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Samsung’s latest flagship Android smartphone has attracted some criticism since its launch, mostly due to apparent hardware and feature downgrades compared to its predecessor. Now, popular channels such as JerryRigEverything have verified that the most obvious work-around for these problems do not work. On the other hand, the S25 Ultra might also be the most reparable member of its series thus far.
The S24 Ultra (left) vs. the S25 Ultra. (Image source: PhoneRepairGuru via YouTube)
TheGalaxy S25 Ultrahas been hyped as the best-designed iteration of its line to date since its launch; however, it has also became apparent that it is in fact less capable than the thicker, heavier and longer S24 Ultrain certain areas.
The new flagship has lost the ability to supportOne UI’sAir Actions, as they require anS Penwith Bluetooth functionality. It was oncethought thatthey might be restored to the S25 Ultra with a simple stylus upgrade – however, Samsung hasdeclaredit will not be selling those. Nevertheless, it now seems that the OEM was indeed considering it during the smartphone’s development.
The S25 Ultra’s internals do in fact include the inductive coil necessary to charge an S Pen in its silo, as found by popular YouTubersJerryRigEverythingandPhoneRepairGuruduring their respective teardowns of the device.
Unfortunately, that does not really matter, as the S25 Ultra’s S Pen is devoid of the inbuilt battery normally found within the accessory, as demonstrated by JerryRigEverything’s host Zach Nelson by the simple expedient of snapping it in half.
In addition, the YouTuber observed that the S24 Ultra’sS Pen refuses to “click into place” properly when inserted into the S25 Ultra instead in any case.
On the other hand, the device-design enthusiasts also found it markedly easy toremovethe rear panel (in the presence of a good heat-gun and suction tool, that is) – not to mention the battery, which has a new and improved pull-pouch that is also re-usable.
The potentially commendable feature is also present in the vanilla Galaxy S25 (currently available for$799.99on Amazon), asPBKReviewscould attest during a teardown of that device.
The S25 also has the same new cosmetic stick-oncamera ringsas its Ultra sibling – which, despite their increased dust-magnet potential, might actually make it easier to replace the devices’ rear-facing lenses if necessary.
Updates for the Galaxy S21 series are slowing down
What you need to know
Samsung subtly indicated that it will not be providing monthly updates to its Galaxy S21 series.
Since the series was destined for 4 years of full software updates, it means One UI 7 is its last.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE still makes the cut for monthly updates, given its later release.
Samsung’sGalaxy S25 seriesrecently launched with seven years worth of updates, which should begin with monthly security updates. However, anyone with the Galaxy S21 series will start noticing a slowdown in update cadence just four years after the phone’s launch.
In asecurity updates post, Samsung lays out the devices that will get monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual updates. As recently spotted by9to5Google, the S21 series will now be downgraded to quarterly updates.
Monthly, quarterly, and biannual firmware security updates include patches for Android OS-related security issues released by Google, as well as patches for Samsung-specific security issues.
This change in update cadence will impact the standard Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and Ultra models since they were. However, owners should note that the phones are still expected to receive the massive One UI 7 update, as they were promised four years of OS upgrades after launching with Android 11. This will bring a revamped UI and perhaps additional Galaxy AI features in tandem with the latest flagship models. So, the S21 owners still have something to be excited about.
That said, theGalaxy S21 FEwas launched later in 2021, so it will continue to receive monthly updates for now, along with all subsequent S series models, starting from S22 until the most recentGalaxy S25 series.
Some of the other devices still eligible for monthly security updates include the following models: Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, W23, W23 Flip, W24, W24 Flip, W25, W25 Flip, Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition and Enterprise Models starting with the Galaxy A53 5G.
Along with these phone-related updates, Samsung is releasing a security patch for its wearables as well, listed below:
As for the Galaxy S21, owners should continue to see updates last until sometime in early 2026, although it’s unlikely it’ll receive the next major Android release.
