Garmin vs Apple Watch: Which Smart Watch is Best For You?

Is a Garmin smartwatch or an Apple Watch best? Let’s find out.

Do you find yourself pondering the Garmin vs Apple Watch debate? This article will outline which device better suits your needs. Both options have pros and cons. We’re going to delve into all the details you need to know before making your final decision. First, let’s look at why you might need a smartwatch.

Why Do I Need a Smartwatch?

This growing trend in the watch-wearing circle gets bigger by the week. There are just so many smartwatch options. Fitness fanatics turn to smartwatches to help monitor stats, whereas others use them like wearable phones.

(Below: Apple Watch Ultra 2)

Smartwatches are a great option if you want to stay connected without handling your phone. These miniature managing systems are literally within arm’s reach!

Garmin vs Smartwatch (Models, Pricing and Options)

Although the smartwatch gap is widening, still aren’t thousands of choices. It’s one advantage over shopping for a traditional wristwatch. The sector is still pretty niche. 

Most smartwatches cover similar features, but some brands do it better than others. The key to finding the best smartwatch is to opt for a reputable brand specializing in this expertise area. Garmin and Apple are recognizable names in the industry and are considered two of the choices.

Garmin generally has more designs on offer since it tailors its smartwatches to sporty individuals. These watches come with features that are useful for golfers, surfers, and health and fitness fanatics. Since Garmin offers a broader choice in design, there’s also a range of prices to choose from.

The Apple Smartwatch selection, however, is considerably more limited. These models are geared towards those who need an all-around smartwatch. Apple watches are confined to three main designs.

These include the Series 9, the Apple Watch SE, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. They all come in two sizes and vary in terms of design and features.

As I mentioned, there are more designs to choose from when it comes to Garmin. Each one offers something slightly different. Some of the most recognizable models are the Venu and the Forerunner. 

The Fenix is another popular option for those seeking a multi-functional sports watch.

The Garmin Approach, however, is tailored to golfers. On the other hand, the Forerunner is specially designed for runners, while the Instinct 2 is for extreme outdoor sports.

Some Garmin watches also have a superior battery reserve, giving them the edge over Apple watches. You also get to choose from cheaper options like the Garmin Lily for smaller wrists and the Vivomove Sport.

(Below: Garmin Forerunner 55)

Although you can choose your pricing option with a Garmin watch depending on features, you won’t pay for size differences. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for an Apple Watch. Its prices do differ according to size as well as features.

Garmin vs Apple — For Fitness

If you’re into fitness, the good news is that both Garmin and Apple smartwatches assist with active lifestyles. You can monitor your heart rate with all versions of these wearables.

They can also measure calories burned, and steps walked. Intuitive workout and sleep tracking is also obtainable in all models.

However, if you like to track your sleep in more detail, Garmin promises the next level up. It monitors Sp02 overnight. It also takes into consideration multiple factors to help you better understand your sleep patterns.

In addition to basics like when you wake up and fall asleep, Garmin smartwatches offer more depth.

They provide insight into when you woke up throughout the night and how long you were awake. You can also see how long you spend in different sleep stages, like REM.

(Below: Garmin Sleep Tracking features)

An Apple Smartwatch is more basic. It will help you establish goals in terms of bedtimes and will keep you focussed on these daily sleep goals. The Apple Watch OS 9, however, is a little more advanced. It will monitor your overnight respiratory rate along with baseline skin temperature.

An Apple Watch has most of the classic workout modes configured to its device. For each workout mode, you also get to customize the screens that show your data.

If you want more options, however, much like the sleep cycle functions, Garmin promises more. Niche workouts for sports like paddle boarding and bouldering are useful for those who want a bit more out of their wearable device.

Some Garmin Smartwatches offer a Training Readiness Score. It gives you an idea of how hard you need to train at your next workout. Additional fitness apps like the Body Battery feature give a snapshot of your health in one compact screen of data.

Garmin smartwatches, however, can’t detect atrial fibrillation, unlike an Apple Watch. Recent Apple watches can also give you an ECG reading. If tracking blood oxygen levels is important to you, make sure you check out which models have this feature. Not all Garmin and Apple watches will.

Additionally, stress levels can be monitored with the help of a Garmin watch. It’s features like these that really underscore the differences between Garmin and Apple and their respective suites.

You can determine how ready or not you are for work using the stress monitor and Body Battery feature. Some newer models also feature what is called the Health Snapchat app. It supplies all the important stats you need to know in a quick two-minute window.

Garmin vs Apple – Features and Compatibility

Garmin’s Connect Store is quite limited compared to Apple. Respectively, an Apple Watch will support NFC through the Apple Pay app, whereas Garmin goes through the Garmin Pay app. Garmin doesn’t offer a native voice assistant support feature, either. The Venu 2 model, though, will link to your smartphone’s voice assistant.

It means that certain commands are possible through your watch. Garmin smartwatches are compatible with iOS and Android phones, too. As you may have guessed, Apple Smartwatches aren’t compatible with Android phones.

(Below: Apple Watch Series 9)

If you opt for a Garmin, you should be aware that you won’t be able to send texts when your phone isn’t with you. That’s because Garmin watches with LTE don’t pair with your wireless.

Emergency service contact numbers will work (for a premium), however. It’s useful if you venture far and need the safety option for hiking, for example. If you pay a little more, your Apple Watch can stay connected to your phone at all times.

Garmin vs Apple – Battery Life

Battery life might be important to you. If it is, there’s a clear winner here. Garmin smartwatches offer far better battery life.

The Watch Series 9 by Apple will last around a day compared to Garmin’s advanced battery life. A Garmin smartwatch can last several weeks, depending on what mode you set it.

GPS features and fitness tracking sucks more battery.

On the whole, Garmin’s battery optimization modes are superb. It’s one reason why the brand is renowned for making some of the best sports watches in the industry.

There’s also the option of a solar-powered watch from Garmin’s range.

(Below: Garmin Enduro 2 with extensive solar-charged battery power)

Although you may pay more for a solar-powered model, it can significantly extend battery life.

Garmin vs Apple — Design

There are plenty of colorful options to choose from when considering an Apple Watch. Being able to switch up the style of the watch according to the brand’s versatile range of straps is a bonus.

You can customize your look with a genuine Apple band or a third-party strap. It gives you plenty of scope for configuration options.

Garmin also offers plenty of colors, yet not all have interchangeable straps. What you do get, however, is a range of buttons to navigate the features of the watch.

Garmin watches also provide the option to disable the touchscreen mode when using the sports features.

In terms of durable designs, Garmin smartwatches are very well-equipped for rugged outdoor ventures. That said, some models like Lily are incredibly elegant-looking.

The Takeaway

From workouts to intuitive sleep tracking and detailed health snapshots – Garmin supersedes the Apple Watch in our opinion. Having said that, there are significant advantages to owning an Apple watch.

The brand’s three core models make it super easy to decide between the features of each smartwatch.

Plus, there’s a whole host of configurations to enjoy, thanks to the brand’s broad range of straps. Apple watches also adhere to more voice-controlled demands. But, on the other hand, you do need to pay more to keep your watch synced to your device at all times.

If voice commands aren’t so important to you, however, a Garmin watch could be the answer. With more models to choose from, you can select an option that fits your lifestyle perfectly.

Niche workouts for specific sports and detailed stress monitoring grant you some great bonuses. You can certainly stay in tune with your body better with a Garmin smartwatch. You can even figure out how to control stress and anxiety while optimizing the best time to exercise.

Which smartwatch is best for you, Apple or Garmin? let me know in the comments!