How To Pick A GPS Watch In 2023

How To Pick A GPS Watch In 2023.
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[@VernL4]

As far as customer service go, I will share my experiences. I've called Apple too many times to remember. Those calls generally ended with no resolution to my problem (many times they would not even acknowledge that my problem existed) and I felt like Apple was just giving me the middle finger. Garmin on the other hand has been excellent. They replaced a watch even though it was out of warranty by about a month. I have submitted a feature request to Garmin and it was added to the website about a month later! When I have had to contact Garmin, they have been very pleasant to deal with.

[@mlegrand]

That is such good feedback. I'd still love to do some of my own testing on customer service and maybe make a video about it but it's really nice to hear your experiences with both of these companies. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@RunnerRemRem]

When it comes to customer service, Garmin is unmatched. By far the best customer service I ever experienced.

[@RallihSarl]

Have you ever experienced Polar, Suunto or Coros?

[@mlegrand]

I think it’d be interesting to call each brand with the same couple of questions and see how they hold up in comparison. 🤔

[@RunnerRemRem]

@@RallihSarl yes I did own a Polar and a Coros. Never had to deal with Polar customer service. Coros had to replace my Vertix due to a battery issue, easy to deal with but more complicated process than with Garmin. Garmin is by far the best.

[@fitgearhunter]

This video! Excellent work, and great topic. And love the new backdrop! Great work

[@mlegrand]

Thanks 🙏 I’m still trying to figure out the backdrop. I kind of miss the bike. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@fitgearhunter]

@@mlegrand I will say the bike was a nice touch. Just exploring creativity or what prompted the change?

[@mlegrand]

@@fitgearhunter - Yeah, just trying the wood paneling because I liked the way it looked. I’ll probably play around with it a bit more over the next few months. 👍

[@fitgearhunter]

@@mlegrand completely. That's a fun project. I want to update mine at some point too - I'll wait to learn from yours!

[@edutoro11]

I just had a bike crash that messed my garmin fenix 6 (poor luck really, not the fault of the watch!).... customer service was EXCELLENT. I now have a new garmin watch on my wrist. I'm not leaving garmin any time soon, by far, the best watches, excellent app (phone and web), unmatched customer service, and pretty pricey devices, but totally worth the investment

[@mlegrand]

That’s fantastic feedback. Thanks for sharing your experience. Also, sorry about the bike crash. Hope you’re ok.

[@edutoro11]

@@mlegrand everything good!!! Thank you, specially since I got my new Garmin!! 🤣

[@adityagupta101]

Matt reviews from the perspective of the user and neve throws tech specs .... Good stuff.

[@mlegrand]

Oh, I'm sure I throw out tech specs. Especially if it's a new watch. I like to weigh each watch myself to compare it to the manufacture's spec sheets. See if they're telling us the truth. Thanks so much for the kind words Aditya!

[@hugoferreira2274]

Great video Matt, good break down. Yeah there's no best option for everyone, only a best option to fit your personal needs. Thank you for the video cheers.

[@mlegrand]

Thanks Hugo!!!

[@RallihSarl]

Good video! It's really important to highlight what you are doing: what are your needs and your likings. One brand don't just beat the other in everything.

[@mlegrand]

So true. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@carlosmobellan9443]

Thanks Matt, excellent video as usual. You’ve done a great job of reviewing a broad range of products in a balanced way. Cheers

[@mlegrand]

Wow, thank you so much for the kind words Carlos!

[@johnmanley4528]

Happy New Year, Matt!

