Smartwatches: Apple Watch vs. Garmin for Fitness Tracking

I used to think a smartwatch was just a fancy notification screen on your wrist. Then I tried training for a race with my phone in my pocket, pockets full of sweat, and missed pacing alerts, and I realized: the watch you pick actually changes how you train.

If you care mainly about fitness and health tracking, Garmin is usually better for serious training and data depth, while Apple Watch is better if you want strong fitness features plus a great everyday smartwatch. For runners, cyclists, and triathletes who care about accuracy, battery life, and structured workouts, Garmin often wins. For casual to committed exercisers who also want tight integration with an iPhone, third‑party apps, and a polished experience, Apple Watch often feels like the right choice.

Apple Watch vs. Garmin: What You Are Really Choosing

If you strip away the marketing, you are not just picking “a watch.” You are picking a training partner, a health monitor, and sometimes a tiny phone on your wrist.

Here is the core tradeoff:

• Apple Watch: Best all‑rounder for iPhone users who want fitness tracking plus everyday smartwatch features.
• Garmin: Best choice for focused fitness and outdoor tracking, especially if you care about battery life, GPS, and advanced training metrics.

If your top priority is “train better,” lean toward Garmin. If your top priority is “live better with my phone,” lean toward Apple Watch.

Of course, there are edge cases and grey areas. Some people run marathons with an Apple Watch and love it. Some people wear a Garmin all day, all night, and do not miss any apps. But looking at patterns helps.

To keep it practical, I will walk through the parts that actually affect your day: accuracy, battery life, health, apps, comfort, and budget.

GPS, Heart Rate, and Accuracy: Which One Can You Trust?

If a watch cannot measure your workout correctly, every fancy chart after that is just decoration. So let us start with accuracy.

GPS accuracy: Apple Watch vs. Garmin

Both Apple Watch (especially recent models like Series 9 and Ultra) and modern Garmin watches have strong GPS performance. The difference shows up in edge cases:

• Apple Watch: Very good GPS in open areas and cities, better than older Garmins used to be. Dual‑frequency GPS on Apple Watch Ultra models improves accuracy in cities with tall buildings or tricky signal conditions.
• Garmin: Many mid‑range and high‑end models have multi‑band / dual‑frequency GPS too. Garmins tend to hold lock better in forests, mountains, and during long outdoor sessions.

If you run in a park, around neighborhoods, or on a treadmill most of the time, both are good enough. You might see small distance differences, but nothing mission‑critical.

If you run in dense cities, trail run in forests, hike in mountains, or bike very long routes, Garmin usually has an edge, especially on devices designed for outdoors (Forerunner, Fenix, Epix, Enduro, etc.).

If you never lost GPS signal, you are probably not pushing far enough from your usual routes.

Heart rate accuracy

Optical heart rate on the wrist will never be perfect, no matter what brand you pick. Sweat, tattoos, skin tone, arm hair, temperature, and fit all affect readings.

Here is the general pattern:

• Apple Watch: Very strong at resting and steady‑state efforts. During intervals or sudden sprints, it can lag or spike, but still very usable. Plenty of third‑party tests have rated Apple Watch heart rate among the best wrist sensors.
• Garmin: Newer Elevate sensors (on recent Forerunner, Fenix, Epix, Vivoactive, Venu, etc.) are good as well, closer to Apple Watch than they used to be. They are also designed to work well over long hours, including sleep and multi‑hour endurance efforts.

For serious training, both brands work much better when paired with a Bluetooth or ANT+ chest strap. Garmin supports ANT+ widely. Apple Watch uses Bluetooth only.

So if you plan to use a chest strap regularly, Garmin has broader compatibility, especially with other gear like bike trainers or gym equipment.

Accuracy summary

Metric	Apple Watch	Garmin
GPS (casual use)	Very good	Very good
GPS (trails / mountains / cities with tall buildings)	Good, especially on Ultra models	Often stronger, more models with multi‑band
Wrist heart rate (steady)	Very strong	Strong
Wrist heart rate (intervals)	Good but imperfect	Good but imperfect
External sensors	Bluetooth only	Bluetooth + ANT+

If you are a data geek who trains outside in tough environments, Garmin has a clear pull. If you run mostly in regular conditions and care more about convenience, Apple Watch feels enough, especially with an iPhone.

Battery Life: The Thing That Quietly Changes Your Habits

Battery life sounds like a boring spec. It is not. It changes how you use the watch.

