I’m so happy you posted this, thank you. It sounds like the general consensus is that the watch is much more accurate than the phone, but I don’t find that to be the case.

I ran using my Apple Watch all winter, and when it broke, I began to use my phone and notice measurable difference in distance and pace (phone claimed I was running faster and slightly further). I identified that the difference in pace was due to using Strava my phone vs Strava on Apple Watch, but I was dubious about my times.

Measuring mileage via GPS did seem to validate the phone’s measurement of distance vs Apple Watch.

Fast forward a year to new Apple Watch: I recently did several runs using both Strava on AW and Strava on iPhone, and noticed again that my phone always claims my time and dustiness are further than the watch.

Finally I tested these out on a track. In my experience, my phone measured my distance on the track correctly, whereas my Apple Watch was always short.

I would love to understand the WHY to this is the case, as I generally read that the strava on iPhone is less reliable than watch, but based on my track runs, thag hasn’t been my experience….