These days it seems like nearly everyone has a smart watch, but how do you decide which watch is best? Many people with iPhones automatically go for the Apple Watch, but there are many alternatives that could be just as good, maybe even better.
Garmin is one of the top Apple Watch alternatives and Garmin is loved by many fitness enthusiasts. So, here we are going to compare Garmin and Apple smart watches to help you decide which is best. Read on to explore the top features to consider and discover how Garmin and Apple compare in each category.
Table of Contents
Fitness and health tracking
Design and build quality
Smart features
Battery life
Price
Market for smartwatches
The bottom line
Fitness and health tracking
Fitness and health tracking are one of the main reasons people choose smartwatch technology. Some would say Garmin beats Apple Watch when it comes to fitness and health tracking, however, it depends on which features are most important to you. It’s also important to consider how user friendly these features are.
While Apple Watch has many health and fitness features, it tends to focus more on general health. The Apple Watch has 14 activity modes and tracks typical activities like walking, running, swimming and cycling. It also has features for heart rate, sleep patterns, and comes with advanced health sensors such as ECG (electrocardiogram), blood oxygen monitoring, and fall detection. And when it comes to useability these features tend to be quite user friendly.
On the other hand, Garmin has up to 30 activity modes depending on the model, with options for triathlons, skiing and hiking. Garmin watches also offer health monitoring, including heart rate variability (HRV), pulse oximeter, body battery energy monitor, and stress tracking.
Garmin’s health tracking leans more toward athletes who are focused on optimizing performance, such as tracking sleep stages, and some models even provide hydration tracking. For those looking to track specific health metrics or are in fitness training, the Garmin may be the better choice. For example, the Garmin Forerunner series is tailored specifically to runners and offers more advanced metrics such as VO2 max, cadence, and pace analysis.
But one thing to take into consideration is that many users have noted that it takes more time to figure out and get used to the features on Garmin because they are so complex.
Furthermore, you can’t talk about fitness tracking without discussing GPS as for many users these go hand in hand.
An added benefit when it comes to fitness tracking with Garmin is its superior GPS and mapping. The tracking is ideal for more challenging environments like deep forests. And the topographic maps are particularly helpful for hikers and mountain bikers.
While the Apple Watch does have a GPS, it tends to be geared more toward urban use. For those who aren’t regularly using their smartwatch for intense outdoor adventure, this GPS is likely sufficient.
Design and build quality
In terms of design, both Garmin and Apple offer sleek and customizable options, but they cater to different aesthetics.
Apple is known for its sleek, square design and exceptional build quality. There are two watch face sizes and the interchangeable bands make them easy to personalize for the exact look and comfortability. The watch bands cater to both aesthetic and fitness applications. The new Apple Watch Ultra is Apple’s most rugged Apple Watch design, it doesn’t depart too much from the typical Apple look.
On the other hand, Garmin offers more variety when it comes to the overall look of their watches. You’ll find round faces, rugged designs, and options tailored for different activities. For example, the Garmin Instinct is a rugged, military-grade watch designed for outdoor activities, while the Garmin Lily is a smaller, more stylish option.
Overall, Garmin watches are generally bulkier and more robust than Apple Watches, reflecting their focus on outdoor adventures.
Smart features
Smart features are another of the major factors to consider when choosing a smartwatch. Smart features are particularly important for those looking for their smartwatch to be an extension of their smartphone experience with notifications, phone calls, etc.
When it comes to smart features and overall integration, Apple excels. For those in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch enhances the overall experience by syncing text messages, calls, and notifications directly to the wrist. It also supports Apple Music and Podcasts, allowing us to listen to our favorite content without needing to carry the phone.
Garmin watches also offer smart features like notifications, weather updates, and music playback, but they are more limited in terms of app support and integrations.
Battery life
Battery life plays an important role in the day-to-day useability of smartwatch, particularly for those looking to use their smartwatch for fitness such as long runs or hikes.
Because of Garmin’s focus on fitness, this is an area where they excel. For example, the Garmin Enduro 3 offers up to 36 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 120 hours in GPS mode with solar charging. Even Garmin’s mid-range models like the Garmin Venu 3 can last up to 11 days on a single charge. Garmin provides detailed information about battery life and use cases for each of their watches in the specifications so we have a good understanding of what to expect for day-to-day use of the watch before purchase.
On the other hand, most Apple Watch batteries need to be charged daily, with the Apple Watch series 10 battery lasting approximately 18 hours. Apple is continuing to improve the battery life on their products and according to Apple the Ultra has a battery life of up to 36 hours. While battery life isn’t necessarily a limiting factor for many Apple users, it is something to take into consideration.
Price
While price isn’t a smartwatch feature, you can’t compare two products without talking about price. That being said, Garmin and Apple smartwatches fall into a similar price range. Both brands have watches for under USD 500, however, the more advanced watches with more features cost more. The Apple Watch Ultra starts at just over USD 1,000, while Garmin has watches with advanced GPS technology that cost more than USD 2,500.
With both watch brands there are watches that are great value for the money, but people may be looking to pay more if advanced features are their priority.
Market for smartwatches
As of 2022, Apple held a commanding lead in the smartwatch industry, with nearly 30% of the global market share. But, as you can see, that doesn’t mean it’s the only great smartwatch option out there. Overall, the smartwatch market has grown exponentially in recent years. According to a report by Statista, the global smartwatch market will reach USD 28.72 billion by the end of 2024, with projections indicating it could reach USD 40 billion by 2029.
This growth reflects the broader trend of wearable technology becoming an integral part of daily life for millions of people around the world.
The bottom line
Both brands offer incredible smartwatches, so consider how people use them day-to-day and which features matter most. Here’s what we think:
- Choose a Garmin smartwatch for people who value advanced fitness tracking, superior GPS accuracy, and long battery life. Garmin is perfect for those who want more detailed performance data for workouts such running, cycling, swimming, and hiking.
- Opt for the Apple Watch if people look for a versatile smartwatch that integrates seamlessly with iPhone, offers a wide range of smart features, and provides health tracking for everyday use. Apple is ideal for those who want a balance between fitness tracking and connectivity.
