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Many new runners attain out to me questioning what’s the main distinction: Garmin vs Apple Watch? They have already got an Apple smartwatch and aren’t certain if they should swap to an entire new GPS watch to trace their runs.
I imply the Apple Watch has GPS, so what’s the deal?
The reality is there are some fairly large variations between a health tracker and a GPS operating watch.
However which of these options truly issues to you is a completely totally different story. I don’t assume it has to do with health stage, I believe it merely is a matter of what smartwatch options are key for you if you happen to’ll be carrying all of it day lengthy or simply want it for health.
A couple of of the main variations Garmin vs Apple Watch:
- Garmin desires to be a part of each side of your energetic life, all of the efficiency metrics you might ever need, monitoring each doable sport, Apple Pay, music, monitoring your menstrual cycle, and different assorted options
- Apple desires to be one of the best smartwatch obtainable, which does observe your exercises however isn’t truly centered in your exercises the way in which a Garmin watch is. Nevertheless, they’ve tried to vary that with Apple OS 9 and the introduction of Apple Watch Extremely (that I’ve additionally individually written an in-depth overview about). Apple now additionally contains menstrual biking monitoring with their newest Apple Watch 8.
In case you’re trying to buy your first GPS look ahead to operating, take a look at my publish on GPS watch errors to not make, so that you don’t find yourself getting greater than what you want and spending extra money than essential.
This side-by-side comparability ought to make it easier to higher perceive the totally different options and slender down your selections.
Not all in favour of all of the analysis and simply wish to know what I’d choose?
✅That is the watch I’d select as a newbie.
It has greater than sufficient options to final you thru that first 5K during many marathons and is less expensive than different choices.
Apple Watch vs Garmin: Watch Lineup
The Apple Watch is without doubt one of the hottest smartwatches available on the market. Apple’s wearables observe your exercises, help you use third-party apps, and have massive, clear shows.
Plus, this could be one thing you’re extra all in favour of if you happen to’ve already invested within the Apple ecosystem. So let’s check out their present lineup:
Apple Watch Lineup
- Apple Watch Collection 8: The Collection 8 is Apple’s newest wearable, launched in fall of 2022. It has the identical high-quality construct and design because the Collection 7 but additionally has crash detection and superior well being sensors. That is additionally the primary Apple Watch to characteristic menstrual cycle monitoring for ladies based mostly on physique temperature measurements.
- Apple Watch Collection 7: Though the Apple Watch Collection 7 didn’t considerably enhance upon the Collection 6, it did introduce a bigger show and elevated sturdiness. Nevertheless, its efficiency and battery life stay unchanged from the earlier model.
- Apple Watch SE 2: The corporate additionally launched the Apple Watch SE 2 within the fall of 2022 together with the Collection 8, and that is the second era of its price range watch lineup. This gadget improves upon the performance of the Apple Watch SE by incorporating a more recent CPU and a mode that’s useful when the battery is low. It’s a superb price range smartwatch however lacks the extra refined sensors just like the SpO2 and ECG screens.
- Apple Watch Extremely: Apple’s preliminary push into the journey market is the Apple Watch Extremely, a much more costly watch which priced at $799. The Apple Watch Extremely has the longest battery life within the lineup, together with particular options for athletes and outside fans. Plus it boasts the biggest and most sturdy show of the lot.
Apple Watches don’t endure vital modifications over time, so the variations between every collection are minimal. The one exception is the Apple Watch Extremely, which is designed for a really sort of buyer.
Then again, Garmin affords all kinds of sports activities watches, from AMOLED-equipped smartwatches to multisport health watches with an emphasis on battery life. Let’s look extra into a few of the foremost Garmin watches for runners:
Garmin Lineup
- Garmin Venu 2 Plus: The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is a sophisticated smartwatch. It expands on the earlier Venu 2’s health and well being monitoring capabilities, including on-wrist cellphone calls and voice assistant performance. It additionally has a lovely AMOLED show, on-device music storage, and assist for an growing variety of third-party apps.