Typical battery life

Rough ballpark numbers (these vary by model, settings, and actual use):

• Apple Watch Series (non‑Ultra): About 1 day of use. Maybe 1.5 days if you limit workouts and screen use. With regular workouts, most users charge daily.
• Apple Watch Ultra: About 2 days of mixed use, more with low‑power settings. Long GPS modes can stretch battery further during long runs or hikes.
• Garmin (Forerunner, Fenix, Epix, etc.): Many models easily last 5 to 10 days in smartwatch mode. GPS usage cuts that, but you still get several full training days on one charge. Some outdoor models with solar can stretch even longer.

So the experience feels very different:

Apple Watch is like a smartphone: charge most nights. Garmin is closer to a regular watch that you charge once or twice a week.

Why battery life matters for fitness

Battery life affects:

• Sleep tracking: If you need to charge your watch at night, you lose sleep data or have to find awkward gaps in your day to charge.
• Long events: Marathons, ultras, long bike rides, or hikes can outlast an Apple Watch, especially with older or non‑Ultra models.
• Consistency: A watch that is dead is a watch that records nothing. Gaps in your logs make training trends less reliable.

Garmin watches are built for endurance. They can record long GPS activities for many hours without anxiety. Apple Watch Ultra narrows this gap for endurance users, but daily charging is still normal.

If you want full 24/7 tracking, from sleep to daily activity to training, Garmin feels lighter on mental load.

Training Features: Who Actually Helps You Improve?

Now the bigger question: which brand does a better job at helping you train smarter?

There is no perfect answer here, but the differences are clear once you live with each for a while.

Garmin: Training‑first design

Garmin has built its brand around athletes and outdoor users. So a lot of its features assume that you care about performance and progression.

Some core Garmin fitness features:

• Structured workouts: You can create complex workouts with intervals, pace targets, heart rate zones, recovery segments, and more. The watch guides you step by step.
• Training load & recovery: Garmin estimates your training load, training status, and suggests recovery time after workouts.
• Daily suggested workouts: Some models recommend specific workouts based on your recent training, fitness level, and recovery.
• Advanced metrics: VO2 max estimates, running dynamics (with external sensors), cycling power support, heat and altitude acclimation on some models, etc.
• Multi‑sport support: Triathlon, duathlon, brick workouts, open water swimming, hiking, trail running, backcountry skiing, and more.

Garmin Connect (the companion app) is not always pretty, but it is deep. If you like charts, trend lines, and training analysis, there is a lot there. Sometimes almost too much.

Apple Watch: Fitness inside a wider lifestyle

Apple Watch is a general smartwatch with strong fitness features, but the focus is balanced:

• Activity rings: Move, Exercise, and Stand rings encourage daily movement and consistency.
• Workout app: Covers running, cycling, HIIT, strength training, yoga, swimming, and more. Offers alerts for pace, heart rate zones, and custom intervals.
• Apple Fitness+: Guided workouts on your phone, tablet, or TV, with real‑time metrics from your watch.
• Third‑party apps: Integration with apps like Strava, Nike Run Club, TrainingPeaks, and many others can extend training features.

The difference is subtle but important:

Apple Watch focuses on getting you moving every day. Garmin focuses more on structuring and improving your training over weeks and months.

If you are moving from not exercising much to consistent workouts, Apple Watch can feel more friendly and less intimidating. If you are already committed and want to refine your training, Garmin has more built‑in tools.

Which one is better for different types of training?

Here is a quick comparison by common training focus:

Training style	Apple Watch	Garmin
Walking & light cardio	Very strong, simple to use, rings are motivating	Strong, but more complex than needed for some
Running (5K / 10K / half)	Good. Works well with apps like Nike Run Club, Strava.	Very strong. Great structured workouts and race prep.
Marathon / triathlon	Possible, better on Ultra models, might feel limited.	Excellent. Many models built for this level.
Strength training	Good, with decent tracking and Fitness+ support.	Decent, improving, still more cardio focused overall.
Outdoor sports (hiking, trail, skiing)	Good on Ultra, limited on lower models.	Excellent. Maps, navigation, weather tools on many models.

If you are very serious about structured cardio training, Garmin has a clearer edge. If you do a mix of walking, gym sessions, runs, and daily wear, Apple Watch feels very balanced.

Health Tracking: Beyond Steps and Calories

This is where Apple Watch sometimes surprises people. It is not only about workouts; it is also about health.

Apple Watch health features

Recent Apple Watch models include:

• 24/7 heart rate monitoring
• ECG app on supported models
• Blood oxygen estimates
• Irregular rhythm alerts
• Fall detection and emergency SOS
• Cycle tracking and related insights
• Mindfulness and breathing sessions

Apple has strong integration with the Health app on iPhone. That means all your health data sits in one place. Third‑party health and fitness apps can read and write to this database (with permission).

