Apple Watch vs Garmin After 1 Year: I Was Wrong!

[@PeteMatheson]

What' are your reasons for switching to a Garmin watch?

[@cbenson513]

Apple is far behind Garmin in workout and training metrics, support for connected devices, and battery life. I have an Apple Watch, it's great for managing messages, and email without needing to pull out my phone, that's about it.

[@TheZlotkus]

My main reason is the battery and the looks. I really like the app also. Just a note: you can set challenges and check on your friends on garmin, you can set steps challenges etc. Also they recently added some kind of a Garmin communicator, but since it is not for my I haven't checked that one.

[@JorgeCastilloArg]

I'm a Forerunner 965 user and I love it. My VO2 max recorded by the watch and the one from the lab got a 0.1 difference. And the battery life is unmatched, today, for instance, I went for a short one hour bike ride with 11% battery remaining, I shared HR data to my bike computer, came back home and it's still at 9% and I know it could last a couple more days if needed.

[@jacquardweave]

As an Apple guy (I have iphones, apple tv, macbook, airpods) i can clearly say that Garmin is ahead of Apple a light year; especially in terms of health tracking, battery life and overall build quality. I’ve used several Garmin watches, also tried Apple Watch in the past and now have an Epix Pro 51 mm. First of all, all apple watch models are calculator shaped and they look like a calculator or 80’s Casio watches, which is awful. Yes, Apple has better OHR but it’s pointless because it’s not always on, only takes samples approx. every 10 min. You sell a watch with an Ultra tag but it’s battery life barely hits 2 days. I’ve really forgotten when i charged my Epix Pro last, i charge it once a month. Everyone criticize Garmin’s sleep tracking but it works like a charm for me. Continous stress tracking, HRV tracking, continous HR recording, Body Battery; those are all incredible and where Apple fails.

[@ethanpenn5]

Garmin are amazing! The battery life, the community, the warranty, and the fact that they aren’t algorithmic addiction machines like the Apple Watch are all huge reasons to get one! It’s a shame they’re so gimped on iOS compared to Android, but that’s Apple’s typical behavior…

[@mikehellinger1]

I have a Forerunner 955 and a Series 9 AW. As an iPhone user, only reasons to get a Garmin imo are battery, buttons, slightly better GPS tracking, and circular form factor. AW has better sensors (heart rate, sleep tracking), better notification control, better third party app access, better accessories, remote control of your music, TVs, phone camera etc, and Apple Pay is a dream….Garmin Pay is useless here in Canada as they don’t work with any major bank or credit union. And for fitness, you still get VO2 max, blood ox, training load in Apple Health. For fitness tracking they’re very comparable (with Garmin it’s all built in but Apple has the App Store so you can get what you don’t have). If you’re an athlete who needs to track 30+ hour runs then a Garmin or Coros is a no brainer. The battery life is a game changer. But honestly charging the AW is no biggie if you’re on a schedule. I use mine for sleep tracking so I slap it on the charger for 20 mins every morning while I have my coffee and it tops up.

[@bryans8656]

Totally agree about the charging, it just isn't an issue for me. I charge my AW every other day.

[@grogu360]

I have the AW Ultra, series 10 and Fenix 7 Solar. My favorite is the series 10 because of the comfort. It’s almost the weight of a whoop band which is crazy.

[@nicowernli]

@@mikehellinger1 I can't agree that aw sensors are better (they are just not). Also apple's algorithms are far from been accurate, specially the vo2 max estimation. Apple has a lot of work to do related to fitness, and it's something they'll probably never do as they rely on the apple store. Again I think it's a better smartwatch but not a great fitness tracker. And personally I stopped using the aw8 because I felt I was using one of my sons toys, the design is terrible

@@nicowernli While I agree Apple needs to step up its fitness game, its sensors are probably the best in the industry. The Quantified Scientist's KZbin channel has great comparison (even though he's n=1)

[@nicowernli]

Yeah exactly, might be the best HR sensors on his skin only but they literally not better than any other watch

[@ubergaard]

Have always used an IPhone. Tried an AW ultra 2. Within a month, I understood that I didn't use my watch as a smartwatch. It's a timekeeping tool that tracks my workouts and runs/rides.. And in that regard, the Garmin does it far better! Who really sleeps with a huge lump on their wrist?? Who wants to?🤷‍♂️ Sold the AW Ultra and got a F955 solar.