- Garmin Venu Sq 2: The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a wonderful possibility if the Garmin Venu line appeals to you however you’re on the lookout for one thing rather less costly. This new model of the Venu Sq is a price range, square-shaped smartwatch with a brilliant AMOLED display, correct coronary heart price monitoring and GPS, and a long-lasting battery. You even have the choice of going with the Music model if you wish to take heed to music out of your wrist.
- Garmin Forerunner: The Garmin Forerunner collection is without doubt one of the greatest selections for runners. This collection has one thing for each runner, from budget-friendly gadgets just like the Forerunner 55 to all-in-one gadgets just like the Forerunner 955.
- Garmin Fenix 7 collection: The Fenix 7 collection from Garmin is one of the best multisport smartwatch cash can purchase. These premium watches are meant for devoted athletes who spend most of their time coaching Plus, it’s even obtainable in photo voltaic fashions.
As you may see, there are a lot of totally different choices in the case of each Apple Watch and Garmin, so let’s break down the options extra so to discover the one which’s best for you.
Apple Watch vs Garmin Function Comparability
Even essentially the most fundamental of health trackers at the moment embrace the identical options equivalent to coronary heart price monitor, tempo, distance, calorie monitoring, and lap operate.
The place these two differ is within the high quality of the expertise that’s centered in your health.
Beginning at $399 for the most recent Apple Watch price is on par with many upper-end GPS watches, in order that’s the place nearly all of the characteristic comparability will focus.
Beforehand you might get the Apple Watch Collection 3 for $199, which is equal to or simply above the entry-level Garmin 55. However as of 2023, it’s presently not obtainable on Apple’s web site.
So if you happen to occur to come back throughout it and need an entry-level Apple Watch, you may positively test it out. An alternative choice is the Apple Watch SE2 which begins at $249 and could be purchased from Apple instantly.
Whereas I are likely to encourage our runners to get a Garmin, operating coach Nick Klastava (a brilliant quick marathon runner himself) says he typically goes out in his Apple Watch. He’s additionally not as Sort A as a whole lot of us :).
He agrees it’s more durable to get splits and a few knowledge, however offers you the fundamentals on all these straightforward runs.
I’ve carried out a full Apple Extremely Overview individually. I’ll point out it beneath, however it’s the one Apple with a superb GPS sign, nonetheless it’s a lot pricier.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Exercise and Health Monitoring (Winner – Apple)
Apple and Garmin have two of one of the best wearable platforms in the case of well being. Whatever the gadget you choose, it is possible for you to to trace numerous metrics and use a number of sorts of exercise profiles.
The entire most up-to-date fashions of Apple Watches and Garmin watches have the potential to observe a person’s steps, distance traveled, energetic and resting energy burned, flooring climbed and elevation, depth and energetic minutes, resting and energetic coronary heart price, blood oxygen saturation, coronary heart price variability (HRV), VO2 max, sleep monitoring , and stress ranges.
Each platforms even have options which might be distinctive to them. ECG screens are constructed into Apple Watches starting with Collection 4. Apple additionally has a characteristic referred to as AFib Historical past that lets customers see what their coronary heart charges have been doing over an extended time period.
Apple additionally has a characteristic referred to as Cardio Restoration, which can be utilized together with the Well being app in your smartphone to measure your restoration time and progress after actions like strolling, operating, or mountain climbing.
In the intervening time, solely the Garmin Venu 2 Plus helps ECG recordings. Most Garmin gadgets can observe your Physique Battery, or how a lot vitality you’ve gotten left based mostly on how energetic you’ve been, your coronary heart price variability (HRV), your stress ranges, and sleeping patterns. This helps folks, particularly athletes, plan when to coach and when to relaxation.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Coronary heart Charge Monitoring (Winner – Garmin)
Lately, most GPS watches include both strap-based or wrist-based optical coronary heart price screens.
Optical coronary heart price screens are recognized to supply inaccurate outcomes because of recording random actions (which is why I truly switched to the upgraded wrist based mostly HR monitoring with the Polar GPS watches).
