What to choose for amateur races: Runkeeper, Strava, Google Fit or Xiaomi Mi Band 1S

In late 2015 Google seriously updated its firmware application of physical activity. Among other things, Google Fit learned to track cross-country training. I did not fail to try this feature in action. The first jog like: voice assistant encouraged her tips and statistics pleasing fullness. Furthermore, each kilometer I started to run an average of 15 seconds faster. I thought that it happened in a state of euphoria. The second and third training was given to understand that somewhere there is a catch: too fast I began to dissect the space without making it any effort. With this it was necessary to find out.

The next time I ran and Google Fit Runkeeper (My full-time tracker) at the same time. It turned out that the application of different consider the distance traveled and speed. I shared this information on Twitter, where a nice reader advised me not to stop and continue testing. On the results I want to tell you.

To begin with a summary table of all races. From top to bottom: the total time, distance, tempo runs, burnt calories.

Among the contestants was also vaunted Xiaomi Mi Band 1STrue, hors concours. The address of the first generation of the super band I've had complaints. I wonder whether the upgraded version will surprise? We talk about it at the end.

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Before each workout, I saw to it that all applications securely "grabbed" the satellite and correctly identified the starting point. During the preparation of the bracelet lay motionless, so it was easier to fix the beginning of the movement. Synchronization between applications and the bracelet has been disabled.

For the purity of the experiment, each jogging held on a new route: there were almost straight line segments, and running in a circle, and ornate distance. The speed varied depending on the forces. From time to time I stopped at traffic lights, which are perfectly imitated untie shoelaces and other unforeseen hitch.

Distance in Google Fit always the biggest

Absolutely all the training the Google Fit app has registered the maximum distance. only twice Strava It showed the same results, but mainly betrayed something in between.

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In turn, all attempts without exception Runkeeper has recorded the shortest distance.

The difference between the first and third value jumped from 130 to 370 meters.

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It can be assumed that the greater the distance, the greater the difference. However, this relationship is not true to the end: at the same distance were different spread (e.g., from 170 to 330 meters by 7.5 kilometers).

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What's the deal? Situation clarifies developer Corgi for Feedly, Smart lock screen for reading news, about which we will have told.

Of course, Google has eaten more than one dog in the mapping services, so its application should be considered the best. In this case, hard to say whether this really is.

Output. If you want to see on a smartphone screen as much as possible a long distance, use the Google Fit. Not looking for easy ways? Install Runkeeper. Strava - the golden mean.

Calories are always more at Strava

Many run to grow thin. Such people are closely watching the consumption of calories. They will be interested to know that Strava burns fat stores by 10-12% more active than Google Fit. This is best seen with the same path length, although the interpolation results of other workouts out the same result.

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Runkeeper repeatedly shows the smallest value. As you can see, the formula of calculation and here is quite different. Just in case I mention that all applications have been exposed to the same information about the field, weight and height.

Output. If you are motivated expended during running energy, set the Strava. Google Fit app on calories less generous and Runkeeper - even greedy.

Strava more precisely defines all pause

Unfortunately, Google Fit is not registering stop: a pause should be placed manually or simply let time. In Runkeeper auto pause there, but for some reason it is not enabled by default. Because of this offensive nuance in my stats have not got five more exercises (I did not immediately recognize the trick). Auto pause in Strava works out of the box, with it is much more sensitive than in Runkeeper. Most revealing is the second workout, where I caught about half a minute waiting.

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What all the difference? Take, for example, a fifth run when I got three traffic lights. Time difference between running Google Fit and Strava was 44 seconds.

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Take away this time, and the average rate of movement, estimates of Google Fit, have increased: every kilometer I would have ran for 6 seconds fasterAnd it is quite a lot. Google Fit data and Runkeeper better not to compare.

Output. If you hit for the objectivity of its speed, Strava taxis for you. Runkeeper application could be porastoropnee, well, Google Fit need to close an important gap.

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S is not ready yet

As for the well-known Chinese, its three-axis accelerometer can make an excellent competition GPS sensor. Maybe, but it does not always want: the case of serious misfires and smart gadget registers do not like the truth away. And it happens with surprising frequency: 4 out of 16, if we take into account all the jogging. I do not know how to explain frank bracelet failures in several training sessions. The idea is that an abrupt change in the motion vector, turns, running in the stadium, frequent blowing your nose and overcome the bridges generally do not have to worry about it. What then remains?

It can be assumed that the bracelet is confusing in the fall speed in the middle or at the end of the workout. However, it is not. I looked for failing Mi Band 1S jogging on the kilometers and found that the rate fell only slightly, by an average of 10-15 seconds between the first and last segment. In the end it was 5 minutes and 30-40 seconds per kilometer, which can not be called walking.

The second possible reason - stop. Type run about, rest a bit and went / I went home. But it is not confirmed by practice. Two of the four misfire occurred in the training without interruption.

I note that I used the Mi Fit from Google Play, and remind you that Mi Store, your own content store from the company Xiaomi, lined with another edition of the application. It has a special mode Running, specially sharpened for running: Processed GPS data and heart rate readings are taken. It would seem, here it is - the ideal, but the Chinese version of Mi Fit crash randomly each time you try to look at the statistics training. I am sure that after some time everything is working as it should, and yet it is only for the future.

conclusion

My experiment is over. Objectively speaking, it won Strava app. It is normally handles the route and time fixes pause. Plus he has, in my opinion, the most digestible reporting. The only defect, if you can do about it to mention that this application is still for triathletes and not for runners.

Google Fit app as a whole is also good, but a little apprehensive of its maximum reading, and, of course, lacks auto pause. Ah yes, the voice assistant would be nice to talk like human beings.

Runkeeper as it does not stand out, but it does not have any flaws. And therefore I'm staying with him. Join nowWe will run together.

Noticed flaws in my study, or have anything to add? Write comments. Perhaps it was the same with a different set of applications or more specific conditions.