We’re just under a week away from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra release day, and with that comes a choice many Android phonemakers will have to make: Will you buy the phone, or skip it and choose something else instead?
Frankly, for me at least, it’s a pretty easy decision to make.
The answer is a resounding no, and it’s all down to the fact that the Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the blandest upgrades I’ve seen over the past couple of years. Beaten only by theiPhone 14, which was essentially aniPhone 13with some very minor upgrades.
It’s getting to the point where I’m wondering whether my money would be better spent buying aGalaxy S24 Ultrainstead.
Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t feel like much of an upgrade
Here’s a quick design comparison between the new Galaxy S25 Ultra (left) and last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra (right). Notice the smaller bezels and more rounded corners on the S25U.
When you look at the Galaxy S25 Ultra specs, and compare them to last year’s model, there isn’t a whole lot of what I’d consider “new” stuff. The screen is marginally bigger at 6.9-inches, and the chipset has been upgraded to a newer and faster model. There’s alsoa version of Qi2, though it relies on a specialist case if you want the magnetic benefits.
Really the only major hardware upgrade is the 50MP ultrawide camera. That’s a useful upgrade, even if it is long overdue, and it’s going to help the Galaxy S25 Ultra claim a position on our best camera phones page. But it’s not the kind of upgrade that makes buying a whole new phone worthwhile.
In fact there are a couple of places where the Galaxy S25 Ultra is either a downgrade compared to last year or still not on par with some of its main rivals.
The S Pen is proving to be the most infamous of these, withSamsung stripping out the Bluetooth functionalityand related features from the stylus — claiming they weren’t popular enough to keep around. Samsung claims that aBluetooth enabled pen will go on sale as a standalone product, but that feels like a price hike with extra steps.
Aria also pointed outthat the loss of Air Gestures meant that the Galaxy S25’s desktop mode (DeX) isn’t nearly as useful this time around. So it’s no surprise that it hasn’t stopped apetition trying to return the decisionfrom appearing.
Other notable omissions include any meaningful rise in wireless charging speeds, which is still stuck at 15W. The maximum amount of RAM available in the U.S. is also 12GB, despite rumors that a 16GB model could make an appearance. RAM is very important for on-device AI, and we’re seeing other Android flagships like thePixel 9 Proboost its memory up to 16GB. Given how much Samsung has emphasized AI in theGalaxy S25series, it’s a massive surprise that the Ultra model now has the same amount of RAM as the standard and Plus models.
There’s more to a phone than mere hardware, and software does play a big part in what the device can do. Unfortunately it’s unclear whether the Galaxy S25 offers much that won’t also come to older phones.
Samsung has spent a great deal of time discussing how the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s software can benefit the phone and its users. AI in particular has been at the forefront of Samsung’s marketing, offering up a bunch of waysGalaxy AI is improving this year.
A big part of how Galaxy AI has changed involves the addition of AI agents, and multimodal capabilities that allow Galaxy AI to see and understand multiple kinds of input — including speech, text, images and video. All with the aim of making the process of communicating with AI more natural. It’s a big change for Samsung, even if these aren’t particularly unique capabilities.
For all the benefits Samsung has been lauding, it’s unclear whether these improvements are general upgrades to Galaxy AI — or features kept exclusively for the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung hasn’t been particularly clear on this point, and the last thing anyone wants is to pick up a new $1,300 phone only to find that all its best features are also available on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
On the one hand Samsung does have theSnapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which promises to offer greater performance and helps power more advanced on-device AI processing. But on the other hand, we’ve already seen that some features, like theNow Bar, are already available as part of theOne UI 7 beta— meaning it’s available (in some form) on the year-old Galaxy S24 Ultra as well. Likewise improvements to Circle to Search and otherGoogle-made AI features are likely to make their way to Pixels and other Android phones in the coming weeks and months.
Not knowing what the future holds for Galaxy AI, and other software flourishes, makes me even more hesitant to take the plunge and pick up a Galaxy S25 Ultra. We don’t know what One UI 7 has in store for older Galaxy phones, and if last year is anything to go by we could see a bunch of new AI features and upgrades make their way to older phones.
