SAMPLING.md

Sampling Reference

Sampling frequency and consistency of sensors vary from device to device, and from platform to platform. Even identical devices may log at variable rates, influenced by factors such as the device’s condition, running apps, and specific settings like low power mode. This reference is based on sampling frequencies as reported by real Sensor Logger across a diverse user base to offer a better understanding of sampling rates for common phone models in real-world conditions.

This information is especially useful for research groups or organizations looking to purchase devices for running Sensor Logger. With data on how different models perform in actual use, you can make more informed purchasing decisions to ensure you choose devices with the best sensor performance for your specific needs.

Definitions

Zero-Gap Sensors

In Sensor Logger, Zero-Gap Sensors are those which Sensor Logger can and will try to sample as frequently as possible, without any gap between successive requests. This means the sampling rate will be up against the hardware and operating system limitations.

• Median Achievable Sampling is the median sampling frequency, in Hz, across the relevant Sensor Logger recording sessions.
• Median Minimum Sampling is the median of minimum sampling frequency, in Hz, across the relevant Sensor Logger recording sessions.
• Median Maximum Sampling is the median of maximum sampling frequency, in Hz, across the relevant Sensor Logger recording sessions.
• Sampling Gap Variability the standard deviation of sampling gap within a recording session, aggregated across all relevant Sensor Logger recording sessions. This is in seconds.

Zero-Gap Sensors include: location, barometer, accelerometer, gravity, gyroscope, magnetometer, orientation and light.

While a higher sampling rate and lower variability are generally considered better, it’s important to remember that a high sampling rate doesn't always equate to more accurate data. In some cases, it can introduce more noise. Additionally, some devices might report at a lower effective sampling rate due to built-in signal processing from the operating system, which can actually improve accuracy. Therefore, it’s crucial to consider both the sampling rate and the quality of the signal processing when evaluating devices.

Other Sensors

For other sensors, Sensor Logger has built in delays between successive requests. These sensors are excluded.

Results

To lookup iPhone model names, you may use https://reincubate.com/lookup/. For Android, you may consider using https://www.gsmarena.com/.

Last Updated in January 2025.

Location

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	0.48982	0.11111	6.21244	2.22693
iPhone13,4	0.84175	0.09799	156.91418	1.33552
iPhone14,5	0.92886	0.12688	2.45734	0.91648
Pixel 7	1.00669	0.26572	4.03962	0.47317
iPhone13,2	0.95272	0.14381	3.55505	0.82259
iPhone16,2	0.72552	0.11637	4.01673	1.96738
iPhone9,3	0.80576	0.05837	3.33919	1.79299
iPhone14,6	0.63021	0.09360	2.93455	2.13139
Pixel 7a	1.00199	0.33631	1.78543	0.26739
iPhone14,7	0.74749	0.10000	27.96985	1.62084
iPhone12,8	0.67405	0.11111	2.29527	1.72501
iPhone12,1	0.78446	0.08433	29.94190	1.92056
iPhone14,3	0.65451	0.11111	3.05253	2.20215
iPhone13,1	0.43478	0.07244	10.24206	2.70092
iPhone13,3	0.62337	0.07482	2.35710	2.45642
iPhone17,2	0.69024	0.15594	215.17209	2.01109
SM-S928B	0.97923	0.34439	1.00099	0.27207
SM-S911B	1.01428	0.47034	6.77880	0.35288
iPhone12,3	0.97681	0.13774	2.26182	0.43737
iPhone10,6	0.55680	0.08019	2.33312	2.12088
iPhone15,3	0.46853	0.09759	2.72426	2.41357
iPhone14,8	0.83609	0.13972	39.76758	1.53637
iPhone11,8	0.72531	0.07240	21.93199	2.16929
iPhone14,2	0.93234	0.11909	2.68688	0.85260
iPhone16,1	0.64832	0.10931	3.11740	2.15568
Pixel 6a	1.04637	0.19435	23.40946	0.39424
Pixel 7 Pro	0.84844	0.17428	5.79086	0.68772
iPhone15,4	0.71737	0.10500	3.07743	2.06554
iPhone15,5	0.89336	0.12500	27.69987	1.17979
iPhone12,5	0.77632	0.11107	2.32989	1.99155
SM-A546E	1.15747	0.34836	181.09321	0.46518
iPhone14,4	0.70590	0.08519	25.68060	2.24232
Pixel 8	1.03550	0.43376	13.54160	0.32302
SM-S921B	0.98868	0.27398	13.46590	0.56728
SM-A546B	1.06393	0.17996	165.39284	0.31420
SM-A528B	1.00232	0.60935	1.48780	0.20847
iPhone11,2	0.38915	0.04444	35.02609	4.12993
SM-S918B	1.01459	0.56418	1.22359	0.25528
iPhone17,1	0.31796	0.07008	65.22810	3.73621

