Garmin vs Apple Watch: Which Is Better for You

Been an Apple Watch user since 2015 and finally caved and bought a Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 because I was craving a different look on my wrist and I run 20+ miles weekly w/ strength training 5-6 days a week.

I don’t know, maybe I’m biased, but as much as I want to like the Garmin, I don’t. The faces feel so dated, the connect app is ehh, and yes the running metrics are great and all, but not what am I supposed to do with some of this data? Plus, after doing further research, the Apple Watch is much more accurate. Multiple sources to prove this.

Yes, the battery is cool, but contrary to what most people say, I’ve done multiple 10-15+ mile runs and my Apple Watch still has plenty of battery (50-60%). Back to the Ultra 3 + Strava I go!

My Wife and Daughter both recently caved in and got Apple Watches which I think they generally like.. But my observation is I am constantly finding the watches on a table or sideboard, in the car cupholder etc with dead a battery or charging at weird times of the day.. I just don't get how you can put out a serious piece of tech as a leading tech company that gives such a poor user experience, when it is so easy to remedy #needsabiggerbattery

Unreal.. We just got back from a walk and, yep, back on charge.. Such a hold this brand has on some folk

Charged mine yesterday and have been for a 5k run with GPS etc, a couple of walks not to mention all of the notifications etc etc... Still got 12 days battery! 

Should I pull the trigger with this sale? I was originally looking at the Venu but feel like this is too good to pass up

That's why i bought AWU2 last year !

I really don’t know what to say, my last watch was an Apple Watch but the battery was horrendous. So i decided to go for garmin Venu 4 this time, and I’m really happy I did, the only issue I have is learning all the features. Any advice on what to turn off or on? So far I turned off the notifications from my phone.

apple watch felt like a toy strapped to my wrist after a while, got tired of charging it every single day and the fitness stuff felt too gamified with the rings. the garmin just gives me the data without the nagging

battery alone was worth the switch, i charge it like once every two weeks and it tracks my runs and lifts without me babysitting it. the training readiness and body battery actually made me pay attention to rest days instead of just pushing through every time

Long time Garmin wearer here - primarily a trail runner. I've added in some biking and yoga over the past few years.

No complaints on Garmin, but looking at Apple for a couple very specific reasons. Due to an unfortunate genetic roll of the dice, I've got some hypertension along with some mild plaque buildup. So while my Garmin tracks RHR and HRV, I like where Apple is going with trying to figure out BP and irregular heart rhythms.

The problem I've always had with Apple though is if you don't buy into their complete ecosystem, things don't seem to work at 100%. With Garmin, I get 90% of the metrics I'm looking for, direct sync to Garmin, etc.

Any pros/cons to help me either re-commit to Garmin or make a switch to Apple?

2 years now using both Apple Watch Ultra (1&2) and a Garmin Epix Pro 2 Sapphire. I have done short triathlon (and all the training), obstacle course races, golf, lifting, hiking and racquet sports with the watches.

As I don't do marathons, full tris or multi day hikes in the woods (thus rendering the battery life advantage moot)- here are the only advantages I perceive Garmin to have over the AWU models: hardware buttons for navigation (indispensable in wet conditions), the actual flashlight (unbelievably and unexpectedly useful), and the fact that it's more of an all-in-one fitness experience. The golf app is built in. Garmin Connect has everything baked in. No additional apps required. I'll add a fourth, but it's subjective - it LOOKS like a traditional watch. Which I like.

That's it. This combined with the fact that Apple severely handicaps the functionality of the Garmin for notifications, makes the Ultra the easy choice for me when I'm using an iPhone for my daily driver phone.

It honestly depends on what activities you do. For running yes, the Apple Watch is fairly close to the Garmin in terms of capabilities, though I still prefer how Garmin does structured workouts vs Apple. However, for cycling and swimming Garmin is better (I’m a triathlete).