Heck, even theSamsung Galaxy A35supportssome Galaxy AI features— and that’s $900 cheaper than the S25 Ultra. And bearing all that in mind, it has me seriously doubting whether the Galaxy S25 Ultra is worth it.
Bottom line
If you have an older phone, or maybe even a mid-range model then perhaps the S25 Ultra will be a worthwhile upgrade. There’s a lot on offer here, and while it does cost a lot, I have no doubt that the S25 Ultra will be one of the best phones you can buy. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is a very disappointing upgrade, and it feels like Samsung hasn’t tried that hard to give us a substantial upgrade.
Whether its downgrades to the S Pen, minimal extra hardware, or software that could easily come to older phones in the near future, the Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t really seem to have a unique selling point. Worse still the rounded design means that it’s lost its visual distinctiveness compared to other phones.
If you’re spending $1,300 on a brand new phone, the last thing you need is either the same thing as last year, or something that doesn’t stand out against the competition. Unfortunately the Galaxy S25 Ultra seems to hit both those boxes.
I think this is as close as we’ve gotten to smartphones being able to replace digital cameras.
I spent some time in Slovenia this week with Honor, and captured some stunning landscape shots of Lake Bled (one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen) using nothing but one of thebest camera phones– the new Honor Magic 7 Pro.
It’s not a secret that I have always considered theSamsung GalaxyS24 Ultra as the ultimate camera phone, especially thanks to the latest advancements in AI imaging tools. But more recently I’ve been questioning the quality of this camera the more that I’ve gotten to use alternatives from competitors, including some of thebest iPhones for photography.
I decided to putHonor’s new Magic 7 Proto the test during my time in Slovenia, with a camera phone shootout against my current smartphone, the S24 Ultra. To keep things fair, I used the same aspect ratio when shooting these images and the same resolution wherever possible. Take a look at the 100% unedited image sliders (move the slider to see the full image) and galleries below for the results of this ultimate camera phone shootout.
The Honor Magic 7 Pro only has a 50MP main camera, compared with the 200MP main camera on my Samsung S24 Ultra. However, the Honor Magic 7 Pro benefits from a larger aperture at f/1.4, compared with Samsung’s f/1.7, meaning it can take in much more light.
Honor also seems to have the upper hand against Samsung when it comes to the telephoto camera, with a 200MP f/2.6 72mm periscope lens with the intelligent AI Super Zoom, compared with the S4 Ultra’s 50 MP f/3.4 111mm periscope lens. Both phone cameras offer 100x zoom, and I was eager to put this to the challenge.
As you can see from the image galleries above, both of these are exceptional camera phones (though the beautiful Slovenian landscapes certainly help). I found that my Samsung S24 Ultra produced the sharpest unedited results in most cases, though only by a fraction, whereas the Honor Magic 7 Pro produced the best final image with AI enhancements made for more vibrant colours and hues.
The Super Zoom on the Honor Magic 7 has amazing potential, but I don’t think it’s quite there yet. You can blatantly tell that AI has been used to fill in the gaps, and I think the result looks more like an abstract painting for now than a real image.
The verdict:I think if you’re someone who likes to edit and tweak images yourself for the best result then the S24 Ultra offers the best starting point with RAW capabilities. But if you’re looking for a shot that’sInstagram-ready from the get-go then Honor’s Magic 7 Pro takes the crown.
There’s some good news here for those eyeing the Galaxy S25 series, too.
What you need to know
Samsung has now rolled out support for unlimited, free cracked screen and glass back repairs through its Care Plus Theft & Loss package.
Consumers with an eligible devices can walk-in or mail-in their device and receive a free display repair.
Samsung states its Galaxy S25 series is included with this, which is good news as it prepares to arrive on January 22.
The company rolled out unlimited battery repairs for its Care Plus subscribers in May 2024.