As I discussed above, each techniques monitor your resting coronary heart price in the course of the day and night time in addition to file your energetic coronary heart price as you train. Nearly all of wearables can simply monitor resting coronary heart price, so neither platform stands out on this regard.
Each platforms will warn you in case your coronary heart price readings throughout inactivity are abnormally excessive or low. Each the Apple Watch and the Garmin gadgets will observe your coronary heart price zones, in addition to your common and most coronary heart price, whilst you train.
The Apple Health program additionally supplies a coronary heart price restoration graph after you’ve gotten accomplished your exercise.
With that being stated, having talked with many runners who use Apple’s HR they discover it’s fairly good at relaxation, however not terribly dependable on the run.
I had points with the Apple Watch dropping out mid-run, whereas a Garmin could merely have moments the place it spikes.
And if you happen to’re questioning if Apple’s greatest look ahead to operating (aka Apple Watch Extremely) carried out any higher on it, then sadly the reply to that’s no.
On roughly 80% of my runs, the HR would merely drop a number of miles in after which pop up once more a while later. That is very irritating, and it wasn’t only a drawback with the display, as a result of whereas testing after I seemed on the HR knowledge from the run later, there have been large gaps.
Luckily, you may pair all these watches with a chest strap, which is one of the best methodology to acquire correct readings anyway.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Way of life Monitoring (Winner – Apple)
Each manufacturers observe wellness-related knowledge like sleep metrics and coronary heart price all through the day.
Nevertheless, Apple actually focuses on being one of the best smartwatch, so you are able to do A LOT extra from the watch like responding to the textual content messages you obtain.
Apple is de facto pushing that they’ve added two new options:
- Blood oxygen readings – principally can inform in case you are getting sick
- Electrocardiogram readings – look ahead to coronary heart rhythm irregularities
Pulse Ox is out there in upper-end Garmin watches as nicely. I’ll be sincere, it’s a characteristic that not often will get used until you’ve gotten a selected well being difficulty or are at altitude.
Apparently, Apple Watch Collection 8 and Apple Watch Extremely each now even have menstrual cycle monitoring based mostly on physique temperature readings that these watches are able to. In order that’s one other factor that Apple has added to its lineup to compete with firms like Garmin.
What About Music Administration on Garmin vs Apple Watch?
Apple and Garmin watches make it straightforward to sync your Spotify playlist (not all Garmin fashions, however most.)
Or each watches will help you begin, cease, and skip songs which might be enjoying in your cellphone from the watch. That is my private desire to not take up area on the watch, however it’s additionally a profit to have the ability to load a number of songs in your Apple Watch from Apple for these instances when chances are you’ll lack a superb connection.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Sleep Monitoring (Winner – Garmin)
By way of sleep, Apple and Garmin each present distinctive methods to sleep monitoring. Previously, Apple’s sleep monitoring was fairly fundamental compared to different sleep trackers available on the market.
However with the discharge of watchOS 9, Apple now offers customers extra data on their wrists, such because the levels of their sleep.
Then again, Garmin watches are already among the many most dependable and exact sleep trackers that are actually obtainable. They observe how lengthy you sleep, how typically you get up, and what levels of sleep you undergo, after which provide you with a rating within the morning that displays how nicely you slept.
You may get a few of these options with Apple’s watch with third-party apps.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: GPS Accuracy (Winner – Garmin)
For me that is the largest Apple Watch Vs Garmin factor that issues.
By way of which watchmaker reigns in monitoring, the Garmin goes to win based mostly on the extreme focus they’ve had on GPS for years. In addition they makes use of a number of satellites, which suggests extra accuracy (GPS, Galileo and GLONASS).
Whereas the Apple Watch 8 collection is way extra correct than earlier variations, many people nonetheless discover it not as correct as Garmin and as an extended distance runner that issues!
