Fitbit Charge 5 Outperforms Apple Watch Series 11 in Step Accuracy
A head-to-head test shows a five-year-old tracker beats a modern flagship in step counts, though it fails in elevation and efficiency.
Basic fitness tracking hasn't evolved as much as hardware cycles suggest. A recent head-to-head test reveals that a five-year-old wearable can still compete with the latest flagship technology for everyday activity monitoring.
In a test conducted by Tom's Guide, a reviewer pitted the 2021 Fitbit Charge 5 against the 2026 Apple Watch Series 11 during a 52-minute outdoor walk. Over a manual count of 5,500 steps, the aging Fitbit proved more accurate than Apple's latest model. The Charge 5 recorded 5,473 steps, while the Apple Watch Series 11 lagged behind with 5,429 steps.
However, the gap in hardware capabilities became evident once the terrain changed. The Fitbit Charge 5 significantly undercounted elevation climb, recording only 324 feet. In contrast, the Apple Watch logged 481 feet, a figure closely mirrored by Strava's 456 feet. This discrepancy stems from the fact that the Charge 5 lacks a barometric altimeter, a critical sensor for precise altitude tracking.
The Cost of Aging Hardware
Beyond elevation, the two devices showed diverging logic in health metrics and power management. Despite recording a lower average heart rate of 120 bpm compared to Apple's 125 bpm, the Fitbit estimated a higher caloric burn of 461 kcal, whereas the Apple Watch estimated 400 kcal.
Battery efficiency provided the most stark contrast. During the 52-minute excursion, the Fitbit Charge 5 consumed 14% of its battery. This drain was nearly three times higher than the 5% loss seen on the Apple Watch Series 11, highlighting the inevitable degradation of older battery cells and the efficiency gains of modern processors.
Why It Matters
This comparison demonstrates that for users focused on basic activity tracking, such as daily step counts, older wearables remain highly viable. The core sensors for movement have remained stable enough that a device from half a decade ago can still match or exceed the accuracy of a premium 2026 flagship.
However, the results underscore a clear divide for more demanding users. The absence of a barometric altimeter makes older, budget-friendly trackers unreliable for hiking or mountainous terrain. Furthermore, the significant difference in battery drain suggests that while the sensors may still work, the overall user experience is hampered by aging power components.
What's Next
As wearables continue to integrate more complex health sensors, the industry is moving toward a divide between "basic trackers" and "health computers." While the Fitbit Charge 5 remains a functional tool for the casual walker, the Apple Watch Series 11 represents a shift toward high-precision environmental sensing and extreme power efficiency. For consumers, the choice remains a balance between the cost-effectiveness of legacy hardware and the precision of modern sensor suites.