Samsung is expanding its Care Plus subscription for your Galaxy devices with another type of unlimited repair.
As highlighted by9to5Google, the Samsung Care Plus with Theft & Loss package has now rolled out support for “unlimited screen repairs.” Per the company’s website, the “unlimited protection” plan now includes “same-day $0 cracked screen and back glass repairs.” Samsung adds that users will have access to these repairs at over 700 of its authorized locations. Consumers have the option of mailing-in their devices, as well, per the publication.
Things aren’t as cut and dry as Samsung states the same-day portion of this plan “may be available for eligible devices inselectareas.” While this plan supports its Galaxy devices like yourGalaxy S24 series, it reportedly does not service the brand’s foldable phones.
The folks at 9to5 were also given a quick note about this Theft & Loss addition, which states Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 is eligible for its unlimited screen repairs.
Samsung’s debut of cracked screen repairs applies to Care Plus subscribers without Theft & Loss attached, too. For this, the company states users will have to chuck up a $29 fee at any of its locations for device service. Those with Samsung Care Plus Essentials are left out of this screen repair service.
Expanding the reach of coverage occurred early last year as Samsung announcedits unlimited battery supportfor Care Plus subscribers. There was a catch to this as the company stated users will receive repairs so long as there is no “additional damage”andyour device is still covered. The battery repair service only applies to users with devices that have a total battery charge capacity under 79%.
Following the announcement last March, Samsung brought it to its Care Plus subscribers that May. However, it came with an extra $2 charge on their typical monthly bill, per an email.
The addition lets users walk into several of Samsung’s stores for battery repairs. The addition seemed to make sense, especially after the companypartnered with Batteries Plus. In 2023, Samsung and Batteries Plus got together to convert 35 stores across the U.S. into Samsung Authorization Service Centers. The work done there enables consumers to get a device fixed in two hours or less.
In other news, it’s nice to see Samsung granting its Galaxy S25 series some support — even though it’snot here until January 22.
Samsung wants to buy your old smartphone, but unlike its usual trade-in programs, its newly launchedGalaxy Easy Rewardprogram doesn’t require you to buy a new phone at all. With it, Samsung is taking on the various phone recycling and used device centers that purchase your old phone, saving you the effort of selling it privately.
Galaxy Easy Reward goes online in Korea on January 14, and the range of phones Samsung will buy is extensive. Starting out with the Galaxy S20 series, Samsung will also buy back the S21, S22, and S23 series, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Fold 5. It closes out the list with the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Flip 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 5. The latestGalaxy S24series,Galaxy Z Fold 6, andGalaxy Z Flip 6aren’t included.
How much the phone is worth depends on the condition, and it appears the Galaxy Easy Reward system will initially provide an estimate, and will finalize the price once the device has been returned. It will grade phones in an unusual way too, with either “Excellent” or “Good” presumably meaning the phone can be resold, and the final “Recycle” grade meaning the phone will be broken down for parts.
It also seems Samsung will buy non-Samsung devices, but the wording isn’t clear in the translated Korean press release. Why has Samsung launched the Galaxy Easy Reward program? A quote from Samsung Electronics’ Vice President Jung Ho-jin explains:
“We expect this program to increase the long-term value of Galaxy products and contribute to the circular economy,” he said.
The Apple iPhone is well-known for retaining its value on the used market compared to most other smartphones, and it appears Samsung wants to give its phones a boost. A top-spec, mint conditioniPhone 16 Plustrades for up to $763 according to used device buyerSellCell, while aSamsung Galaxy S24 Plusfetchesup to $613. By increasing the phone’s used value, Samsung likely hopes to tempt more buyers to its brand-new phones.
The Galaxy Easy Reward program will first launch in Korea, but the press release states it will expand to other regions in the future.
Bypass charging ensures your smartphone runs cool and smooth during extended gaming, keeping battery health in check. Here’s when and why to use it.
