Apple Watch vs Garmin Watch (from an athlete's perspective) 

I love the detailed videos you do on products! Keep up the great work! Love seeing the channel grow.

Great comparison video like many of your other review videos, Clint. Thak you.

Very useful post thanks 🙏 I’m using vivoactive 3 by garmin which is showing it’s age a little but agree on the charge cycle. My watch lasts about a week and I don’t worry to much about durability it copes with anything-and that’s something I haven’t considered with Apple which are more expensive. So yes lots to think about thanks again 👍

Still looking forward to your video on camera setup options while riding and the equipment used.

Great video, thank you. I’m interested in the Garmin watches, any recommendations on previous versions of the fenix’s or other Garmin watch models you’ve had?

Garmin actually has a lot more options for watch bands as it uses spring bars just like watches have for almost 100 years now. You just need to find the lug width, which is 22mm for most models, and you will be able to fit any regular watch band to your Garmin but you won’t be able to remove the straps quickly to fit to the bike mount, however.

I now know my next purchase - a Garmin. Like you, I cycle, MTB, hike, kayak in Florida. Love my Garmin 830. Have had a few Apple watches but hate charging daily and want the Garmin Body Battery. Thanks for the comparison.

Love my Fenix 7SS!! Love Garmin Connect and the fact all my fitness data is in one system as I have a garmin bike computer with all the dudads. Team Garmin. Great review, thanks!

great video, thank you! I think you can talk thru some of the Garmin watches. my wife has Venu2, and she can talk through it. key requirement: the watch should be within a Bluetooth distance of the phone. so, if you have it in your hydration bag, that's a solution. idk if Epix2 can do the same though

Hi Clint, great video lots of useful information. I currently run an Apple Watch Series 6 for them looking at moving to maybe a GarmanFenix 6 x pro and getting a edge 1040 was just curious what your thoughts were whether that is a good watch to get in just curious if the data screen that you showed was at all your data read out is that available on a computer or only on the connect app on the iPhone. Thanks

I made the move from Iphone and an Apple Watch to a Google Pixel and a Fitbit at first but managed to get an excellent deal on a Garmin Instinct 2 solar and now waiting for delivery of my Epix Sapphire. I will definitely not be going back to IOS any time soon plus you can get a Venu 2 plus that allows calls and voice assistant

I own a Garmin Fenix 6X and a Venu 3. The battery on my wife's Apple watch wouldn't last a day. I just got her a Venu 3S. Looks like a definite home run. We run, bike, swim and occasionally hike. If you're active, get a Garmin. If you just want to reply to text messages and you have an iPhone then still get a Garmin! The battery life on the Garmin is soooo much better than Apple.

Nice comparison. Tough choice both have strengths n weaknesses. Visible display very important in various light conditions. AW has always on now which is big + but battery needs more luv for more flexible power saving options.

I have a vivoactive 4 and it is much better for my needs as a cyclist, hiker, weightlifter and all around durability. The only issues I have had is tracking of the intensity minutes which comes and goes after every update but that’s not a big deal and is a software and pairing problem to my iphone. I’d 💯% buy another Garmin watch. It simply does what I need it to do and it durability is incredible.

I have a Fossil running WearOS and there's a workout setting for Mountain Biking... I think that's awesome

super video. thanks for the info😇

I like hearing both sides of this. I am homebound and mostly sedentary, but there are things that are very useful for the Apple Watch. If I were an active and younger person, then I can see the advantage of getting a Garmin watch, but the Apple Watch is not trash.

Great video! I really wish Apple would partner with Garmin to make the 'Best of Both Worlds' watch. I have used both Apple watch 7 and the Garmin Epix 2 for road cycling, mountain biking and for long kayak paddles and there is definitely a proven performer at least for my use cases. For me the Apple watch is great for ease and productivity. Being able to take quick calls right from the watch without having to pull the phone out from a pocket, backpack or even a dry bag when on water is a great 'nice to have' - as well as setting alarms and responding to texts/calls. However, the Apple watch battery tends to die during an all day (5+ hour) activity when using the GPS and I found it often times cant capture the entire activity- which sucks. Also a big one for me is that Apple doesnt have maps to check trails/waterways when mountain biking or on water - and I used to have to use other apps to map my positioning, which all drains the phone battery faster. With the Garmin, I can customize pages for all activity data fields that also include a page for a full map which has been a real life saver when on a paddle or lost in the woods somewhere so you can navigate routes, rivers or nearby points of interests or back to start. The maps on Garmin wearables and handheld GPS units are also customizable and offers additional region map options (at an additional cost though). I also really like the 'Morning Report' on the Garmin Epix and the insights and workout suggestions based upon all the data from the weeks activities and sleep/ sleep history. The Garmin really does offer a lot more specific data, as well as body battery, stamina (beginning and end), when to train/workout and when to rest and suggests workout for base/recovery rides. Also the battery on the Garmin Epix is by far a better performer for full day and or mulit-day activities and it connects to speed, power, cadence and heart rate sensors to get all the rich data (I use the HR Pro when wearing a drysuit to get accurate heart rate data, but its hard to get an accurate reading for any watch with the latex gaskets on the sleeves). I used to wear both, but I've found myself wearing the Garmin and leaving the Apple watch on the charger for activities. I do however miss Siri and being able to respond to texts easily and lifting my wrist to read all my daily affirmations and photos that are linked to my phones photo folder. The only lack luster function that I can think of on the Epix that needs improving is the flashlight. But to make this the ultimate watch for data rich activities and productivity would be an Apple + Garmin watch edition.