[@VernL4]

You yourself said it - "Garmin just works". Yep. I don't care if the Garmin is not as pretty. Functionality and dependability are much more important to me. My Fenix 7 Solar has at least 30 features that the AW "Ultra" does not have.

[@patricklachance6880]

The Garmin watches do have crash detection and subsequent notifications to your specified contacts built in. Maybe you haven't configured them in the Connect app?

[@rcheas4894]

I agree, I bought a Garmin 6 sapphire and sold off my Apple Watch. The Garmin does everything I want and none of the other nonsense that a computer on my wrist would do. Plus I don’t have to charge it every day.

[@bryans8656]

I've had the 45mm Series 9 Apple watch, non-cell, for over a year now and I really like it. It was affordable, and it fits nicely in my Apple ecosystem.

[@nicowernli]

I think the big mistake that many people makes is thinking on Garmin watches as Smartwatches, they are just not. Garmin builds the best fitness trackers which are not really good as smartwatches. Same happens when people expects Apple Watch as a good fitness tracker which is not, it is a good smartwatch but not a good fitness tracker.

[@AleksiJärvinen69]

I've been using the Garmin Venu 3 for little over a month now, and I am really enjoying the long battery life, amazing health tracking/data, and fact that the watch is smart enough to be a great smartwatch, but not smart enough to be an extension of my phone. I value the fact the watch is not connected to my phone all of the time, and provides some separation from smart devices.

[@cotneit]

I find flashlight on Fenix 7 to be super useful

[@LaitoChen]

I've got the forerunner 945. I didn't see battery issues for the first 4 years. Used to last 2 weeks on a single charge and with daily runs. Now I get about a week. The apple watch isn't a fitness watch. You need physical buttons when sweating, jumping, cycling or doing water sports. Touchscreen is too finicky.

[@peglor]

You forgot to mention how annoying using the knob on the Apple watch is if you wear your watch on your right wrist. Garmins are easy to use on either wrist. As for why I switched to a Garmin watch, it's because Casio are unable to make watches with durable cases and straps (I have 2 Casios that still work perfectly from an electronic point of view, sitting at home because on both of them the case has cracked where the pins to hold the straps on attach - one is solar powered, so it will probably run till 2049 when the built in calendar runs out, the other has been running at least 15 years on the original battery so far). Apple never made it anywhere near my short list because as a company they've spearheaded every anti-consumer, anti-repair trend over the past 20 years, which other manufacturers have copied, which as a result has made owning and especially repairing or customising any electronic device a nightmare. I used an iphone for work for a few years and it was awful compared to my cheap Android phone, specifically because Apple removed functionality from the third party keyboard apps to make the Apple keyboard the least awful option, but it was still awful compared to what I was used to on Android - and I actually put time into learning how to use the hidden features on the Apple keyboard, without them it would be even worse.

[@ChrisBranch]

I was recently upgrading my watch and was looking at Coros, but it was the integration with Vitality that kept me with Garmin! Ended up getting the Fenix 7x and I’m very happy with it ☺️

[@etiennesharp]

I'm still rocking the Garmin Vivoactive 4 after four years. It does all the health stuff, gives me notifications and controls my tunes. That's really all I need.

[@myfakeguuglaccount8307]

My daughter switched from AW to Garmin for health tracking, and hasn't looked back.

[@darren6028]

Indoor training will mess with the VO2Max, it requires outdoor training with GPS data to work correctly. It wont be bang on, but it will get close after more outdoor training.

[@jamesmcguire3008]

You can do heaps of challenges in the Garmin app and also add friends and compete with them

[@Timewastedonyt]

Happy New Year Pete

[@Gurenn83]

The battery life on Garmin smartwatches are just epic gold. It lasts several days on a single charge.

[@rcheas4894]

My issue is battery life on the Apple Watch. My Garmin goes a week per battery charge.

[@Tillsynsmannen]

That's definitely a drawback, however I've found routines that work. E.g. charge it while showering, if you don't wear it through the night just charge it while sleeping...