In the world of smartphones, where power and performance go hand in hand, a new feature is making waves — bypass charging. While this might sound like a technical term, its purpose is quite straightforward. Essentially, bypass charging is a gamer-first feature, designed to help keep your smartphone cool, prolong battery health, and ensure your device performs at its peak, especially during intense gaming sessions.
What Is Bypass Charging?
Bypass charging, also known as direct power supply on some devices, ensures that your smartphone draws power directly from the charger rather than the battery while charging. This feature is gaining traction, especially in high-end and gaming-centric phones, where charging speeds are fast and continuous gameplay can lead to overheating.
The key benefit? It reduces the strain on your phone’s battery duringgaming marathonsor long charging sessions. In a typical charging scenario, power goes first to the battery and then gets distributed to the device’s components like the screen and processor. With bypass charging, power flows directly from the charger to the components, preventing unnecessary heat generation.
If you’ve ever played a mobile game while charging, you may have noticed your phone heating up. This isn’t just uncomfortable—it can also cause your device to throttle performance. Thermal throttling occurs when your smartphone reduces its processing power to avoid overheating, often leading to laggy gameplay and slower performance.
With bypass charging, the need for your battery to handle charging and powering the device is eliminated. The result? Less heat, more stable performance, and a longer lifespan for your battery.
Who Should Use Bypass Charging?
Bypass charging is particularly useful for gamers and heavy smartphone users. If you’re someone who spends hours on end playing mobile games or using your phone for performance-intensive tasks, bypass charging will be a game-changer. Not only will it help keep your phone cool, but it also reduces the risk of damaging the battery in the long run.
However, it’s worth noting that bypass charging isn’t a universal solution for all phone users. It’s specifically for those who need to push their phones to the limit without worrying about battery heating or performance throttling.
Different smartphone brands implement bypass charging in various ways. OnGoogle Pixeldevices, for example, bypass charging can be enabled only once the battery reaches 80% charge. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra allows it to be activated during gaming, without any percentage restrictions.
To activate bypass charging on your device, make sure you’re using the recommended charger. This is crucial to ensure that your phone is getting enough power to operate at its best. When you enable bypass charging, the battery remains at a consistent level, and the phone uses the charger’s direct supply to power everything.
But keep in mind, bypass charging should be limited to high-performance tasks like gaming. If used excessively, it can lead to long-term power supply issues or wear on your charger.
The Long-Term Benefits
While bypass charging is most beneficial for gamers, it can also help your smartphone in the long run. By reducing the strain on the battery, this feature helps preserve its health, ensuring that your device remains efficient for years. The less your battery has to work under high temperatures, the longer it stays in good condition.
Bypass charging is a feature that’s making a significant impact on how smartphones manage power during intense activities. It’s an essential tool for gamers and users who demand the best from their phones. If you’re someone who wants to avoid overheating and maintain optimal performance, bypass charging might just be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Updates from the World Power Consortium seem to hint as much.
We are a few weeks shy of theGalaxy Unpacked 2025event, where the S25 lineup is scheduled to make its debut. Ahead of the launch, theWorld Power Consortium (WPC) has all but confirmedwhat we had all been suspecting for months now. Samsung is very likely going to be one of the first major Android phone brands to adopt the Qi2 spec, and I believe this will play a pivotal role in the industry.
In mid-December, several rumors and leaks hinted that theGalaxy S25will support Qi2 wireless charging, but not in the way you’d expect. Allegedly, Samsung will use a magnetic case to enable the magnetic aspect of Qi2 instead of adding magnets natively to the S25 series. Based on the WPC’s CES 2025 announcement and theOnePlus 13 release, we can assume that this is accurate.
Samsung and the WPC made a joint statement where the Korean phone maker said the following:
You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025.
Google also made a similar statement under the same press release, but no promises were made of Pixel devices picking up the standard. Instead, the Alphabet-owned tech giant vowed to bring Qi2 to more Android devices this year.
