Following the latest technology, Apple Watch GPS and Apple Watch GPS + Cellular series offer GPS functionality on top of the many other exciting features.
Despite sending and receiving texts, answering phone calls, and getting the latest notifications, these Apple Watch series offer the convenience of a built-in GPS function.
The GPS function is vital for working properly with the exercise tracking app and many other smartwatch features. But what does GPS mean on Apple Watch? Stick around, and you’re going to find out.
What Does GPS Mean on Apple Watch?
With the older series of Apple Watches, the smartwatch had to be connected to your iPhone to track location, calculate steps, and measure exercise activity. Starting with the Apple Watch GPS, the manufacturer decided to add a built-in GPS feature that’ll help you use GPS without an uninterrupted iPhone connection.
The GPS or the global positioning system feature uses a network of satellites and other receiving devices to determine your location on the Earth. With high accuracy, the GPS feature on your Apple Watch can precisely establish your location.
What does that mean? With a built-in GPS tracker, your Apple Watch can monitor your every step. With independent GPS, your Apple Watch can measure distance and pace and offer route mapping during workouts without being connected to your iPhone.
Is the GPS Feature on Apple Watch GPS Different Than the Apple Watch GPS + Cellular?
No. Although there are several differences between the performance and features of the GPS watch compared to the GPS + Cellular option, the GPS function isn’t one of them.
Generally speaking, both of these devices work similarly in terms of GPS. They can use the independent GPS feature without needing an iPhone connection to measure steps, exercise activity, and do other calculations based on your geolocation.
The main difference between the GPS and the GPS + Cellular Apple Watch is in the cellular support for the second option. Unlike the Apple Watch GPS, which needs to be connected to your iPhone to allow you to send or receive texts, calls, and notifications, the GPS + Cellular series makes all those features available without the need to carry your iPhone around.
With cellular support, you’ll be able to use basic iPhone features directly on your watch. However, you’ll need to get a SIM card and find a cellular operator that supports Apple Watches.
Why Is the GPS Feature Important?
After learning what GPS means on Apple Watch, you’ll find the feature handy for keeping track of daily activity and exercise progress. The Apple Watch GPS and the GPS + Cellular option come with a neat activity tracker that helps you keep track of your activity during the day.
Thanks to the GPS feature, the activity tracker can monitor activity accurately, tracking daily activity and progress towards your workout goals.
The Apple Activity app will allow you to check your daily progress and see whether you need to be more active. It comes with three activity rings measuring a different type of activity.
The red ring indicates movement, calculating how many calories you’ve burned based on the distance you’ve walked during the day, thanks to the built-in GPS feature.
The green ring indicates exercise, measuring how many minutes of brisk activity you’ve done throughout the day. With the help of the GPS tracker, the smartwatch can detect fast walking, defined as a brisk activity.
The blue ring indicates standing activity. It detects how often you’ve stood up and moved around for at least a minute within an hour.
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Are GPS Apple Watches Worth Purchasing?
You’ll love the latest Apple Series featuring independent GPS if you’re a technology geek. Despite the many functionalities enabled by the GPS feature, both the Apple Watch GPS and the GPS + Cellular option introduce many other exciting features that add significant functionality to the previous Apple Watch series.
Both GPS series are intended to allow you to use your Apple Watch more independently, without the need to carry an iPhone all the time. If that sounds like a big advantage, you should get one.
If you’re struggling to decide which option to go with, you need to consider how much independence your Apple Watch needs. With the GPS-only option, you can still make and receive texts, calls, and notifications, but you’ll need to have your iPhone nearby to use these and many other features.
With the cellular connectivity offered by the GPS + Cellular option, you can leave your iPhone home and get texts, calls, and notifications directly to your Apple Watch.
The GPS and the GPS + Cellular options have specific pros and cons. If you’re constantly on the go but don’t want to carry around your iPhone while exercising, the GPS + Cellular option could be better. Otherwise, you can go with the GPS-only series and save some cash.
Which Apple Watches Offer the GPS Feature?
Although the Apple Watch GPS and the Apple Watch GPS + Cellular are currently the most popular options, Apple Watch Series 2 and later, along with the Apple Watch SE, all have a built-in GPS that allows you to get accurate distance measurements and speed calculation during a workout, without pairing the device to your iPhone.
How to Improve GPS Accuracy on an Apple Watch
If you’ve noticed that the GPS on your Apple Watch isn’t very accurate, you can easily calibrate your watch for better accuracy. Put on your Apple Watch, and go to a flat area with good GPS reception and clear skies. Open the Workout app, and tap Outdoor Walk or Outdoor Run. Set a goal by tapping the three dots in the upper-right corner, and go for a walk or run at your normal pace for around 20 minutes.
Following the above steps will help your Apple Watch to calibrate the accelerometer, improve calorie calculations accuracy, and many other calculations and measures in the Activity app.
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Conclusion
This is it! Now that you know about GPS on your Apple Watch, you can start using it to check your activity!