Barometer

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	0.97335	0.93526	2.87960	0.11740
iPhone13,4	1.01321	0.94068	2.81471	0.15413
iPhone14,5	0.95202	0.93656	2.85267	0.07570
Pixel 7	39.92091	39.79553	39.92121	0.00003
iPhone13,2	0.94138	0.93482	2.86237	0.04409
iPhone16,2	1.03111	0.94092	2.84297	0.17722
iPhone9,3	1.09626	0.98147	6.18292	0.12424
iPhone14,6	1.08945	0.97893	6.37625	0.12297
Pixel 7a	39.98313	39.86580	39.97862	0.00003
iPhone14,7	0.95414	0.93794	2.86608	0.10084
iPhone12,8	1.00017	0.99691	1.82090	0.01819
iPhone12,1	1.00361	0.99897	1.81504	0.03027
iPhone14,3	0.97244	0.93902	5.03754	0.11467
iPhone13,1	1.01782	0.93575	2.82958	0.15385
iPhone13,3	0.98079	0.93609	2.86464	0.12299
iPhone17,2	1.13922	0.94270	2.80717	0.19199
SM-S928B	25.02503	24.99072	25.00928	0.00005
SM-S911B	25.02503	24.93553	25.06014	0.00005
iPhone12,3	1.04272	0.99942	1.81504	0.07982
iPhone10,6	1.06701	0.97039	6.53257	0.06629
iPhone15,3	1.05805	0.94001	2.83093	0.19151
iPhone14,8	0.97633	0.93785	2.80492	0.09694
iPhone11,8	1.05335	0.97454	6.24921	0.03762
iPhone14,2	0.99126	0.93598	2.83539	0.13008
iPhone16,1	1.00696	0.93765	2.83668	0.14636
Pixel 6a	50.05056	49.01930	52.39772	0.00025
Pixel 7 Pro	39.92175	39.77365	39.90775	0.00004
iPhone15,4	0.99267	0.93895	3.93787	0.14041
iPhone15,5	0.99834	0.93623	2.81252	0.11595
iPhone12,5	1.01193	0.99942	1.81504	0.04219
iPhone14,4	0.95660	0.93150	2.86904	0.08850
Pixel 8	39.91876	39.78256	39.92121	0.00003
SM-S921B	12.58081	12.48674	12.51939	0.00029
iPhone11,2	1.07344	0.99362	1.83216	0.11044
SM-S918B	25.04980	24.91485	25.09057	0.00010
iPhone17,1	1.05112	0.94038	4.98187	0.20595