[@kdlusmc]

I think it’s unfair to judge a non Apple product on smartwatch features based Apple’s locked down infrastructure. Review the fitness features, price, features…. Not the smartwatch features

[@matthewquartermain8291]

VO2 max has been great with my Garmin forerunner tbh. I’m a middle distance runner so mine is about 68-69, which seems fairly accurate.

[@joseramos86]

I think that because he is not doing outdoor runs, his VO2 Max is not accurate. Indoor workouts are not used to calculate for VO2 Max.

[@patricklachance6880]

For the VO2 max to be decently accurate, you need to do cardio regularly for quite a while. Also you need to cover the three different types of cardio that Garmin is looking for.

[@Fionn-Greyship]

What did you mean by 3 different types of cardios? Anaerobic, high aerobic, and low aerobic?

[@patricklachance6880]

@@Fionn-Greyship Yes!

[@EditorHeart]

Pete it's been a while happy new year and thanks for making quality tech content if you hit a 1M Subscribes this year i won't be surprised 🎉😏😉🥁📈🤣🔥📝

[@TrustaBro1914]

I have the Fenix 7x solar sapphire and AWU2 I keep switching back and forth. Here is the thing I don’t use any of the features or apps on the watch. Also the AWU2 software works sometimes. I keep coming back to the garmin watch. I love the health metrics and data. Although i have Athlytics there is a huge delay when reporting information and it’s not the same as garmin.

[@achtungjamie]

Vo2 max only works with outdoor walks, hikes or runs. It needs the GPS to calculate it. I find it frustrating as someone who does a lot of HIIT and kettle bells. It's unfortunately just how it is.

[@peglor]

If you don't run a power meter it also doesn't give decent information for VO2 from mountain biking either - it just assumes the low speed is low fitness rather than higher rolling drag and harder terrain. I'm only assuming a power meter will improve this as I run too many different bikes for it to be anything like worth my while trying to add power meters to even the most used 3. My VO2 figure increased by about 10 while my fitness was actually decreasing, when I injured my neck a few months back and did a bunch of walking instead of cycling for a few weeks.

[@oliverww]

I use both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Garmin 265. While I like the Garmin, one thing that’s consistently a bit of a hassle is the charging cable-it’s not quite user-friendly to me...

[@RMoore-yq2cu]

Happy New Year. How to get an honest review. Right, use the devices 6 months or longer. Then you really get to know all pros and cons. Good video, Pete. I still have an Apple Watch, but done with it. Main reason: its poor battery life. If you use it during workouts, battery drain will be quick. I often have times that I'm wearing a dead watch. So silly. Notifications? Too many. Do you need to be informed by every single app? Anyway, next watch will be Garmin. PS. Grey days in Amsterdam are over. 😉

[@justinbprice]

I upgraded from the Series 5 to the Apple Watch Ultra and the jump in battery life was huge. I can easily wear it for a full 24 hours (overnight for sleep tracking) and still have 50%+ of battery life left. I'll then pop it on the charger while I hit the shower and get dressed and it's nearly back to 100% before I walk out the door. As for notifications, those can easily be deactivated with a few taps in the watch app 😉

[@DNGMaestro]

This was a not so subtle Garmin ad.

[@toshitominaga3911]

@@DNGMaestro don’t sense that. Seems pretty sincere.

[@doncoddington3246]

what WATCH FACE is that on the garmin at 16:12 into the video? THANKS!

[@ryuhayabusa9]

@@doncoddington3246 if I'm correct, it is called Glance watch face

[@PeteMatheson]

I can’t recall the name but it’s a free face from the store!

[@ryuhayabusa9]

Hmmm somehow I don't see my reaction... So I'm going to try it again... The watch face is called: Glance watch face

[@alexstruenorth]

2:42 which phone and case is this please?

[@alexstruenorth]

Is it a Samsung?

[@PeteMatheson]

That’s actually a good question! 😂 Looks like the S23/S24?

[@alexstruenorth]

@@PeteMatheson looks perfect size and no dynamic island etc could it be a s24 plus?