Have you tried the Amazfit T-Rex Pro Smart Watch or any body out there.

I'm waiting on Garmin to replace my Instinct under warranty. Third Garmin to fail in the past few years. I'm beginning to think they're not very durable. I'm going to keep it till it fails, then try a Coros Pace 2 for $200. I've seen some good reviews on it...

Whats missing in the Garmin is the ability to call as you can with the apple watches. I also agree with comments that comparing the Garmin with an Ultra instead of the other apple watches. I do appreciate Garmins as they are excellent but for me, I'm not doing ultra marathons or biking 100+ miles. I'd like to see you review the Garmin and the Apple Ultra.

I have the Garmin Venu 2 Plus and it does have the facility to speak into it/make calls/answer calls/answer messages through the watch itself (paired to phone signal). It has all those functions on Android, but with iPhone Apple have limited some of those functions.

I'm an old guy who has taken a few falls over the years while riding so I was intrigued with fall detection. Also, I was intrigued with a function to purge water. I've had my Apple Watch for a couple of years and it still works and looks new. I bicycle (road and mountain) for half the year and swim year round.

The Garmin Fenix would be best compared with the Apple Watch Ultra. They would be more equally comparable since they are both higher end in the product lines. As an ultra runner, I have owned well over a dozen Garmin watches in the past 20 years, and they are fantastic. I have changed to the Apple Watch in the past 6 months because the heart rate monitor is more accurate. While there are some things Garmin did better such as battery life, but the Apple integration is a real benefit. For 100 mile races though, I’ve got to pull out the forerunner.

excellent video!

I sold my apple series 7 and got a Garmin forerunner 245, very happy with it.

One thing with the garmin quick release straps. Be careful with high speed crashes on water (windsurfing/kitesurfing/wakeboarding/ect)….the straps can come off. I know…..somewhere on the bottom of the bay near me is a fenix 5. Which is the reason I use regular non quick release type band. Just fyi.

Using the Apple Watch as a viewfinder for selfie/filming with the iPhone is absolutely brilliant. You're the first person I've seen mention this (and I watch fitness tech videos pretty obsessively).

I’ve had my Apple Watch Series 3 for 8 or 9 years I think. I’ve dropped it a lot of times and never had an issue with it, no scratches and no screen protector, but I don’t like that it has to be synced to my iPhone in order to track my activity correctly. Since apple is no longer supporting the 3 series, and I’m in the market for a new fitness tracker, I’m considering other options. Garmin is the first one I thought of. I had three or four Fitbit’s before I finally bought an Apple Watch - the Fitbit was always breaking. I’m still not sure, but this video helped thanks.

Durability depends on the exact typf of Garmin. I had one cheap Forerunner (maybe 110) that lasted almost ten years but the Forerunner 35 I got after first got it's strap damaged and then it started letting water inside (I didn't swim with it, just wore it in the shower). This was about 2.5 years after purchase, so not all the cheap Garmins are always that dependable.

The apple watch has a saphire screen. I swim with the apple watch several times a week and have no issues but I also have a screen protector from mous that does not allow water to get underneath it. Great review.

Still using a Phoenix 3HR. Have done 6 Ironman races and thousands of training hours with it, I wear it every day, and not a SINGLE scratch on the watch face. It still does what I need but, when the time comes, I'll replace it with the latest Garmin.

The Apple Watch SE is about 3 times cheaper so obviously everything about it is going to be less premium. Another RU-vid reviewer put it best when they said (paraphrase, "That the Apple Watch is a smart watch with fitness features while the Garmin is a fitness watch with smart features." If you are primarily running around and doing fitness activities and need little to no other tech integration, go with a Garmin. If you need medium to high integration in your fitness watch then go with the Apple / Samsung watch.

Hi Clint after having a Fenix 6 I transitioned to the Vivoactive 4 because of the bulkiness and size of the Fenix series. I'm hoping the Garmin has a Vivoactive 5 this year as my vivoactive 4 is getting long in the tooth. Have you or anybody heard anything about a Vivoactive 5 dropping any time soon?

