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Is the Galaxy Watch 7’s GPS Accuracy Problem Hurting Your Fitness Goals? Find Out What’s Happening!
I want to help you understand what’s happening with the Galaxy Watch 7’s GPS. After a recent update, many people noticed their watch started showing the wrong location during walks, runs, and rides. Some said the numbers were off by hundreds of meters. People used words like “horrible” to describe how the GPS worked after the update.
How Users Noticed the Problem
People started talking about this in April. They posted on Samsung forums and Reddit.
The GPS showed zigzag lines instead of straight paths, even when people walked on straight roads.
Cyclists saw their watches say they were going 90 mph, which is not possible for regular rides.
Real Stories from Users
One person always ran the same 7.1 km route. After the update, the watch said it was 7.3 km or more.
Before the update, the GPS lines were straight and matched the sidewalk. After the update, the lines looked messy.
Some people saw their watch add “phantom” distance. For example, a cyclist’s 63 km ride became 67 km.
One user stood still, but the watch said they moved several kilometers. The GPS jumped to places they never visited.
Workouts Affected:
- Running
- Cycling
- Hiking
Why Did This Happen?
Some people think Samsung changed the GPS to save battery. This might have made the GPS less accurate. The Galaxy Watch 7 uses a dual-band GPS, which should be better than older models, but the update may have made it worse.
What Did Samsung Do?
Some users were told to reset their watch or send it for repair. Others got explanations about “regional GPS optimization,” but many didn’t find those answers helpful.
Samsung released a Health app update in May. At first, it looked like the problem was fixed, but then it came back.
Is It the Same for Everyone?
No. Some people have no problems. Others say the GPS is so bad they can’t use it for workouts. It’s not clear why some watches work and others don’t.
What Can You Do?
- Try resetting your watch.
- Check for new updates from Samsung.
- If the problem is too big, you might think about trying a different watch.
If you use your Galaxy Watch 7 to track your fitness, you want your data to be right. When the GPS is wrong, your distance, speed, and route are wrong, too. This can make it hard to track your progress or reach your goals.
Looking Ahead
Right now, it’s not clear when or if Samsung will fix the GPS for everyone. Some people are waiting. Others are thinking about switching to a different smartwatch. If you care about accurate fitness tracking, keep checking for updates and see if things improve.
If you want your fitness data to be right, check your watch after each update. If things seem off, you’re not alone. Many people are hoping for a fix soon.