Is anyone using a fitness tracker device with their GOS phone?

I do a lot more tracking of my activities these days but this is just based on GPS and/or step count. Ideally I'd like to get Heart Rate information, which then leads to the potential for having information such as sleep and health tracking.

I've looked at the PineTime watch paired with something like the GadgetBridge app. However, I've also read of certain limitations with such hardware and how Garmin's v4 sensor is almost as good as a chest strap monitor (allegedly). The potential downside of the Garmin is whether it works without a) Google stuff and b) using their servers for crunching data. Or whether there's another solution that's good and private.

Hence the post.

    TranceSeven I use Jabra Elite Sport earbuds primarily for music but they come with HR monitoring. However having not used them for that purpose since using GOS as my daily driver I've no immediate info. Happy to test tomorrow and will feedback how well it works without network or play services.

    • [deleted]

    This is going to be expensive, but you can buy an Apple Watch together with a cheap refurbished / secondhand second gen iPhone SE (not the newest one, which is the third gen) to set it up. iPhone doesn't have to be in a good state. Fantastic app ecosystem on the watch, all health and activity data is end to end encrypted and any third party apps have a very strong permission model where you have to give explicit access to each aspect of health data with separate permission for read and write access. If you buy the cellular model you can use it for calls when you go on a hike or run and want to reachable but leave your phone at home. Just make sure you have a plan that is compatible with it, stick your sim in the iPhone to set the watch up and then stick it back in your Pixel. Otherwise the one without cellular also works great for health and activity tracking.

      [deleted] I don't think I'm going to jump into a whole new ecosystem just to try this out, but thanks for the idea.

      MetropleX great info, thanks.

      Might depend on what device you are using. I have the Zepp / Amazfit Bip U and using their app on GOS without play services installed - and have full functionality, same as stock OS and/or IOS

        8 days later

        mobos How's the HR analysis (if any) and does it provide sleep analysis too?

        Though I do wonder about the latter. If you're worrying about how good a nights sleep you're getting, you're not going to sleep well :-D

          I am using the Polar Unite with my Pixel 5 and GrapheneOS. Works great with the Polar Flow app, which has just 4 trackers, you can block with the Netguard app. Bluetooth connection between the Polar Unite and the app works fine. It tracks heart rate and you can use GPS via you phone to track your cycling or jogging route. I would recommend this combination so far.

          One more thing to keep in mind is that Polar is a Finnish sports brand and thus more sensitive with user data from the ground up than a Mi Brand.

            Roland Works great with the Polar Flow app, which has just 4 trackers, you can block with the Netguard app.

            Does this mean that the app requires connection to (and account creation on) their server? I would like to avoid sending my data to any company irrespective of where they are based. If that's the case, do you know how much of the app functions without having internet connectivity?

              TranceSeven The App does require an account, however if you have the account and are logged in, the app works without internet connection. You just need bluetooth.

              16 days later

              Newby with GrapheneOS (But really living it) uses Garmin Forerunner 945 with connect on a playstore less profile. Only when making routes I use a second connect app on my seconden profile WITH sandboxed profile.

              5 months later

              Does anyone know if the Mi Band 6 or similar models have an airplane mode?

              I want to be able to put in airplane mode and turn off Bluetooth and WiFi when sleeping. Does anyone know if this watch or a similar watch still does all the tracking independently?

              Just trying to figure out the best watch to buy for Gadgetbridge.

              Thank you

              2 years later

              billinmtl hello, I know this is an old thread but was the best match when I searched

              I'm interested in buying an amazfit watch, and I'm not sure if I should use Gadgetbridge or the official Zepp app (not sure if gadgetbridge can be a full replacement and their UX is honestly a bit weird 😅).

              As I don't want amazfit having access to all that personal data, I was wondering if the official app can work without network permissions (after the pairing is completed)?

                alansp

                Can't say anything about Amazfit devices, first I thought I'd get one too, but in the end decided to use a sub 30$ Mi Band 8 instead.

                Runs very nicely with Gadgetbridge after setting up an account with Xiaomi for the MiFit app to get a security key, a one-time process which is described on the Gadgetbridge webpages. Read more about my experiences with that combination on my blog if you wish, filter it with something like https://wolfgang.lonien.de/?s=gadgetbridge

                Hope that helps...

                I use a Mi Band 8 with Gadgetbridge (F-Droid) and it works pretty great. The sensors are pretty inaccurate though.

                It has no GPS, and normally GPS also eats up battery like hell so this would be NLP and not GPS, which saves energy but could be really unprivate