Agreed

I have an Apple Watch and garmin computer mounted on the bike but the other day I decided to run both and noticed a difference between the two with the total miles. Can you run that experiment?

Dim lit screen and clunky interface is my garmin Fenix 7x SS experience.

I’m using an Apple Watch 3 on a daily basis and for mountain biking. It’s a very useful device.

Where do i find that bike mount gor the garmin

I'm really thinking about getting the vivoactive , but , does it ping your iphone, if you can't find it ? I read the connect app has to be open in order to do that

I moved from apple watch to a garmin instinct solar. I love the garmin however one shortfall that I find very irritating is how long it takes to find gps signal. Not sure if all garmin watch models are the same, but when biking in remote tree covered areas finding gps signal to record the ride can be irritating. I've even had the watch go cancel the ride (sleep mode) before finding gps signal.

Can you talk about the different screen options on the Garmin watch. Like sapphire compared to others.

I have a Samsung Watch4 and the Heart Rate monitoring is pretty terrible. It will just not monitor minutes at a time. Additionally, the battery life is terrible. How am I supposed to sleep track when I have to take it off to charge every night. I have all the extra features turned off to try and extend battery, but I'm still down around 30-40% at night. I regret the purchase

can anyone on here comment on accuracy of heart rate monitoring on the garmin vivoactive 4? vs. an apple watch

I use both garmin and apple. i found the garmin heart rate monitor to be way off compared to apple. As for a bike computer, i don’t need a watch, too small, that is why I have an 840. For an everyday watch with fitness capabilities, go apple. For a fitness watch, go garmin. They are different watches for different categories

I like to run, swim I like to track my sleep, my stress and text and read emails. Which watch would you say is the best? Doesn’t have to necessarily be the ones you’ve spoken about?

fenix 6 pro for 280 euros or fenix 7 solar (no saphire) for 330 ? what would u reccomend ?

I literally agree with you,my forerunner 235 is still kicking right now, battery and durability of garmin is superior,im totally hesitant of getting apple watch because of poor battery

Which one would you choose? You have both. 😉 Why couldn't you wear both while riding, one on each wrist?

I always had Apple Watch, my first one was the Apple Watch, then I passed to series 4 Nike Version…Now that it’s dying I realized that the only moments when I really used my Apple Watches were for training to the gym, trekking, swimming. I rarely open apps on Apple Watch. Moreover I’m really tired to continue charging it. So, I decided. I’ll pass to Garmin, more battery, more training data, stamina tracking, more precise GPS, Garmin Connect, advices for the training, HRV, all I ever wanted.

The Apple Watch ultra would have been a good comparison.

Does the Garmin track steps?

3 min in I’m like ok yep Garmin it is

Garmin FTW, LDO.

1 important detail, the higher tier Apple Watches are made with much better materials . The glass is much stronger and the frames as well on those.

Apple watch have no battery life. I love my Garmin venu 3 .

Although I’ve been a garmin user for five years I think it’s bit unfair to compare a sapphire screen garmin with gorilla glass apple watch. I never had a scratch on my sapphire screen Apple Watch.

At this point, I think ill just buy an apple watch and garmin watch lol

has anyone ever said you really look like that Meteorologist named Josh Linker that does the baynews channel 9. it like looking into mirror when i watch that and your videos at the same time lol

I just wish Garmin was as accurate as apple

I had apple watches up to series 6 and then got the Epix 2 sapphire. The epix battery life and ability to add a bunch of sensors for my mountain biking. Having said that the day to day of having the garmin is a lot worse. Notifications, music control, the app etc. are all a lot worse to me. The app especially drains a lot of battery life off my phone. The Apple watch ultra is the better buy for most people if they have an iPhone, it does everything else outside of activity tracking so much better than the Garmins and is not too far behind in activity tracking, the only downside is the battery life which isn't that far off from the Epix, but not comparable to the Fenix especially if it has solar. I might switch back to the apple watch with the 2nd gen apple watch ultra.

Garmin is a watch, the rest not.

All my friends used Garmin. My favorite sport is cycling. I need long battery life before I start considering other features. Apple sucks. Don't buy Apple.

I have a junk apple watch series 6. Went to a 3feet kids pool with my daughter and the watch went crazy…. Went to the store and got denied, I called apple and they said is nothing they can do… so pathetic! 2y1/2 watch that just got out of apple care warranty.. WHY IT HAS SWIMMING FEATURE THEN? Im so mad at apple. Straight pure garbage

Yall shower with your watches?

Apple is cheap trash now. Garmin is solid!

This video is false on a lot of things in regards to Apple Watch

What can the Apple Watch do if your family can't handle such devices? We use 5 of them. My wife, me and the 3 kids... all of them are used daily and are not broken!

Hi Clint. How about the apple ultra ?