While HMD Global’s HMD Skyline is technically the first Qi2 Android phone, it didn’t make any waves in the Android space. This is why I feel that the Galaxy S25 coming with Qi2 support — with or without magnets — is what’s going to really get the Qi2 ball rolling. After all, Samsung sells more smartphones than any other phone manufacturer in the world and could easily influence the rest to follow suit.
We have been waiting for Qi2 to take off for nearly two years now. The standard hasofficially been ready since early 2023, but most devices that use it are either iPhones or accessories like power banks and chargers. Both Samsung and Google were expected to take the lead with theGalaxy S24andPixel 9lineups last year, but that didn’t happen.
Now that the OnePlus 13 has adopted magnetic charging (sort of), Samsung will look very bad if it doesn’t hop on board the Qi2 train. Just like the rumored S25 magnetic case, OnePlus also chose to rely onmagnetic casesto bring Qi2-like charging to the OnePlus 13. Based on rumors, Samsung is going to do the same with the S25 series. Even then, this is an important step in the right direction.
Major changes in the phone industry have never come about overnight or transitioned smoothly. Just look at the headphone jack, for example. People ridiculed the idea at first and were angry once the 3.5mm port was eliminated from popular Android phones. But once bigwigs like Samsung started ditching the audio jack, everyone else followed suit.
Sure, many brands compensated users withUSB-Cto audio jack converters at first, but the world eventually adapted to the change.Wireless audio accessoriesare far more popular now and the headphone jack is no longer missed by most users.
This is exactly why Qi2 adoption on the Galaxy S25 will be so important. When the most prominent Android brand makes bold moves, everyone else will surely feel the need to follow the trend, either to stay relevant or to be more competitive. There are thousands of Qi2 accessories readily available, so the market is primed for the Qi2 revolution that Samsung is likely about to kickstartwhen the Galaxy S25 launches.
More Android phones are getting modern wireless charging this year.
Samsung Galaxy phones will finally support Qi2 in 2025, according to the stewards of the standard, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Qi2 wireless charging was supposed to bring the convenience of the iPhone’s MagSafe to any phone that supports it, but the vast majority of Android phone makers failed to to do anything with it in 2024. That set to change in 2025.
“The exceptional Qi2 growth story will continue in 2025,” Samsung shared in the WPC’s press release. “You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025.” Besides requiring the inclusion of magnets to make it easier to align smartphones with wireless chargers, Qi2 also supports up to 15W charging, which means Qi2 devices should charge faster than before, too.
Alongside Samsung, Google is also throwing its hat in the ring for Qi2, specifically by contributing “its own high-power wireless charging technology to WPC” for the development of Qi v2.2. Notably missing from Google’s quote is a commitment to actually using the standard in its own Pixel devices however. The Pixel 9 was inarguably the best Android device the company has shipped to date, but it notably doesn’t support Qi2.
In the more immediate future, WPC says that Qi v2.1 will include a new design for wireless car chargers with a moving charging coil that can adjust and seek out a phone regardless of its size or how awkwardly it’s thrown on a charger.
Counting steps has become a universal way for most people to measure their daily activity – probably because it’s simple, accessible and easy to fit into daily life. But with a plethora of apps and gadgets promising accurate results, it got me thinking: are all step trackers created equal?
To put this to the test, I tracked a 10,000-step journey using four different devices, all running on different, renowned platforms. I armed myself with (a pretty retro)AppleiPhone 7 running the Apple Health app in my left trouser pocket and, in my right, one of thebest Samsung phones, the Galaxy S23 Ultra with the Samsung Health app installed. On my wrists, I sported two ofthe best running watches: the new Polar Vantage M3 smartwatch on my right and the Garmin Fenix 7 on my left. My goal was simple – to see how their step counts stacked up across a brisk 9km walk through Wellington city centre and back.
Would the fitness-focused smartwatches – which also track heart rate and other vitals – outshine the trusty smartphones that merely sat in my trouser pockets? Or would this experiment show that you don’t need fancy tech to track your steps accurately? Here’s what I discovered after using all four devices at the same time.