[@mlegrand]

Happy New Year, John! 👏

[@tectonic6724]

Thanks Matt, great video. What would you recommend? Main focuses are health related: HRV/sleep tracking, running and exercise. Would also like a watch with a good aesthetic. Im an Android user. No real budget but not interested in paying subscription fees for things like Whoop/Oura. Cheers

[@mlegrand]

Two things to check out, the Garmin Forerunner 255 is very full features for the price. There’s also the Amazfit watches that are pretty impressive for the budget and I like the way the GTR4 looks. The higher end Epix 2 from Garmin is absolutely stunning. And I’m with you, I can’t stand subscription fees. 😬

[@bonn1771]

great video Matt my garmin customer service was amazing,, after i went thur 3 fenix2... they let me grab a fenix3 for $100... my sister has had mix with polar, after her v800 went she got a v2 but was thinking of switching... i am looking forward to getting back in shape as about to jump on the trainer

[@mlegrand]

Enjoy the trainer ride!!! 👌

[@pavan20100611]

Great video, as always. Happy with FR255 and AW SE. Heard Garmin customer support is brilliant. Apple always directs to website anyway :) Waiting for Enduro 2 review. Have a good one, Matt :)

[@mlegrand]

Thank you Pavan! That 255 is such an impressive value. Hope you’re enjoying it. 👍

[@benchurch7580]

Nice space! Need to see a new, safe TT bike on the wall though.

[@mlegrand]

That’s what I was thinking! 😆

[@westernjohnny]

What might be some example questions you would ask customer support to help you gauge their knowledge level of the product as well as their willingness to help you (ex. maybe a couple questions/issues requiring longer diagnosis/solutions)?

[@mlegrand]

Example question might be something simple like, "can you help me find my previous run on my GPS watch?" Or maybe something slightly more difficult like "I'm having trouble connecting my watch to my bike power meter" I'm just starting to think about ideas. I don't exactly know how I'd come up with a quick gauge of customer support. But it might be an interesting topic to explore. 🤷‍♂️

[@westernjohnny]

I agree, I think it could be interesting to think outside the box of questions they likely have template/scripted responses for to find something that is still a useful gauge. Thanks for your consideration.

[@TheCelticClydesdaleShow]

Well done video, and great topic to tackle. If I were asked what the best GPS watch to get was, I'd probably answer with, "Get the most expensive Garmin you can afford." lol

[@mlegrand]

The Fenix series watches are pretty expensive and pretty impressive so you wouldn’t be wrong. 😆

[@kalvin.]

Garmin is definitely the safe pick, but for me their looks leave some to be desired. I prefer the sleeker Polar, and some of the Coros watch faces are more appealing. I suppose for pure functionality though, it’s hard to go wrong with Garmin.

[@bigkevw8891]

Hey Matt! Loving your videos, it's helping a lot in my search for the perfect watch. What do you recommend for a budget watch with triathlon mode but has the ability for storage/headphone connectivity for music too? I prefer the budget options but am prepared to pay more premium for this! Cheers 🙌

[@mlegrand]

If you really think you'll use the music, I might recommend getting the Garmin Forerunner 955 non-solar. It's pretty expensive at $500 but it's a very full featured watch. It has much more storage than the 255M. If you're not 100% sure about the music, the 255 non music for $350 is an excellent option. If you're more interested in smart watch features. The Apple Watch SE and Series 8 have very capable triathlon features. They're just more geared towards smart watch and less endurance focussed. Keep me posted on how the search goes and if there's anything I can do to help. And let me know what you end up with and how you're liking it. Thanks BigKev!

[@bigkevw8891]

@@mlegrand cheers Matt, I just came back from the store with a Fenix 6X Pro. The music plus the wide range of workout options appealed to me, including snow and golf. Plus I got it for under $600AUD. I feel like the age of it isn't really limiting, and I think I'll get good use out of this for many years! Cheers for your help in your videos, now onto my first Tri next weekend in 14 years 😜

[@limta74]

Currently, I use my Android phone's GPS to track my running pace, and I also utilize the Huawei Band 6 to monitor my heart rate. Recently, I tested my running performance on a 400-meter stadium track with a target distance of approximately 6 kilometers. However, I observed that the Runkeeper app on my Android phone recorded 6 kilometers, while the actual distance covered was 5..82 kilometers-indicating a variance of 180 meters. This discrepancy has led me to consider purchasing a GPS watch. I am curious about how much more accurate a GPS watch would be compared to my current setup..

