Series 4 GPS is awful when running.

[iJeremy]

Ismoothrun. To me, it has the best integration between the aw and the iPhone. The when you run with the iPhone, the AW is basically a second screen for the iPhone app. Uses the iPhones GPS so it saves battery.

Not the most polished looking app, but it respects the user by allowing the data to be shared to just about anything service.

OK thanks. I'll try it out.

 

[zhenya]

I'm having similar poor results with GPS accuracy while running the same course I run every morning with my new Apple Watch Series 4. It was pretty accurate on the first morning run, but now seems to be underestimating mileage so my 4.1 mile run is now a 3.9 mile run even though it's the identical course. As a result my pace has dropped by almost a minute. My previous watch was a Garmin Forerunner 935 and its GPS was always reliable. I've noticed there's no wait time for the GPS to lock on when you start a run. Maybe it's not locking on right away and that's causing the discrepancies.

What method was used to verify the 4.1 mile distance?

 

[iJeremy]

What method was used to verify the 4.1 mile distance?

My last two fitness trackers including Garmin Forerunner 935 and also the first run I did with my current Apple Watch Series 4 was almost identical in mileage and pace the first day I ran with it. Not sure why its accuracy would start to deteriorate other than GPS not locking on right away.

 

[zhenya]

My last two fitness trackers including Garmin Forerunner 935 and also the first run I did with my current Apple Watch Series 4 was almost identical in mileage and pace the first day I ran with it. Not sure why its accuracy would start to deteriorate other than GPS not locking on right away.

The AW does need a moment or two to acquire a fix even though Apple gives you no indication of this. It is however much faster than most GPS watches because it's network connected and using wifi to determine initial position. That said, if in the long run you find that the AW shows you a consistent 3.9 on this route vs. Garmin's 4.1, that's less than 5% difference which is well within the margins of error for GPS devices.

 

[Pewpewpew]

Can you get a lock when you go into the maps app? Can you get just the marker in the exact location without the blue circle around it? Mine won’t even do that in a open field.

 

[alent1234]

My last two fitness trackers including Garmin Forerunner 935 and also the first run I did with my current Apple Watch Series 4 was almost identical in mileage and pace the first day I ran with it. Not sure why its accuracy would start to deteriorate other than GPS not locking on right away.

if you run in a circular route, running on the outside vs closer to the center will give you a longer route

I do this to "cheat" some days

 

[Pewpewpew]

Apple agreed to swap it but non in stop, could be waiting weeks.

 

[iJeremy]

Apple agreed to swap it but non in stop, could be waiting weeks.

I suggest you return it and wait for a new one.