My 10,000-step walk was fairly straightforward: I covered 4.5km from my home to the other side of Wellington city centre, took a short break and walked back – a total of roughly 9km. All devices were set to zero before I set off to ensure a fair comparison.
After 1.5 hours of brisk walking, I paused (read: had a sit down in a café with pastry in hand) to check the halfway point readings. These were as follows:
Halfway point results:
Apple Health app:5,003 steps
Samsung Health app:5,022 steps
Polar Vantage M3:5,276 steps
Garmin Fenix 7:5,120 steps
There were already small, but notable discrepancies between the different platforms. The step counts on the two phone apps were closely matched, with just a 19-step difference, which isn’t bad for non-fitness focused gadgets shoved in pockets. The smartwatches, however, varied more – the Polar clocked in 273 steps higher than the iPhone, while theGarminwas more middle-ground at 117 steps above the Apple count.
On the return leg, I took extra care in ensuring my pace was consistent, sticking to well-trodden paths and keeping my stride as steady as possible. By the time I got home, here’s what the final step counts looked like:
Final results:
Apple Health app:10,102 steps
Samsung Health app:10,142 steps
Polar Vantage M3:10,479 steps
Garmin Fenix 7:10,305 steps
Unsurprisingly, none of the devices reported the exact same total. However, the Apple andSamsungphone apps proved to be remarkably consistent with one another, both at the halfway point and at the end, with less than a 1% variance.
The Polar Vantage M3, meanwhile, consistently overshot the mark, adding an extra 379 steps by the end of the walk compared to the iPhone. That’s roughly a 3.8% difference – enough to slightly skew fitness goals over time, especially if you’re relying on exact data for training, assuming this is the most inaccurate by nature of being the outlier.
The Garmin Fenix 7, while slightly overcounting compared to the phones, was less dramatic than the Polar, adding just over 200 steps above the Apple tally. It seemed to strike a balance between sensitivity and accuracy, which doesn’t surprise me–Garmin has a reputation for reliability among fitness enthusiasts.
Which gadget is the most accurate?
Determining “accuracy” is tricky without knowing the true step count–a problem that plagues all step trackers. Factors like stride length,armmovement and even how a device is worn can influence readings. That said, my takeaway is this: phones are surprisingly accurate for everyday step tracking.
The Apple and Samsung apps, nestled safely in my pockets, kept pace with each other consistently, even when compared against the two top-tier smartwatches. This suggests that if you’re using your phone to track steps, you’re probably getting a solid estimate – and it won’t cost you a penny beyond the device itself.
The Polar’s higher step count could stem from its sensitivity to wrist movements, especially since it was strapped to my right wrist on my dominant arm. This might interpret extra steps during non-walking activities like turning corners or gesturing. The Garmin, on the other hand, seemed to lean more conservatively but still edged over the phone tallies.
Do you need wearables to track steps?
While the Polar and Garmin offer plenty of advanced metrics and features that go beyond step tracking – like heart rate, GPS routes and workout summaries – my walk experiment has shown that they’re not strictly necessary if your goal is simply to hit your 10,000-step target each day.
That said, smartwatches do have their perks. They’re great for those who want a more comprehensive picture of their fitness, including calorie burn, sleep tracking and VO₂ max measurements. Plus, they’re often more convenient to glance at mid-walk than pulling out a phone. There are discrepancies from unit to unit because each watch uses different algorithms and technology, but they’re generally in the right ballpart. We found similar differences betweenpremium Garmin and Apple Watches when testing them against each other during a marathon.
However, if you’re just looking to monitor your movement and improve daily activity, a smartphone app will do the job perfectly well if that’s all you intend to do. As my test proved, they’re more than up to the task, and you can save yourself hundreds of pounds in the process. You certainly don’t need to splash out on fancy gadgets to track your steps accurately – your pocket companion can do the job just as well.