Think about doing a ten mile to search out out you truly solely ran 9.5 otherwise you ran 11! I’ve had this occur to plenty of runners in our group, who discovered the Apple Watches simply by no means managed to be fully correct or constant.
**The one exception to that is the Apple Extremely, which makes use of extra satellites and a few extra software program to assist make sure you’re getting higher GPS even in downtown areas. So it’s truly extra correct than Garmin.
The thought is that if you happen to blip out, it is going to nonetheless understand how far you’ve gone as a result of it is going to consider your stride, tempo, and many others.
Learn extra concerning the settings activate to make it work in my full information to Apple Watch Extremely for runners since that’s truly not a characteristic that’s on by default out of the field! The factor to remember is that you just’ll need to pay much more for the Extremely to get a characteristic that’s obtainable on most Garmin watches for round $500 much less.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Show (Winner – Garmin)
Each Garmin and Apple watches have a superb clear show with a strong watch face that shouldn’t scratch or crack more often than not.
However the Apple watch solely offers 10 potential fields of knowledge to show, whereas even essentially the most fundamental Garmin has 27 fields and upgraded fashions have twice that.
The screens on the Garmin could be modified through the Garmin Join app, which features a ton of different add-ons as nicely.
- For me the display customization is big.
- I want to simply see my HR, my present tempo, distance, and many others.
- Perhaps all you actually wish to know proper now’s how far and how briskly, which the Apple will present.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Watch Match (Winner – Tie)
One other necessary comparability round display dimension is how the watches match. The Apple Watch works nicely on small wrists, which is one motive many are likely to veer away from conventional GPS watches.
Nevertheless, Garmin affords an S collection in lots of fashions, which is smaller and designed to suit a smaller wrist whereas having all the identical options of the mannequin as the unique.
Moreover, the Garmin Fenix and Venu are designed to be that nicer-looking watch you may put on all day lengthy.
In the case of Apple Watch Extremely, it’s necessary to notice that it solely is available in one dimension and it’s beefier than your commonplace Apple Watch. However I personally discovered no points with the match, due to the velcro strap. However sure, it does look noticeably larger on smaller wrists like mine.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Alerts (Winner – Apple)
The most recent Apple Watch has audio alerts which might come via your headphones to replace you on tempo, distance or in case you are forward of a aim tempo you set. This isn’t the ding {that a} Garmin does, however precise audio offering you an replace with particular numbers.
Whereas all of the Garmin fashions can ding or vibrate with every mile, solely the Fenix 6 and above presently have audio prompts. Some people desire to have that audio in order that they aren’t checking their watch.
- All Apple and Garmin fashions embrace sensible cellphone notifications
- Apple makes responding to messages from the watch simpler
- Most Garmin and Apple enable for music controls
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Watch Battery Life (Winner – Garmin)
Whereas few runners want a operating watch to final them 24 hours with all options turned on, you’re extra more likely to have that occur with the Garmin.
The most recent Apple Watch can run with you as much as 6 hours on a full cost, essentially the most fundamental Garmin goes 20 hours.
So if you happen to’re pushing for that first 5 plus hour marathon it received’t lower it between the time attending to the beginning, and many others. The one exception to that is the Apple watch extremely which might last as long as 36 hours on commonplace smartwatch mode and 12 hours on GPS mode.
However the truth of the matter is that despite the fact that the Extremely is best, its battery life continues to be horrible in comparison with that of many Garmin gadgets. If you would like a watch that you should use with out worrying about battery life, get a Garmin.
In day by day utilization mode, even essentially the most fundamental Garmin goes as much as 7 days and higher fashions as much as 14 days between fees. That’s fairly a major distinction whenever you examine it to only about any Apple watch mannequin that’s presently obtainable.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Mapping and Navigation (Winner – Garmin)
For these operating new routes or who generally tend to get rotated throughout a run, the navigational options on Garmin watches will be sure to keep on the right track and return dwelling safely.
In case you don’t thoughts taking a look at a map on a tiny display, the Garmin Fenix collection contains coloration topographic mapping capabilities.
