Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Expert Review & User Experience

When it comes to high-end sports smartwatches, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 debate is one of the most talked-about comparisons today. The Ultra 2 offers a premium smart experience with deep integration into the Apple ecosystem, vibrant display quality, and comprehensive health tracking. It’s especially ideal for iPhone users who want seamless connectivity between their watch and other Apple devices. On the flip side, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is engineered for performance-driven athletes, offering highly accurate GPS tracking, robust sport modes, and advanced training metrics that go beyond everyday fitness needs.

From personal experience training for a half-marathon, the Garmin Forerunner 965 stood out with features like real-time pace, training load, and recovery suggestions - tools that actually made a difference in my performance. Its battery life was a major advantage during long runs and trail sessions. While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 may not be as specialized for endurance athletes, it shines in daily use with smooth navigation, excellent app support, and top-tier health sensors. For casual users or those who prioritize convenience and display quality, the Ultra 2 has clear appeal.

So which should you choose? If you’re fully invested in the Apple ecosystem and want a well-rounded smartwatch with strong smart features, the Ultra 2 is a great fit. But if you’re focused on serious training, data accuracy, and multi-day battery life, the Forerunner 965 may serve you better. In the Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 decision, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer - it's about finding the right tool for your lifestyle and goals.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Design

When it comes to design, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Forerunner 965 reflect two distinct philosophies - one geared toward rugged exploration, the other toward streamlined athletic performance.

Both watches use premium materials. The Ultra 2 features a full titanium case that’s highly resistant to corrosion and impact, ideal for harsh environments. The Forerunner 965, meanwhile, focuses on lightweight comfort, combining a titanium bezel with a durable polymer body - perfect for long training sessions without wrist fatigue.

In terms of case shape, the Ultra 2 opts for a bold, square 49mm chassis with raised edges for added screen protection, giving it a strong, industrial presence. The 965 sticks to a classic round 47mm design, which feels more like a traditional watch and blends seamlessly into both athletic and casual wear.

Button layout is another key difference. The Ultra 2 offers a combination of a digital crown and the signature orange Action Button, allowing for customizable quick-access functions. In contrast, the Forerunner 965 uses Garmin’s well-known five-button system - offering tactile feedback and reliable control even when running or wearing gloves.

As for straps, the Ultra 2 comes with a choice of Alpine, Trail, or Ocean bands, tailored for different outdoor environments. The Forerunner 965 ships with a flexible silicone strap and supports Garmin’s QuickStrap system - customization is slightly more limited but still practical. You can also check Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands and Garmin Forerunner 965 Watch bands.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: Lighter and more comfortable to wear, with physical buttons that are easier to operate during intense workouts.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Display

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a 1.9-inch LTPO OLED display with a peak brightness of 3000 nits, protected by flat sapphire glass. It excels in outdoor bright environments, providing clear and vivid visuals. The screen supports always-on functionality and automatic brightness adjustment, delivering rich colors indoors while maintaining great readability outdoors.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 comes with a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen that offers deep blacks and excellent contrast thanks to its self-emissive nature. It reflects natural light well under strong sunlight, enhancing visibility and power efficiency. Although exact brightness and materials are not officially disclosed, its high contrast and gesture wake features ensure practicality during sports activities. The smaller screen size still adequately displays sports data.

Winner: Apple Watch Ultra 2

Reason: Larger screen and outstanding brightness deliver superior outdoor visibility and vibrant colors.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Battery Life

Battery life remains one of the most critical factors for smart sports watches. According to official specs, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers around 36 hours of battery life in regular use and can extend up to 72 hours with low power mode enabled. In GPS mode, the battery lasts between 12 to 35 hours depending on whether low power GPS is active. In comparison, the Garmin Forerunner 965 delivers a much stronger performance, boasting up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and approximately 31 hours with GPS activated. Even when using multi-frequency GNSS, it still maintains 19 to 22 hours of battery life, and around 9 hours when playing music.

From personal experience, with daily notifications, GPS runs, and app usage, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 typically lasts about two and a half days, extending to over three days when using low power mode. However, the battery drains noticeably faster when the screen is bright or GPS and LTE functions are used simultaneously. On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 965 impressed me with its endurance - even with regular training sessions and GPS tracking combined with music playback, it easily lasts over ten days without worrying about charging.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: With battery life far above the industry average, the Forerunner 965 provides longer and more stable usage for everyday wear and intense training, significantly reducing the need to frequently recharge.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Health and Fitness Tracking

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports a variety of sports modes including running, swimming, cycling, yoga, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). It features automatic track detection, interval workout creation, and pace matching functions, making it ideal for everyday fitness enthusiasts and runners.

