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Fitbit's app auto-tracks activity on the Nexus 5X and 6P

Don't want a wearable but do want to track your movement? Fitbit wants to help.

With more and more smartphones now rocking motion co-processors, basic fitness activities can now be tracked without the need for a dedicated wearable. Fitbit brought such a feature to the iPhone 5S back in 2013, but Android support has been sporadic. Today, the company pushed a new update for Google devices, allowing owners of the Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P to use the app without a tracker and capture basic metrics like steps, distance and calories burned.

The feature is called MobileTrack and it uses the Android Sensor Hub, a dedicated processor that connects directly to the camera's sensors, to quietly track movement while sipping a low amount of power. Its activity-recognition algorithms can detect when you're embarking on a run or hopping on your bike without needing to be phone to be woken. Granted, it won't be able to give you the best overview of your fitness, but if you're keen to compare steps with your Fitbit-wearing friends and family, it will get you off a decent start.