Accelerometer

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	100.11593	99.98080	100.01408	0.00001
iPhone13,4	100.04407	99.88621	99.90665	0.00001
iPhone14,5	100.44015	100.10379	100.35067	0.00001
Pixel 7	77.45032	76.97120	77.63050	0.00003
iPhone13,2	99.82110	99.70010	99.72810	0.00001
iPhone16,2	100.41671	100.29913	100.32232	0.00001
iPhone9,3	100.27167	99.64716	100.21293	0.00003
iPhone14,6	100.11364	99.94901	100.44875	0.00002
Pixel 7a	59.79380	59.60601	59.85352	0.00002
iPhone14,7	100.27049	100.14742	100.18338	0.00001
iPhone12,8	99.90141	99.74975	99.80199	0.00001
iPhone12,1	99.95265	99.79944	99.88110	0.00001
iPhone14,3	100.18939	100.03039	100.05087	0.00001
iPhone13,1	100.57567	100.44614	100.47715	0.00001
iPhone13,3	100.64190	100.51334	100.54439	0.00001
iPhone17,2	99.84359	99.70774	99.72810	0.00001
SM-S928B	199.75031	61.53804	200.00256	0.00036
SM-S911B	208.89578	64.39104	209.16441	0.00034
iPhone12,3	100.61341	100.47228	100.55249	0.00001
iPhone10,6	99.32766	99.21643	99.24164	0.00001
iPhone15,3	100.19242	100.03713	100.07814	0.00001
iPhone14,8	100.50059	100.38032	100.39838	0.00001
iPhone11,8	99.77979	99.64415	99.72174	0.00001
iPhone14,2	100.03007	99.87855	99.91176	0.00001
iPhone16,1	100.09173	99.95010	100.01408	0.00001
Pixel 6a	72.41042	63.71821	72.43790	0.00002
Pixel 7 Pro	79.20964	59.41517	79.45508	0.00017
iPhone15,4	99.87033	99.72810	99.75102	0.00001
iPhone15,5	100.00147	99.88876	99.91048	0.00001
iPhone12,5	100.22337	100.07814	100.15769	0.00001
SM-A546E	124.06082	62.06773	478.88500	0.00057
iPhone14,4	100.23669	100.02945	100.06020	0.00001
Pixel 8	99.28057	66.15605	99.63144	0.00016
SM-S921B	125.04722	117.82384	125.18033	0.00002
SM-A528B	207.55524	15.56182	210.25082	0.00188
iPhone11,2	99.66097	99.52483	99.60604	0.00001
SM-S918B	209.36822	65.45544	209.30451	0.00033
iPhone17,1	100.59835	100.39709	100.41516	0.00002

Gravity

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	100.11593	99.97824	100.02689	0.00001
iPhone13,4	100.67552	100.56510	100.59358	0.00001
iPhone14,5	100.45485	100.34035	100.38935	0.00001
Pixel 7	232.02893	173.20585	233.99132	0.00007
iPhone13,2	99.82110	99.70010	99.72810	0.00001
iPhone16,2	100.03632	99.92709	99.95010	0.00001
iPhone14,6	100.11364	99.94901	99.97456	0.00002
Pixel 7a	241.42578	79.46963	297.55104	0.00030
iPhone14,7	100.30281	100.15640	100.22579	0.00001
iPhone12,8	99.88820	99.76503	99.82240	0.00001
iPhone12,1	100.24836	100.09866	100.18338	0.00001
iPhone14,3	100.54015	100.33778	100.35582	0.00001
iPhone13,1	100.57587	100.45002	100.49136	0.00001
iPhone13,3	99.96230	99.84591	99.87144	0.00001
iPhone17,2	99.84359	99.70774	99.72810	0.00001
SM-S928B	199.75030	61.53804	200.00256	0.00036
SM-S911B	208.90454	64.38838	209.17001	0.00034
iPhone12,3	100.61341	100.47228	100.55249	0.00001
iPhone10,6	99.32766	99.21643	99.24164	0.00001
iPhone15,3	100.43044	100.08327	100.27339	0.00002
iPhone14,8	100.49643	100.37387	100.39193	0.00001
iPhone11,8	99.73460	99.57049	99.67975	0.00001
iPhone14,2	99.80547	99.63907	99.65940	0.00001
iPhone16,1	100.08529	99.94755	100.00128	0.00001
Pixel 6a	218.02766	216.02975	218.88659	0.00001
Pixel 7 Pro	237.14336	79.32366	243.77724	0.00028
iPhone15,4	100.12409	99.97313	99.99616	0.00001
iPhone15,5	99.67020	99.56034	99.58065	0.00001
iPhone12,5	100.22337	100.07814	100.15769	0.00001
SM-A546E	124.18506	61.79504	498.37331	0.00058
iPhone14,4	100.09596	99.97057	100.00640	0.00001
Pixel 8	198.46314	99.29972	200.18736	0.00016
SM-A528B	207.57614	15.63801	210.25648	0.00187
iPhone11,2	99.66097	99.52483	99.61366	0.00001
SM-S918B	209.36822	65.12913	209.30451	0.00034
iPhone17,1	100.59835	100.39709	100.41516	0.00002

