Garmin vs Apple watch - which one is better for you?

In the smartwatch market, Apple and Garmin are the two giants. Apple is known for its intelligence and extensive ecosystem, while Garmin is highly regarded for its specialized sports and outdoor features. Consumers choose Apple or Garmin based on individual needs, usage scenarios, and budgets. This article will explore Garmin vs Apple Watch from multiple angles to help you understand their strengths and weaknesses, making it easier to choose the best option. 

Garmin vs Apple watch- product positioning and user group

Apple Watch is aimed at the mass consumer market, emphasizing the user experience and interconnection of smart devices. In addition to health tracking, Apple Watch also supports app, information reminder and payment functions, attracting fashionable and convenient consumers.

Garmin focuses on the outdoor and professional sports market for users who need accurate data and professional features. Its watch collection covers running, cycling, climbing and swimming, especially for climbers, triathletes and divers. The Forerunner and Fenix series feature physical buttons and enhanced battery life to ensure reliability for outdoor use.

Overall, Garmin Watch is designed for sports enthusiasts, while Apple Watch is more universal, meeting the health monitoring and daily interaction needs of users of different ages, genders and lifestyles. You can also check Garmin Approach S60 review; Garmin Approach S62 review; Garmin S62 vs S70 to know more information about Garmin watch.

Garmin vs Apple watch - price and models

Garmin watches are generally more expensive and are favored by users because of their use of fiber reinforced polymer materials. Prices range from about 209 dollars for the Forerunner 158 (FR55 for the international version) to as much as about 1117 dollars or 1256 dollars for the Fenix 7 DLC, suitable for consumers with different budgets. High-end models usually have stronger wear resistance and longer battery life, suitable for outdoor enthusiasts.

In contrast, the price of the Apple Watch is more transparent, with the main models including Ultra, Series 8, Series 9 and Watch SE, which generally cost between about 419 dollars and 698 dollars, depending on the size and network options. The Apple Watch SE is cost-effective and appeals to consumers on a lower budget, while the Ultra is positioned at the high end of the market, offering greater water resistance and longer battery life.

Garmin vs Apple watch - design

The Apple Watch features a square dial with a delicate display and touch, and offers a variety of colors and straps for everyday wear. Its modern, minimalist design makes it like a tiny computer on your wrist, especially the Apple Watch Series 9, which has a larger screen and a steady display mode. Users can purchase different brands of wristbands, such as Bandletic, through Apple or Amazon platforms for personalized customization.

Garmin watches mostly use round dials, focusing on durability, materials such as sapphire glass and diamond-like coating, especially suitable for outdoor environments. The Instinct series meets U.S. Army standards, while the Fenix series is designed for outdoor enthusiasts, with some models featuring a touch screen that is automatically disabled in sports mode to ensure easy operation, suitable for users who prefer traditional style and outdoor activities.

Garmin vs Apple watch - health and fitness tracking

Both Apple Watch and Garmin Watch have comprehensive health and fitness tracking capabilities, including heart rate monitoring, step count, calories, exercise recording, and sleep tracking, but differ in specific features and user experience to suit different needs.

Sleep monitoring

Garmin's sleep tracking goes even further, providing nightly blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring and detailed sleep stage analysis to help users understand sleep quality. Apple Watch emphasizes healthy habits and sets sleep goals to improve sleep. watchOS 9 also adds sleep stage tracking and skin temperature sensing.

Activity tracking

Apple Watch supports common exercise modes and allows custom data for daily workouts; Garmin offers more professional sports modes, such as stand-up paddle surfing and bouldering, for niche sports enthusiasts. Garmin also supports training sessions and programs to help users accurately pace their exercise and monitor heart rate ranges to ensure safe training.

Health monitoring

Apple Watch has been equipped with electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood oxygen monitoring since the fourth generation, suitable for users concerned about heart health, and added car accident detection and temperature monitoring functions. Garmin calculates "body energy" through heart rate variability and activity data, and provides diverse health management functions such as recording women's menstrual cycles and drinking water to meet the needs of different users.

Garmin vs Apple watch - smartwatch features

Apple Watch is significantly superior to Garmin in terms of smart features, supports seamless connection with the iPhone, has the ability to make and receive calls, send messages and a wealth of third-party applications, especially through Apple Pay for convenient payments. By contrast, Garmin is relatively simple, mainly providing basic notifications and weather information, suitable for sports and outdoor enthusiasts, and has practical features such as offline map navigation and environmental monitoring.

Overall, the Apple Watch offers more sophisticated apps and rich features, while Garmin's app store and overall experience are relatively limited. While both support mobile notifications and some wireless payments, the Apple Watch also supports Siri voice interaction, making it a better choice for users who need a full range of smart features.

Garmin vs Apple watch - battery life

In terms of battery life, Garmin Watch is significantly better than Apple Watch. The battery life of the Apple Watch SE and Series 8 is usually only a day and a half, and it needs to be charged frequently when tracking outdoor activities to avoid black screens. The Apple Watch Ultra performed slightly better, lasting about 36 hours of normal use, but it still fell short of Garmin.

By comparison, Garmin watches typically last more than five days, some models like the Enduro 2 can last up to 46 days on a single charge, and Instinct 2 Solar even has an "unlimited" base life thanks to a solar charging panel. This makes Garmin watches ideal for long periods of outdoor exercise or travel.

Overall, the Apple Watch is more suitable for short daily use, which requires daily charging, while the Garmin Watch is suitable for users who need a long battery life.

Garmin vs Apple watch - which one is right for you?

Choosing Garmin or Apple Watch depends on your needs. If you exercise occasionally, both brands will satisfy you. But if you're determined to step up your exercise routine, garmin is a better choice. For users already in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch offers a wealth of smart apps and health monitoring features, seamlessly integrates with the iPhone, has a great experience, and is designed for everyday wear.

If you are a professional who loves outdoor sports or needs accurate sports data, Garmin is the right fit. It offers excellent endurance and reliable monitoring in harsh environments, making it ideal for outdoor adventures and intense training.