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Don't you need to be paired with the phone to give distance (or are you using some pedometer function?)

I've used Polar HR watches a lot in the past and after usually 15 jogs/bike rides I could estimate my HR pretty darn close (and I would get worse at estimates after a few months and put it back on for a ride or two).

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The first Apple Watch needed the paired iPhone to use GPS, otherwise it would estimate distance based on previous data. Series 2 of the Apple Watch has GPS built-in tough, so the phone isn't needed for your sports tracking.

You get more accurate distance data if a phone is brought along, otherwise it uses an estimate which is pretty close.

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