Apple Watch vs Garmin: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
Nothing shows off the leaps and bounds in consumer technology like a smartwatch. They’re the teeniest device we can own, yet their ability to enhance our daily lives is growing exponentially. That’s best proved with Apple and Garmin, two tech brands that have a stronghold on the smartwatch market by innovating at an impressive rate. The big question is: which of the brands is a better buy?
The answer depends largely on what you need from it. Some people need good health tracking ability, others need it to stay on top of work, and some might simply appreciate the coolest looking smartwatch on the market. To help you decide, we’ve zoned in on the main draws. That way, you’ll see the latest functionality, as well as which brand does it better. Now over to you, Apple and Garmin!
Ease of use
Apple Watches only work alongside iPhones, so Apple fans will already be familiar with the user interface, which is renowned for being the smoothest and slickest on the market. The set-up is a breeze, and it’s all intuitive after that, with easy to handle gesture actions, and even an action button so you can use the watch with gloves on. The modern, minimalist look is a favourite in terms of design, and it also makes it clear for checking on-the-go.
While Garmin’s user interface is a little more complex, that works nicely for those looking for more detail. You’ll find a number of buttons and menus available, so once you familiarise yourself with its capabilities, you’ll appreciate the information it offers. It works equally well with both iPhone and Android phones.
Battery performance
Because many people use watches to keep tabs on health and fitness 24/7, and we can’t even charge them at night without losing track of our sleep data, battery life and speed of charging matter more with watches than other gadgets.
Garmin’s battery life tends to last longer – for example, the top-of-the-range the MARQ Adventurer Gen 2 lasts up to 21 days in battery saver mode or six days of always-on use, and takes around one hour to charge fully. Garmin even has other watches with solar power to help the battery last longer.
Meanwhile, Apple’s top of the range watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, has up to three full days in battery saver mode or 42 hours of normal use. It takes around 75 minutes for a full charge.
While most mid-range models in both brands offer less battery capacity, it does demonstrate how Garmin comfortably beats Apple in overall battery life.
Health and fitness tracking
Garmin trade on their sports tracking prowess especially for outdoors activities – many models have impressive features for diving, map creation for running, and built-in training plans. But it’s not perfect across the board. For example, some gym workouts like weight lifting need to have each set started and stopped, which can feel clunky with regular use.
Apple’s tracking is reasonably strong, especially when combined with third-party apps that specialise in sports functions (for example, Komoot for hiking and Muscle Booster for weight lifting). And it’s where phone integration comes noticeably handy.
Apple are also strong for health data – their heart rate tracking is proven to be reliably accurate, and their watches can also keep tabs on sleep apnoea and hypertension. Garmin put up a good fight too: in addition to standard features like heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking, it also monitors your body battery and stress levels.
Both brands are strong for health and fitness, and the better option might come down to the exact feature you’re looking for.
Other features
Many models on both brands offer the expected conveniences of a smartwatch, like playing music, Apple Pay or Garmin Pay to use it as a contactless debit or credit card. For things like messaging and calling, Apple Watches are more developed – while some Garmin models can make phone calls and they’ve recently launched a WhatsApp integration, they’re further behind in acting like a mini-phone.
Price
This is where things get really interesting. Garmin’s watches cover the full range of budgets, and span from £79.99 for kids watches to £1599.99 for the top of the range Marq Gen 2. Meanwhile Apple watches range from £219 for the SE 3 with GPS only, to £749 for an Ultra 3 with GPS and Cellular.
So which smartwatch is the better buy? Ultimately, the answer is dictated by how closely it matches your needs, but with either brand, you’re assured of cutting-edge tech and top-notch quality.
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