As a smartwatch though the Apple Watch wins. So my solution is to use both depending on what I’m doing. No reason to limit myself to one or the other.

I made this switch 2 years ago. From AWU to Garmin Epix Pro 2 Sapphire 47 MM.

I’ll be brief, follow up with questions if you desire. The Garmin wins for battery life, the flashlight and hardware buttons for navigation (invaluable for water activities and sweaty sessions). And that’s about it. Garmin Connect is useful but dated. I like the data it provides and the way it presents the information. But this can be achieved with 3rd party apps in WatchOS.

For almost everything else, Apple is better. Faster UI. Better screen. Utility outside of fitness. I believe the HR sensor is more accurate (whether it’s software or algorithms- it’s CERTAINLY more responsive).

Lastly- I’ve argued that battery life is overrated. Unless you’re doing Ultras and multi day hikes away from power, the AWU lasts long enough. And it charges MUCH faster. Your mileage may vary here.

If I’m using iPhone, I use the Ultra. Or both, depending on my activity.

Correct. If I fall asleep before my scheduled bed time it doesn't count as sleep. If I'm up and about before reading the morning report it still counts as sleeping.

But I don't care as long as I don't have to charge my watch on a daily basis.

Apple Watch is an extension of your phone. The smart functionality of an AW towers over any Garmin watch.

Garmin watch is a fitness watch with some limited smart functionality.

If your main gripe is battery life but love the smart features of your AW, a Garmin watch will feel archaic. Unless charging your watch daily is that big of a deal to you or you need advanced training metrics and guidance, I personally wouldn’t switch over to Garmin.

I have a Garmin Epix 2 Pro and an Apple watch 11. I have actually switched to the Apple as my daily driver. This is mostly because my Apple is comfortable to sleep with and I use the smart features daily (Apple Pay, setting reminders from my watch, smart home control, replying to text via voice on my watch and so on)

I preferred Garmin's connect because of body battery and training readiness over the junkiness of Apple having 2 separate apps but have bridged the gap with Bevel. For my cardio runs and home gym sessions the apple is totally fine. I do miss the dedicated buttons and may end up going to an Ultra next. For long hikes that I am using GPS and maps I still prefer the Garmin.

TLDR: If you are training for a marathon or go on 8+hr hikes choose the Garmin, if you are just looking to stay healthy and use your smart watch features go with a Series 11.

The biggest flaw with apple smart watches is their batteries, otherwise they are incredible. I had one for a year then switched to Garmin 5 years ago and never looked back.

My garmin epix does it records as a nap and does effect the sleep score and other metrics so no the AW doesn’t beat a garmin in this instance. You do have to enable the function to work

It tracks naps as naps. It’s not in the sleep tracker.

I switched from Apple, and to me, the Garmin FR970 is way better. I only used AWU while training; if I don't, I use a traditional seiko/citizen watch.

3rd party apps in WatchOS require subscriptions to give the same amount of data Garmin does;
HR, to me, Garmin is slightly better, and Garmin reads it more often
I don't find Garmin Connect dated and really like the dashboard, very useful
And of course more buttons and better battery
I don't miss cellular (LTE feature) or touch

AWU is a better lifestyle watch. Better touchscreen and touch responsiveness, really good connectivity with iPhone, LTE possibility, Spotify, and some other apps.

So for sport, I find Garmin way better, but for lifestyle I agree it is AWU

Good afternoon all, looking for a bit of advice!

Over the past few years I've become increasingly fed up with Apple Watches. I've gradually upgraded through the range and currently have an Apple Watch Ultra 2, but even that has started to lose its appeal. My biggest frustration is the battery life. Despite being Apple's premium watch, I'm still charging it far more often than I'd like.

It's got to the point where I've been considering giving up on smartwatches altogether. which is mad as I've worn some form of smartwatch since the early days of the Moto 360, but because of my experience with Apple, I've been debating whether to get a Whoop or Fitbit for fitness tracking and then just wear a traditional watch.

