Fitbit Luxe : How Does it Work Without GPS Sensor and Track Workouts?

The Fitbit Luxe slim tracker is a great way to track your workouts, but some people are wondering how it works without a built-in GPS sensor. To connect to the GPS satellites, you must install the Fitbit app on your phone and sign in to your account. Then, pair your Fitbit Luxe with your phone and allow Fitbit to find your location. The Fitbit Luxe must be paired to your phone in order to use the phones GPS sensor to connect to the GPS satellites. Tracking of your workouts is reasonably accurate when going for a run or cycle.

1. How does the Fitbit Luxe Slim Tracker work without a built-in GPS sensor?

The Fitbit Luxe slim tracker is a great option for those looking for a basic fitness tracker. While it does not have a built-in GPS sensor, it can still track your workouts quite easily. To connect to the GPS satellites, you must first install the Fitbit app on your phone and sign in to your Fitbit account. Once you have done that, you can then pair your Fitbit Luxe with your phone. After that, simply allow Fitbit to find your location and the tracker will do the rest.

In other words you must have your phone with you some of the time. Just depends on the type of activity you are looking to track. If you are looking to Track your running or Cycling distance then you most definitely need your phone near by to get the most accurate tracking. Keep in mind that your phone will also need to have an active data connection in order for this to work properly.

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2. How Accurate is the GPS Tracking for the Fitbit Luxe?

Not good. The Lowest level of GPS accuracy is a smartwatch that has a GPS sensor only and connect to close to 30 American satellites that is positioned globally. Then their is the next level up, a smart watch or tracker that has a GPS and GNOASS sensors built in. These types of smart watch’s or trackers have access to the American GPS satellite’s and also around 30 Russian GNOASS satellites.

That’s around 60 satellites therefore the level accuracy is improved. Then there is the top of the line. Smart watch’s or Trackers that have a GNSS connection. These types of smart watch’s or trackers have access to American GPS, Russian GNOASS, European’s Galileo, China’s BeiDou, Japan and India satellite navigational system.

Depending on where you are located in the world, these devices can gain access to around 90 satellites. Europeans Galileo 28 satellites are positioned globally like the GPS and GNOASS navigational systems. Where as China, Japan and India’s satellites are not globally and only cover there countries territories.

Where does the Fitbit Luxe sit?, Well as stated it must be paired to your phone so the Fitbit Luxe can use the phones built in GPS sensor to connect to the GPS satellites. Right away there’s a few problems here.

If you have issues pairing your device to your phone, and then your phone connecting to the GPS satellites, and carry your phone nearby. This is a great disadvantages when your smart watch or device does not have a built in GPS sensor as a minimum.

3. How Does the Fitbit Luxe Track your Workouts With Out a GPS Sensor?

The GPS sensor feature as a basic non techy opinion is used to map your workout over a distance. From a full time athlete’s perspective this distance over time tracking can provide analytics that can improve your performance. Especially very specialized smart watch’s or trackers with a built in AI coach. It uses the real time data to get a better understanding of you first, and then the AI can make some recommendations to improve your performance.

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However the Fitbit Luxe is a slim tracker that tracks your basic health and well being. So how does it track your work outs?, well the Fitbit Luxe have a built in sensor known as the 3 axis accelerometer. The 3 axis accelerometer is used to track your steps, distance, stairs climbed and also your sleep. It does this by tracking your arm movement’s when you walk or run.

The 3 axis means it can sense vibration or motion in the x, y, z directions. The advantage of having a built in accelerometer is that it doesn’t require an external power source like the GPS sensor. This means the battery life will be improved and can last up to around five days on a single charge. The disadvantages of having only a built in accelerometer are, it’s not as accurate as devices with both an accelerometer and a GPS sensor.

4. Some Tips if You are Gong to use the GPS Sensors on Your Phone for Reasonable Accuracy?

First and foremost, if your phone does not have a good GPS signal, then you will most likely get an inaccurate tracking.

The second thing to consider is that the GPS on your phone will use up battery life faster than if it was just in standby mode. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your phone is fully charged before using the GPS feature.

Last but not least, if you are going to be using the GPS feature on your phone for an extended period of time, it is important to keep your phone in a cool and dry place. This will help to ensure that the battery life is not impacted by the heat.

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Avoid being around tall buildings trees as they can block the GPS signal. If you are going to be in an area where there is no clear view of the sky, then it is best to use a different tracking method. Un pair your Fitbit Luxe with your phone and allow the built-in 3 axis accelerometer.

Even though the Fitbit Luxe does not have a built-in GPS sensor, it is still a great tracker for those who are looking for a slim design. It is important to keep in mind that the accuracy of the tracking will be impacted if you do not have a clear view of the sky.

5. Final Conclusion

Overall, we think the Fitbit Luxe is a great option if you’re not too concerned about accuracy. It tracks all of the basics like steps taken and calories burned, and it’s slim and stylish so you can wear it anywhere. If you are after a basic fitness tracker to help motivate you to move more each day, the Fitbit Luxe is a good choice.

Just bear in mind that if you’re looking for an accurate tracking device to map your runs or cycles, you may want to invest in a different model with a built-in GPS sensor. And if you already have a smartphone, there’s no need to buy the Fitbit Luxe – just download the free app and get started!

Do you have a Fitbit Luxe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Happy tracking!