[@luistabotelho]

What I was surprised that Garmin doesn't have is built in maps, or at least built in directions, I walk a lot to different things, and would love to get directions while doing that and track it, but I have to pull out my phone for it

[@SebastianGodoyMedel]

The 955/965 has maps

[@murich66]

Excellent review. As someone who has had both the Apple Watch Ultra and now the Garmin Epix Pro 51mm, I totally agree with Pete. My Garmin gives me 31 days of battery life. With heavy GPS use, I get about 2 weeks. Love the Garmin.

[@therasan]

My Fenix 7 has crash detection… as you put in your negatives. Also my VO2max is within the margins.

[@jessewest1333]

Loved your video, but I also love a clean screen. 😂

[@justinbprice]

For those already in the Apple ecosystem, it's a pretty steep climb to consider other watches outside of Apple. In this case, these Garmin watches are just as, or even more, expensive than the highest end Apple Watches while missing out on a number of capabilities such as LTE, messaging, etc! If you don't want distractions while lying in your sauna, simply switch the focus mode! I leave my phone in my gym bag and able to stream unlimited music and podcasts while tracking my health stats while I exercise at the gym. It's just so easy to link to solid apps for music and podcasts its not even funny (and I'm not even using LTE, this is strictly over WiFi without any direct bluetooth connection to my iPhone).

[@Crying-x9z]

Such a difference in vo2 max between the watches and lab is because your HD zones doesn't are settled properly.

[@cjrobo]

Had a pixel watch 1, fell apart on the back. Gone back to heart rate Bluetooth chest strap or arm bands. Linked to phone strava app. I can see these watches are great for people who want to maximise their fitness by monitoring the best days for rest or pushing. Also joggers or wet weather. I only want to know if theres something badly wrong. A once a year check is all I want. If nothing else for me my broken pixel watch history has shown me the importance of getting a HRV, ECG and VO2 max once a year. I may investigate apps that do this with my HR Bluetooth strap. Or get a clip in finger device. I only ride 20 to 35km on the weekend. A phone mounted heart rate strava app does the trick. Monitoring 220 minus age for heart rate. And pop 10,000IU of D3 twice a week to compensate for too much indoor office stuff. I'm 55.

[@grogu360]

I have the Garmin Fenix 7 Solar. I like the battery life. But the app UI is ridiculously bad after the recent update and kills the whole user experience for me.

[@Tillsynsmannen]

I use my Apple Watch for health monitoring, staying productive, and taking advantage of its integration with the Apple ecosystem. The fitness tracking works well, and the GPS and heart rate monitoring are comparable to other smartwatches including Garmin's models. I also find notifications and Apple Pay very convenient. At night, I use it for sleep tracking, heart rate analysis, and the discreet alarm provides a perfect way to wake up. If you're using an iPhone, there's no reason to look elsewhere ;-)

[@Rodol89]

13:32 VO2max was pretty accurate for me when i was running outside In the summer but now in Winter it is degrading since it is only able to measue vo2 max with GPS ON activity type. I'm doing crossfit and most of the scores are useless for me in Garmin. I feel like this watch is strictly built for runners only. We'll see how my scores will trend when I'll be back to running outside instead of treadmill. With GPS I had 57 vo2 max Now 50 and dropping 😂

[@EricasTouch]

I have also forgotten to unpair a few Apple Watch models from my iPhone before trading in the iPhone lol The struggle is real lol

[@shafnet]

DUUUUUUUDE..... where's the SIM RACING RIG that you promised ? Do I need to subscribe for that ? 🙃

[@PeteMatheson]

Haha! It’s coming man! Been a mad busy few months!

[@rc51bigdaddy]

I am on my 2nd Ultra 2 and it is the most capable and frustrating watch I have ever owned. This is simply because when I use the Workout app for a run and have the elevation displayed, it randomly drops out and instead of the elevation I get --ELEV. I have spent two hours with tech support. They sent me a replacement watch which had the same problem. No issues with two Garmin watches, one Coros watch, and my wife's Apple Watch 9. So far Apple have not resolved my problem and don't seem to be responding anymore. I really want to use the Ultra 2 with cellular so I can leave my phone at home, but now I leave my $800 "Ultra" watch at home and use a Garmin or Coros watch for running and have to carry my phone with me. For everything else the Ultra 2 is what I use. Overall it is a great watch with the one elevation dropout problem that is super frustrating. For interval workouts I also use my Garmin Forerunner 945 because the buttons are so much easier to use. Is there any other brand of smart watch out there with cellular?