Gyroscope

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	100.10326	99.88621	100.02433	0.00001
iPhone13,4	100.04407	99.88621	99.90665	0.00001
iPhone14,5	100.45168	100.29656	100.36098	0.00001
Pixel 7	471.24958	336.11901	485.64408	0.00004
iPhone13,2	99.82225	99.70901	99.73447	0.00001
iPhone16,2	100.38403	100.27081	100.29398	0.00001
iPhone9,3	100.27167	99.64716	100.21293	0.00003
iPhone14,6	100.11364	99.94901	99.97456	0.00002
Pixel 7a	480.77546	235.47630	490.56862	0.00007
iPhone14,7	100.26607	100.13971	100.18081	0.00001
iPhone12,8	99.89865	99.74083	99.79179	0.00001
iPhone12,1	100.14188	100.00393	100.07313	0.00001
iPhone14,3	100.44878	100.33520	100.35582	0.00001
iPhone13,1	100.57606	100.45131	100.49266	0.00001
iPhone13,3	100.64313	100.53145	100.55474	0.00001
iPhone17,2	99.84359	99.70774	99.72810	0.00001
SM-S928B	471.44553	470.93472	471.02026	0.00000
SM-S911B	418.74920	418.27283	418.40724	0.00000
iPhone12,3	100.61341	100.47228	100.55249	0.00001
iPhone10,6	99.32766	99.21643	99.24164	0.00001
iPhone15,3	100.20568	100.05251	100.10122	0.00001
iPhone14,8	100.49643	100.37387	100.39193	0.00001
iPhone11,8	99.77342	99.63653	99.71028	0.00001
iPhone14,2	99.80547	99.63907	99.65940	0.00001
iPhone16,1	100.07139	99.94371	99.98720	0.00001
Pixel 6a	436.49270	390.66407	448.73636	0.00002
Pixel 7 Pro	476.49231	275.64848	583.10171	0.00005
iPhone15,4	99.96340	99.72810	99.75102	0.00001
iPhone15,5	100.00147	99.88876	99.91048	0.00001
iPhone12,5	100.22086	100.07686	100.14870	0.00001
SM-A546E	495.79232	307.07098	1202.29301	0.00057
iPhone14,4	100.18123	100.05771	100.09101	0.00001
Pixel 8	397.34829	390.82041	405.29674	0.00001
SM-S921B	499.45972	166.72002	500.86550	0.00013
SM-A528B	840.80090	824.27727	841.32027	0.00001
iPhone11,2	99.66097	99.52483	99.60604	0.00001
SM-S918B	420.98520	420.49071	420.62703	0.00000
iPhone17,1	100.59918	100.39709	100.41645	0.00002

Magnetometer

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	100.45342	100.33778	100.36098	0.00001
iPhone13,4	99.42169	99.26187	99.28206	0.00001
iPhone14,5	100.03172	99.92198	100.35067	0.00001
Pixel 7	100.10012	99.58826	100.37129	0.00001
iPhone13,2	99.82099	99.70010	99.72301	0.00001
iPhone16,2	100.40914	100.29398	100.31716	0.00001
iPhone14,6	100.11364	99.94901	99.97456	0.00002
Pixel 7a	100.09988	99.52483	100.57286	0.00002
iPhone14,7	100.32144	99.63398	100.23222	0.00001
iPhone12,8	99.85097	99.58318	99.63398	0.00001
iPhone12,1	100.02719	99.84791	99.89387	0.00001
iPhone14,3	99.64027	99.52990	99.55019	0.00001
iPhone13,1	100.39519	100.00896	100.02176	0.00001
iPhone13,3	99.72261	99.60985	99.63526	0.00001
iPhone17,2	99.80505	99.65686	99.68356	0.00001
SM-S928B	100.10010	99.99872	100.00128	0.00001
SM-S911B	100.10010	99.99872	100.00128	0.00001
iPhone15,3	100.63681	100.52110	100.54439	0.00001
iPhone14,8	100.50577	100.39709	100.41516	0.00001
iPhone14,2	99.67683	99.56034	99.58572	0.00001
iPhone16,1	100.16521	100.05251	100.07430	0.00001
Pixel 6a	100.10009	99.80454	100.21165	0.00001
Pixel 7 Pro	100.10013	99.50201	100.48232	0.00001
iPhone15,4	100.30315	100.19108	100.21936	0.00001
iPhone12,5	100.21835	100.07814	100.15769	0.00001
SM-A546E	121.65953	110.06932	135.45965	0.00028
iPhone14,4	99.41506	99.30349	99.33001	0.00001
Pixel 8	100.09989	99.50201	100.56251	0.00002
SM-S921B	125.03487	62.51600	125.27661	0.00025
SM-A528B	100.10010	99.99872	100.00384	0.00001
iPhone11,2	100.58250	100.35840	100.47973	0.00002
SM-S918B	100.10010	99.99872	100.00128	0.00001
iPhone17,1	100.06617	94.09023	99.98592	0.00002

