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This article is part of TechRadar’s Get Fit For ‘25 series.

Or would this experiment show that you dont need fancy tech to track your steps accurately?

iPhone, Samsung, Garmin watch and Polar Watch displaying step counts

Heres what I discovered after using all four devices at the same time.

All devices were set to zero before I set off to ensure a fair comparison.

Which gadget is the most accurate?

iPhone showing step counter at 5,000 steps

Determining accuracy is tricky without knowing the true step counta problem that plagues all step trackers.

Factors like stride length,armmovement and even how a gear is worn can influence readings.

That said, my takeaway is this: phones are surprisingly accurate for everyday step tracking.

Journalist outdoors showing step trackers on two phones to the camera

This might interpret extra steps during non-walking activities like turning corners or gesturing.

Do you need wearables to track steps?

That said, smartwatches do have their perks.

Apple health app step counter

Plus, theyre often more convenient to glance at mid-walk than pulling out a phone.

We found similar differences betweenpremium Garmin and Apple Watches when testing them against each other during a marathon.