A new study has found that popular smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, Garmin and Fitbit can significantly miscalculate calories burned during exercise. Researchers tested an Apple Watch Series 8, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Garmin Forerunner 955 and Fitbit Sense 2 on 58 adults during standardized cycling sessions.
Apple, Garmin and Samsung generally overestimated calorie expenditure, while Fitbit’s results varied considerably. In some cases, the errors reached 50–100% or more, with several Fitbit readings showing extreme inaccuracies.
The researchers also found that calorie estimates became less accurate as participants’ body fat percentage increased. They recommend treating smartwatch calorie figures as rough estimates rather than precise measurements, particularly when using them to track exercise or manage weight.
Source: Android Authority