Orientation

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
iPhone15,2	100.27516	100.09096	100.35324	0.00001
iPhone13,4	99.74771	99.61314	99.63473	0.00001
iPhone14,5	100.12464	100.01664	100.31716	0.00001
Pixel 7	235.61654	229.94173	237.18451	0.00001
iPhone13,2	99.82099	99.70010	99.72301	0.00001
iPhone16,2	99.98899	99.67721	99.91431	0.00001
iPhone14,6	100.11364	99.94901	99.97456	0.00002
Pixel 7a	238.38256	67.45433	243.95905	0.00113
iPhone14,7	100.27278	100.15127	100.18595	0.00001
iPhone12,8	99.87224	99.75866	99.81219	0.00001
iPhone12,1	100.05819	99.85812	99.93221	0.00001
iPhone14,3	100.54015	100.43065	100.44614	0.00001
iPhone13,1	100.47426	100.36614	100.38419	0.00001
iPhone13,3	100.06762	99.87610	99.89654	0.00001
iPhone17,2	99.80505	99.65686	99.68356	0.00001
SM-S928B	200.20021	199.99232	200.00256	0.00000
SM-S911B	209.37474	209.15881	209.17001	0.00000
iPhone10,6	99.32766	99.21643	99.24164	0.00001
iPhone15,3	100.48559	100.26566	100.28497	0.00002
iPhone14,8	100.51120	100.39709	100.41516	0.00001
iPhone11,8	99.73460	99.57049	99.67975	0.00001
iPhone14,2	99.77263	99.57303	99.59334	0.00001
iPhone16,1	100.13051	99.99744	100.04483	0.00001
Pixel 6a	218.24933	216.50336	219.16325	0.00001
Pixel 7 Pro	237.57083	118.97329	240.07437	0.00013
iPhone15,4	99.86706	99.72810	99.75102	0.00001
iPhone12,5	100.22086	100.07686	100.14870	0.00001
SM-A546E	124.18506	61.79504	498.37331	0.00058
iPhone14,4	100.09596	99.97057	100.00640	0.00001
Pixel 8	198.46238	99.29972	200.18736	0.00016
SM-S921B	125.16014	111.15300	125.27661	0.00003
SM-A528B	210.13659	206.08019	210.25082	0.00002
iPhone11,2	100.06975	99.87324	99.99341	0.00001
SM-S918B	209.36822	209.01332	209.30451	0.00000
iPhone17,1	100.06617	84.65348	99.98592	0.00007

Light

Sensor Model	Median Achievable Sampling	Median Minimum Sampling	Median Maximum Sampling	Sampling Gap Variability
Pixel 7	0.54304	0.01121	40.62754	8.56226
Pixel 7a	0.11954	0.01750	5.54537	18.42949
SM-S928B	2.57701	0.25000	6.25050	0.49011
SM-S911B	1.72331	0.23148	6.25082	0.94069
Pixel 6a	0.48509	0.09632	6.00367	2.69873
Pixel 7 Pro	0.47373	0.16975	3.38012	1.99695
SM-A546E	6.68102	0.09366	42.55545	0.42235
Pixel 8	0.28631	0.00559	27.26125	23.79286
SM-S921B	6.18961	0.49988	25.02194	0.25159
SM-A546B	14.49665	1.38653	38.91895	0.06322
SM-A528B	6.30572	6.24961	8.33388	0.00569
SM-S918B	2.74823	0.66288	6.25028	0.60444

Note on Privacy

At Sensor Logger, user privacy is our top priority. No sensor data ever leaves the device—only high-level diagnostic metrics, such as sampling rates and sensor characteristics are occasionally reported. Personal or identifiable information is never collected.

All data processing happens locally, with only anonymized, aggregated statistics sent to Sensor Logger servers. Specifically, only the mean, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation of sampling rates for enabled sensors are reported. This will happen in the background once or twice during the first few recordings you make.

To further protect privacy, only widely used device models will report these metrics, preventing any link to individual users.

Users can opt out of contributing to this Sampling Reference at any time through the settings. Additionally, study investigators can disable data collection for all participants as part of the Study configuration.