[@mlegrand]

This is a great question. And the answer isn't super clear. You might get very similar results with a GPS watch but a lot of the newer watches now have a track mode that will lock your GPS track onto a lane specified. This helps GPS devices correct for the compounding effects of GPS errors when running laps around a track. Look for a watch with Track mode and let me know if you need help. 👌

[@limta74]

@@mlegrand I believe the feature you mentioned is the one where GPS watches use software to smooth the GPS points, making the map appear more accurate. I just used the 'Fix GPS' feature in the Runkeeper app. After smoothing the GPS line, the marginal variance became 150 meters instead of the earlier 180 meters. So, I will probably stick to my current running setup, as the difference between GPS watches and GPS on a phone won't be significant. Thank you for the advice.

[@razvanrogers]

Not a big fan of the brand but... Have you considered the Huawei watch gt 2 pro, gt3 or runner? Wondering how they compare as price points are compelling and features lool great

[@mlegrand]

It's a little tricky to get Huawei products here in the US and it's not something I've reviewed. It'd be great to see how it compares. Thanks Razvan!

[@kithinders1086]

I love the intro... WE WANT ONE ANSWER MATT!! Gosh darnit. Fancy Western font. The close ups are really well done! I like them a lot. Would love to know how you do them. Isn't the battery life on the Epix pretty short? WAIT- NIGHT VISION!? I can't wait to hear about the Enduro 2! (but I love my instinct, so it'll be hardpressed to convince me otherwise) I'm stupid- forgive me, how on Earth does a watch produce music? Is it blue tooth pairing to headphones? I know, Grandpa alert. Horay sleep! I would love to compare notes. The charging puck is INCREDIBLE, thank you for the heads up on that design of charger. Sure, it charges the same as anything else, but the interface feels significantly nicer and substantial. I love the personal invitation to help folks at the end and I know you mean it! XOXOXO and Happy New Year buddy

[@mlegrand]

Happy New Year to you too buddy! Epix is about 5-6 days which is good for an AMOLED display. Yes, on bluetooth headphones paired to the watch. Night vision compatible watch. I haven't tested and I don't have night vision goggles. Maybe it changes the display to green. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@scott_strool]

I picked Coros

[@mlegrand]

👌

[@mlegrand]

Keep me posted on how it holds up. I’ve found Coros to be very solid watches for the most part.

[@scott_strool]

@@mlegrand I have had this Apex Pro for almost 2 years and with software updates it keeps getting better and better. I added the Pod2 this year and with the addition of Effort Pace, I can easily track my tempo and interval workouts. The training site has been mostly the same for the last year but it is an excellent resource for an avid runner.

[@mlegrand]

@@scott_strool - Thanks for the feedback Scott!!!

[@sledgehammerlion]

Why on earth doesn't Apple give us a training dashboard? They have all the metrics available at this point but man.. I hate having the Fitness app, the Health app, the Sleep app, etc. There's so much potential because their hardware is serious, but the software is just lagging behind. Garmin's app is just too good. It's got all the metrics and training data there in one view and gives you advice on how to continue with your training. I'm speaking as someone who really wants to stick with their AWU and sell their Epix, but I just can't because there just isn't enough yet to convince me that I can use it to train.

[@mlegrand]

I think the Epix and the AWU are such an interesting comparison. There’s a few similarities but it also really spotlights the difference in history and focus of these two companies. One is more smart watch and the other is more of an endurance sports watch. It looks like Apple is interested but it’s just not there yet. Maybe they’ll come up with the needed ecosystem at some point. I’d be interested. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@sledgehammerlion]

@@mlegrand thanks for replying! I’m very curious to see what Apple might be able to unlock via software updates going forward given the current hardware of the Ultra. We might not see any ANT+ compatibility, but we sure could see some form of training dashboard. Apple definitely has the ability.

[@neletg]

Suunto 5 Peak is now for 150€ on Amazon... Good deal?

