adds another thing to the list. The Oura Ring and the Apple Watch are still competitive devices, and I would still easily recommend them to iOS users and anyone not interested in purchasing a smartwatch.
Plus: I Found 4 Tech Gadgets That Actually Helped Me Sleep Better (And Eliminate Alarms)
The Aura Ring 4 is touted as a general health wearable with comprehensive sleep-tracking and disease detection features. It’s not the best option for activity tracking, but Oura’s recent advancements have improved its step- and activity-tracking algorithms.
The Apple Watch Series 11 and Google Pixel Watch 4, on the other hand, are more focused on activity tracking, with a less thoughtful design for sleep tracking. I prefer the Aura Ring 4 for sleep and the Apple Watch or Pixel Watch for exercise.