In comparison, the Garmin Forerunner 965 offers over 30 professional sport modes such as triathlon, hiking, and strength training, covering a wider range of athletic needs. The Forerunner 965 also provides detailed running dynamics data like vertical oscillation, cadence, and ground contact time to help users optimize their running form and improve efficiency. Additionally, Garmin natively supports offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation, which is convenient for outdoor activities, whereas the Apple Watch Ultra 2 relies on third-party apps for navigation.

These advanced training and navigation features are also available on the higher-end Garmin Forerunner 970, while the Garmin Forerunner 570 offers a more budget-friendly option with essential performance tracking for everyday runners. You can also check Garmin Forerunner 970 vs. Garmin Forerunner 570, Garmin Forerunner 570 vs 970 vs fenix 8 and Garmin 970 vs 965.

On the health monitoring side, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is equipped with an all-day optical heart rate sensor, supports ECG, blood oxygen, and baseline body temperature monitoring, and offers personalized workout feedback and health alerts through AI features. It can track sleep stages and breathing rate, syncing seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is known for its highly accurate heart rate monitoring, heart rate variability (HRV), and stress tracking, with advanced and precise sleep algorithms. More importantly, the Forerunner 965 provides professional recovery advice based on training load and recovery status, helping athletes avoid overtraining and achieve more effective health management.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: With more comprehensive sports data and precise health monitoring, the Forerunner 965 is better suited for serious athletes and users pursuing scientific training.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Smart Experience and Ecosystem

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports only iPhone and is deeply integrated with Apple’s powerful iOS ecosystem, offering a rich selection of native and third-party apps such as WeChat, Alipay, and various music players. It runs the latest watchOS 26, which introduces the “Workout Buddy” smart coaching feature that uses AI to provide real-time voice feedback and encouragement, enhancing both exercise experience and usability. The Ultra 2 is equipped with Siri, supporting voice activation, reminder settings, and the double-tap gesture introduced in watchOS 10.1, making the interaction more intelligent and natural.

In contrast, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is compatible with both Android and iOS, runs Garmin OS, and although its app store is less extensive than Apple’s, it covers a wide range of sports and health applications. It lacks a voice assistant but offers a Training Readiness feature that intelligently assesses user status based on sleep, stress, and training load, making it well-suited for serious athletes.

Both watches support notifications, payment functions (Apple Pay and Garmin Pay), music playback, and control. The Ultra 2 has a built-in speaker for direct music playback, while the Forerunner 965 relies on Bluetooth headphones and supports offline music storage. On the safety front, the Ultra 2 offers crash detection that can automatically call emergency services, whereas the Forerunner 965 features incident detection that can send alerts to preset contacts in case of accidents during exercise.

Overall, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 leverages the intelligent AI and ecosystem integration of watchOS 26 to deliver a more comprehensive everyday smart experience, while the Forerunner 965 focuses more on sports functions and cross-platform compatibility.

Winner: Apple Watch Ultra 2

Reason: Thanks to watchOS 26’s intelligent AI coaching and deep ecosystem integration, the Ultra 2 offers a smarter and smoother user experience.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Price and availability

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, released in September 2023, has a starting price of $799 and includes built-in cellular connectivity for independent communication, positioning it as a high-end flagship product.

In contrast, the Garmin Forerunner 965, launched in March 2023, is priced around $599, making it a more affordable choice for users seeking professional sports features on a budget. Both are premium sports smartwatches, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers newer features and deeper smart integration, while the Forerunner 965 excels in sports data tracking and battery life.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 965

Reason: Its lower price combined with powerful sports functions and strong battery life delivers better value for money.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 - Final Thoughts

The Garmin Forerunner 965 and Apple Watch Ultra each have their strengths. The Forerunner 965 appeals to runners with its strong battery life, precise multi-band GPS, and comprehensive training analysis. Its lightweight design, support for external heart rate monitors, and built-in navigation without third-party apps make it ideal for intense, long-duration workouts. On the other hand, the Apple Watch Ultra excels in smart ecosystem integration and daily user experience, featuring unique SOS emergency alerts and diving functions. Its smooth system, superior notifications, and music controls cater well to users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem seeking a versatile smartwatch.

Overall, if you prioritize professional sports performance and battery endurance, the Forerunner 965 is the more practical choice. But if you value seamless smart features and rich app support, the Apple Watch Ultra delivers a more convenient everyday experience. Your choice depends on whether you emphasize athletic needs or smart functionality.