Though a few people around me wear Garmins and have been encouraging me to make the switch. I'm always doing some sort of fitness activity, whether that's gym sessions, hiking, or wild camping, so Garmin seems like it could be a good fit.

With that in mind, I was pretty close to pulling the trigger on an Epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire. The price and feature set seem ideal for what I want. However, I've recently seen Garmin are releasing what I can imagine YouTube tech influencers are calling a "Whoop killer", and that's got me reconsidering the whole fitness band + watch combination again.

So I'd love to hear from people who have maybe made a similar switch from Apple, or from those who own an Epix Pro Gen 2.

• Would you still buy the Epix Pro Gen 2 today?
• Is Garmin's new fitness band worth waiting for?
• If you were in my position, would you go for a Garmin watch, a fitness band + traditional watch, or something else entirely?

Cheers in advance for any advice!

Edit 1: Thank you for your comments and thoughts. I ended up with quite a deal for an Epix pro gen 2, allowing me to keep my Apple Watch while I try out Garmin.

In my experience, the best way to describe it is that an Apple Watch is an extension of your iPhone while the Garmin Watch is a true fitness watch. The Garmin battery life is also far superior.

I wear both daily. Have used Garmin watches back 25 years to their first watch, the 101.

Apple better day to day. As a smartwatch its capabilities massively outperform Garmin. I can start my car with it, control thermostat, add to my to do list and a zillion other things the Garmin can’t do.

Garmin is a better fitness device and for battery life can’t be touched. If apple makes a watch that lasts a week I’ll dump Garmin.

Apple Watch

Fall detection always on Afib check in the background on at all times ECG and Garmin has ecg but only on expensive ones. Car crash detection Sleep apnea detection High blood pressure notification Accurate heart rate Great sleep detection and sleep metrics are more accurate than Garmin Works perfectly with phone and not glitchy You can purchase accessories anywhere You can get AppleCare and always have it protected under warranty I got my Series 11 on sale last year for $100 off for $329. Best Buy will give me a trade in right now for $200 and I can keep my band. That means I wore it for almost 7 months at a cost of $129 if I wanted to trade it in for something or I could sell it outright quick for $200. Garmin is a niche. Good luck selling your expensive Garmin to someone at top dollar.

Garmin has emergency assist but only to the people you have set up. It will send them a message and won’t call them automatically. Apple will call first responders and will show any medical info to them on your watch.

I can go on but that’s the reason I wear Apple. Yes, battery sucks but I have a charger at home, work and in my car. It’s magnet and I have never had a bad Apple cord but have had to purchase new Garmin cords since their proprietary cords will eventually fail.

I can charge my watch up 50 percent more than what it is currently in just about 15 minutes so it’s not a big deal as I throw it on the charger when I shower in the mornings.

I train for marathons and do 8+hr hikes and use the Ultra2 no issues at all. Garmin has overpriced watches, saturated fluff data like body battery and stress scores. I would never go back to Garmin. Buggy clunky software and the Connect app is a disaster.

I’m actually planning to go the opposite route. I currently have a 255 and I’m less and less interested in so much data, I don’t even look at it anymore. All those running metrics make no difference for me. Only HR/Pace etc. The basics.
Now that I got a MacBook I’m thinking about getting an AWU 4 depending on what they offer this September.

Edit: my bank doesn’t support Garmin pay, and I use Apple Pay everyday, that would be nice.

Un mese fa sono passato da AWU 2 a Fenix 8. Non mi pento per nulla. Dipende da quello che cerchi: se vuoi uno smartwatch rimani con AW, se vuoi uno sportwatch prendi un Garmin. Avevo anche un Whoop e devo dire che mi manca un po. Ho fatto il reso con Amazon e ho ancora 7 mesi di abbonamento attivo, forse acquisto il dispositivo a 89€. Comodo per dormire e app molto più bella e intuitiva