[@mlegrand]

Actually I have never tested anything from Suunto. I’ve reached out to them and never heard back. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@clitaiulian4497]

Hi Matt, as always, great video I recently got an Enduro 2 and everything's perfect for now except one thing: for some reason, the flashlight simply stops working at some point late afternoon. This happens every day. My assumption is that it stops working after sleep mode is enabled but will need to confirm this in the following days. I tried everything to make it work the other day, disabled sleep mode, played a bit with all the options there, etc. I initially thought it was a hardware issue but after doing a factory reset, it started working again. So, the only fix for now is to do a factory reset each day which, of course, is extremely annoying for reasons we all know. By the way, the flashlight widget works as expected but the LEDs simply don't turn on. Have you experienced something similar? For the record, I'm on version 10.44 which seems to be the latest stable version. Thanks.

[@mlegrand]

I haven't noticed that but I'll be on the lookout for it. That is a super odd bug. I might reach out to Garmin to see if they're aware of any issues similar to that one. Super odd.

[@clitaiulian4497]

@@mlegrand Thanks a lot for the reply. I’lol also reach out to Garmin but if you do that too that would be awesome 🙏. But yeah, I know, super odd, caught me by surprise quite unexpectedly. I have a hunch that it’s triggered by the sleep mode reminder message but I’ll check that Today.

[@mlegrand]

@@clitaiulian4497 - Let me know what you figure out and I’ll also try to duplicate the bug. 🔦 👌

[@clitaiulian4497]

@@mlegrand Yesterday the problem hasn’t occurred anymore, really really odd, although I’m quite happy about it of course. Now, I need to investigate this further since there are 2 minor things I did differently as far as I recall. But those seem insignificant if you ask me, one was to close the sleep message notification by using the back button without reading the next page (available by pressing the start/stop button), the other thing I did is change the sleep mode watch face. I’ll keep you posted. Have an amazing day Cheers

[@mlegrand]

@@clitaiulian4497 - Keep me updated if you figure anything out. Thanks!

[@ikuturso7570]

Weight! 80g watches, no thank you - max. 60g, preferably sub 50g. Affects general usage and especially things like sleep tracking.

[@mlegrand]

Weight and size. Big bulky watches get knocked around a lot. Thank you Iku!

[@westernjohnny]

I think customer service metrics might be difficult for you to verify directly if the companies you review watches for send you watches to try out for free. Hopefully you are able to figure an objective method for owners of each brand to help you gauge customer service of particular manufacturers in a candid way.

[@mlegrand]

So sometimes manufactures send me watches and sometimes I purchase watches to review. But I was thinking about objective metrics like call wait times and were they able to answer the question. It'd be a hard video to make but I think it'd be interesting.

[@Westcoastwindsurf]

Is Amazfit releasing a new version of T. rex watch?

[@mlegrand]

I have no idea. That be really interesting to see. Currently I'm reviewing their new Falcon watch which is really nice but significantly more expensive. Hope all is well Pavel!

[@Westcoastwindsurf]

@@mlegrand Thanks Matt.

[@vetzaaak]

Yikes, what the hell happened. Just two years ago I bought a brand new Huawei Watch GT for 109€. Stainless steal, HUGE battery life. I figured with the crazy speed at which electronics and software tech improves, I'd easily be able to find an good upgrade, something with slightly better heart rate and gps accuracy as well as better mac and Strava compatibility...Guess I'll have to spend more than 400€ for a stainless steal whatch that ticks all the boxex :/

[@mlegrand]

Hi Noam! Huawei is one company I haven't tested on my channel. If you're looking for mac or apple compatibility, maybe an Apple Watch SE for $250? GPS and HR accuracy is pretty good on that watch.

[@vetzaaak]

@@mlegrand Thanks for the tip! Not a bad suggestion actually. I'd really prefer a round watch though, so I'll probably be looking for somekind of blem/sale discount deal for a Garmin Venu 2. Seems to tick nearly all my boxes, the fact that it's not stainless steel isn't a deal breaker I guess.

[@vpnconsult]

In the current market it's Garmin or nothing.

[@mlegrand]

It's interesting. People tend to have their favorites and what they're comfortable within. A lot of people like Polar's Flow app for example and change is hard. Thank you for watching and taking the extra time to comment. I really appreciate it. 👍

[@E.T_rode_bikes_As_well]

I def need napping, music and netflix from the new watch.

[@mlegrand]

All watches in 2023 should have Netflix. Requirement 🙌 😆