You are able to do navigation through Google Maps in your Apple Watch, however it’s probably not designed to work together with your operating exercise.
Garmin gadgets additionally characteristic extra buttons for navigation than Apple Watches. Many Garmin customers take into account this to be a serious benefit of the platform’s watches.
If you end up sweaty or carrying gloves, it may be actually tough to make use of a contact display. Apple has tried to handle this difficulty by including an Motion button to their Apple Watch Extremely, which is the one watch that has this characteristic. Nevertheless, general, it’s nonetheless missing when in comparison with Garmin.
Garmin vs Apple Watch: Information Administration and Apps (Winner – Tie)
Garmin makes use of a program referred to as Join, and customers appear to like the extra capabilities like the flexibility to create exercises, construct programs, and problem mates to competitions.
There are a ton of apps for the Apple Watch that help you sync with totally different applications, discover exercises, and many others.Together with their new Apple Health+ which is free for 3 months, and supplies new exercises every week.
An attention-grabbing new replace for the Apple Watches is that the discharge of the 9.0 software program for any Apple Watch 6 and newer contains the flexibility to create operating exercise on the watch.
Which means as a coach we arrange a 4 x 3 minute exhausting effort with restoration of two minutes and that may be programmed to your Garmin and Apple now.
In case you’re switching between manufacturers, then a third-party app like Strava is one of the best place to maintain your entire knowledge safely in a single place.
For each iPhone and Android customers these apps can be found, although all the things does appear to stream higher from one Apple to a different.
Garmin VS Apple Watch For Operating
Okay we’re ending up the Garmin vs Apple comparability.
Click on any hyperlink beneath to see the watch and extra operate particulars.
Finances Operating Watches
✅ Garmin Forerunner 55 ($200)
That is now what’s thought-about an entry stage operating watch and it has EVERYTHING together with sensible watch options. You may go extra fundamental with the Garmin 25, however it’s not nicely supported now. So with the 55 you’ll get:
- wrist based mostly HR
- sleep monitoring, step monitoring
- GPS options
- Sensible cellphone notifications
- Security options for fall detection and notification
- VO2 Max
It’s an excellent worth after I assume I paid this worth for my first Garmin that would solely observe how far I ran!
Apple 3 Collection ($159)
That is their most simple mannequin of Apple Watch that features the mandatory GPS options. Nevertheless it has a a lot shorter battery life than the Garmin and would require day by day charging to make sure it’s able to run when you find yourself.
In truth, I can’t fairly work out how you’d use it to run and observe sleep, until you took it off to cost earlier than going to mattress?!
It does embrace:
- HR sensor continues to be first era so much less correct
- GPS
- sleep monitoring, step monitoring, Apple Pay
- sensible cellphone notifications – can reply from watch with textual content or microphone
- water-proof for swimming
- Has SOS notification, however not fall detection
Mid Vary Smartwatches
I don’t typically advocate the Garmin Venu, however if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing that feels just like an Apple Watch I believe this can be a good possibility.
Garmin Venu Sq ($149)
There are a number of fashions of the Venu, right here we’re wanting on the smallest dimension with NO premium options to check it to the SE.
- The one sq. Garmin, making it look extra like an Apple Watch
- Way of life monitoring for sleep, steps, HR, stress, hydration, ladies’s well being
- Pay from watch with Garmin Pay, sensible cellphone notifications, pulse oximeter
- Pre-loaded exercises, Garmin Coach to information runs
Apple Watch SE ($279)
Famous price doesn’t embrace mobile, which makes all Apple Watches price extra.
The SE incorporates a number of upgrades from the Apple 3 Collection:
- Bigger show with retina recognition
- Consists of incident detection (falls will set off an alert)
- Watch performs about twice as quick
- Actual time elevation all the time supplied
Excessive Finish Operating Watches
Now we’re going to have a look at the newest fashions from each manufacturers. At this level you’ve determined you need all of the issues and each act as nice sensible watches, however once more with a unique focus.