[@Skyvirun]

15:17 DAM, I can barely run a 5K with just a phone in my hand comfortably lol

[@DNGMaestro]

Is Garmin Marq’s absurd price justified by anything valid?

[@jaym5938]

You review *free* items that are quite expensive. In the U.S. you'd have to pay Self Employment tax on these items, over $600 combined. Is it the same in the UK?

[@eduardodfj]

It's interesting to see how, even though you mention that "Garmin just works", you describe a very typical Garmin glitch. And that is my experience with Garmin, after having owned a Fenix and an Edge bike computer. It works... Until it doesn't... For no reason. Garmin software is incredibly unreliable, and bugs widely reported stay for years. My Garmin watch had an HR sensor that was totally inacurate in cold weather, something that apparently was the case on that particular model (Fenix 5). I bought an Apple Watch and never looked back. For any single feature a Garmin might have, there's an app in the AW ecosystem that covers it. Athlytic is a prime example, giving you information and insight that is way ahead of Garmin. And the "smart" features make it even more useful. As of 2025, I just don't get how it is possible that Garmin has no LTE watch, or why Garmin Pay is so cumbersome to use and is so restricted to a tiny number of banks.

[@bigmaxcc]

Still got my trusty enduro 2 left hand AWU 2 black titanium right 😎best both worlds

[@petercapa6126]

How many runs did you do with both watches?

[@PeteMatheson]

I’ve done quite a few over the years! 20+ or so? Plus plenty of outdoor walks

[@petercapa6126]

@ interesting, logically the watch only gives an estimate vo2max but such a big difference is strange 🤔

[@willemhaifetz-chen1588]

Vitality looks very bad deal to me. Give them all your data, pay them and then get discounts for things you do not need.

[@wayne1516]

Can you share the metrics for sleep? I know its voodoo science but I still like looking at it. For me Apple barely registers any deep sleep whereas Garmin feels much more accurate.

[@PeteMatheson]

Honestly I find them fairly similar between both. I have an Eight Sleep though so I usually just stick with that. Sometimes I wear both watches, sometimes it’s just a smart ring!

[@peglor]

The downside for sleep monitoring on the Apple watch is the battery life being so low that to make it through the next day, many watch owners have to charge them while they sleep every night.

[@r6201sk]

Still on Fenix 3 HR .. no real reason to change outside of wanting change. Apple watch just dont have battery life for my normal usage habit. I tried Huawei GT4 for a day and they were fine just looked small on me and except ability to take calls with them they didnt offer much functionality.

[@sigarner01]

that Garmin non-OLED screen looks so poor, maybe it’s just the camera causing it. Think I’ll stick to my AWU

[@andrei.ungureanu]

They have models with OLED, like Garmin Epix Looks gorgeous in reality.

[@sigarner01]

@ I know I just meant the one in the video

[@krishind99]

I disagree with you on Siri. It’s much much better. Not sure which Siri you are talking about. Especially on 18.2, I love it. However, I prefer Android more and hence struck with Google Assistant on S24 Ultra. Don’t get me started on Gemini. It’s 100% useless on phone. Whatever it does is terrible and slow Love Garmin, except for the price. It’s very expensive

[@PeteMatheson]

😂 I’d like to think Gemini will improve faster than Siri will - here’s hoping!

[@BIG1TOWER]

The Garmin watch is just a better watch in my opinion. After getting a Garmin i will never buy another Apple Watch.

[@DaddyMaverik]

Coros >>> garmin

[@shaymtbrider7244]

Apple watch suck if you are out door person .

[@ubergaard]

Have always used an IPhone. Tried an AW ultra 2. Within a month, I understood that I didn't use my watch as a smartwatch. It's a timekeeping tool that tracks my workouts and runs/rides.. And in that regard, the Garmin does it far better! Who really sleeps with a huge lump on their wrist?? Who wants to?🤷‍♂️ Sold the AW Ultra and got a F955 solar.