Right here Garmin is now centered on EVERY bit of knowledge round your health, whereas Apple continues to be centered on options to your way of life.
✅Garmin Fenix ($500+)
Garmin’s premier sport watch, the Fenix collection does just about something you need, however is usually the wanted watch as a result of it has an on a regular basis look.
Let’s be sincere, white/rose gold look principally satisfied me I want the Garmin Fenix 6s (the S model is made smaller for a girl’s wrist too)!
This watch is for the athlete who desires their watch to only know what they’re doing.
It’s going to have each bell and whistle we’ve mentioned beforehand, plus the elements are upgraded.
The Fenix can inform the distinction if you happen to’re operating indoors vs exterior vs on the highway or path. It is aware of if you happen to’re in a pool or swimming in open water. It could possibly even provide you with an correct climate forecast through Bluetooth.
Proper now you will get the Fenix 5s at an enormous low cost as a result of they’re rolling out the brand new Fenix 6 collection.
See my full overview of the Garmin Fenix 5S.
Apple Watch 8 Collection ($399)
Apple Watch Collection 8 combines all of the options from the earlier collection 7 and provides solely a few new issues. What you’ll discover right here is that the watch didn’t abruptly add extra health options.
It doesn’t have practically the identical battery life, it has no maps or modifications to the show or entry to all three various kinds of satellites for extra correct GPS.
So, you’ll principally be getting all the options from the earlier Collection 7 and the present SE2. Nevertheless, the one large notable well being monitoring characteristic that’s included in collection 8 is temperature sensors for menstrual cycle monitoring for ladies.
The opposite characteristic that’s distinctive to Collection 8 and wasn’t in Collection 7 or presently within the price range SE2 is crash detection. Within the occasion of a crash, Crash Detection can immediately join you with emergency providers, give dispatchers your location, and alert your emergency contacts.
Once more, all of this boils all the way down to what options matter to you. Perhaps you’ll by no means be on the paths, on the lookout for a breadcrumb path that will help you again.
Otherwise you don’t care in case your watch finishes .2 miles off of your complete in a single path or one other.
Hopefully, this Apple Watch vs Garmin breakdown offers you some concepts about how each work and which could be greatest to your coaching.
Apple Extremely ($799)
This watch has a lot of the similar options because the 8 due to the OS 9 software program. What units it aside is a bit more deal with health and GPS enchancment.
I linked the above to the complete overview. By way of Apple watches for operating, it’s the one one I like to recommend because of the higher GPS. Nevertheless it’s bigger and fairly a bit costlier.
What’s the Finest Apple Look ahead to Operating?
In the case of operating with an Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Extremely is your greatest guess.
As I discussed above, it’s the one Apple Watch mannequin that now connects to a number of satellites through dual-frequency GPS they usually’ve now additionally added expertise to help with monitoring via tall buildings for higher accuracy. The thought is that if you happen to blip out, it takes into consideration your stride, tempo, and many others, and might nonetheless appropriately map your distance.
It’s additionally essentially the most sturdy watch within the Apple lineup with one of the best battery life that Apple has provided up to now. However understand that the newest software program improve to 9.0 for all Apple Watch fashions over 6 offers you a lot of the options of this watch.
So now all of it comes down as to if you worth the battery life and GPS accuracy in your watch (personally, I believe you must). If that’s the case, then the Apple Watch Extremely is unquestionably one of the best Apple look ahead to runners. However if you happen to’re okay with paying much less for the same Apple watch that lacks these capabilities, then go for the Collection 8 as a substitute.
Total, Apple Watch Extremely is unquestionably one of the best Apple Look ahead to runners. It comes at a better worth level, however it’s price it for severe athletes who want essentially the most correct readings doable whereas staying within the Apple ecosystem.
On the lookout for extra evaluations to search out one of the best issues for you run?
Checkout our full web page of my should have operating gear evaluations and guides to save lots of you time looking out and cash! I share what’s labored for me and fellow runners, together with what wasn’t well worth the price ticket.
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