For people with certain conditions or who simply want closer health monitoring, Apple Watch has clear strengths.

Garmin health features

Garmin also tracks:

• 24/7 heart rate
• Stress levels
• Body Battery (an estimate of energy based on sleep and strain)
• SpO2 on supported models
• Sleep stages and sleep scores
• Cycle tracking

Garmin focuses more on how these metrics relate to performance and recovery. For example, Body Battery gives a simple, readable score that many people find helpful.

Garmin does not provide medical features like FDA cleared ECG in the way Apple does on its watch. So if you want a device that is closer to a health monitor plus fitness tracker, Apple Watch is usually stronger.

Sleep tracking differences

Sleep tracking is an area that exposes the battery issue:

• Apple Watch: Can track sleep well if you charge at smart times (morning or evening). Data is clear, but there is some effort to keep the battery topped up.
• Garmin: With multi‑day battery life, wearing it through the night feels natural. You wake up, and your sleep data and Body Battery are ready with very little charging planning.

If sleep and recovery trends are a big focus, Garmin feels easier to live with. Apple Watch does the job, but you have to build a charging habit.

Smartwatch Features: Notifications, Apps, Calls, and More

This is where Apple Watch usually wins by a wide margin, at least for iPhone users.

How Apple Watch behaves as a smartwatch

Apple Watch is deeply tied to the iPhone:

• Rich notifications with quick replies
• Phone calls directly from the wrist (with built‑in speaker and mic)
• Music streaming and storage (Apple Music, others through apps)
• Contactless payments (Apple Pay)
• Hundreds of third‑party apps: calendars, to‑do lists, smart home control, messaging, etc.
• Tight integration with Apple services like iMessage, Maps, Reminders

Some people buy an Apple Watch mainly for those features and treat fitness tracking as a bonus. It can be that strong as a general companion device.

How Garmin behaves as a smartwatch

Garmin watches have:

• Notifications mirroring your phone
• Basic quick replies on Android (limited with iPhone)
• Music storage and playback on some models (Spotify, Deezer, etc.)
• Garmin Pay on supported devices
• Widgets for weather, calendar, and other basic functions

They cover the basics. But if you are used to the iOS app store on the wrist, Garmin feels more limited and somewhat utilitarian.

Garmin feels like “a fitness watch with some smart extras.” Apple Watch feels like “a small iPhone on your wrist that also tracks fitness.”

If you do not like being too connected, Garmin might actually be better. Less noise, more focus.

Comfort, Design, and Everyday Wear

A watch that tracks everything but annoys you on the wrist will end up in a drawer.

Apple Watch comfort and style

Apple Watch has:

• One main rectangular design in different sizes
• Large, bright, sharp screens
• A massive band ecosystem from Apple and third parties
• A stylish look that fits offices, gyms, and casual outfits

Some people do not like the rectangular shape, but it has become common. On the wrist, it feels more like a small screen than a classic watch.

For smaller wrists, the lighter aluminum models are usually more comfortable, especially during sleep and long runs.

Garmin comfort and style

Garmin has a wide range:

• Round faces on most models, which feel more like traditional watches
• Many sizes and thicknesses, from slim lifestyle models to chunky outdoor beasts
• Transflective displays on some, AMOLED on newer ones
• Silicone bands that work well for sports; some models support quick‑release bands

Outdoor lines like Fenix or Enduro are big. They look and feel like serious gear. Some people love that; some people do not.

If you want something that looks like a regular watch first and a smartwatch second, Garmin gives you that option. If you want a “mini phone” vibe, Apple Watch fits better.

Software, Apps, and Data: Where Your Fitness History Lives

Data without context is just a bunch of numbers. The app and software experience matter more than many people expect.

Apple Watch + Apple Health

All Apple Watch data funnels through the Fitness app and the Health app on iPhone.

Pros:

• Clean design, easy to read
• Central place for data from many devices and apps
• Strong privacy posture
• Good sharing support with doctors through Health records in some regions

Cons:

• Sport‑specific analysis is basic unless you add third‑party apps
• Training plans and advanced metrics usually require subscriptions to other services

If you like a simple overview and do not want to tinker, Apple Health feels friendly. If you want to go deeper, you often end up living in apps like Strava, TrainingPeaks, or Athlytic.

Garmin Connect

Garmin Connect is Garmin’s platform for all watch data.

Pros:

• Very detailed fitness and training history
• Built‑in training plans and advanced metrics, no extra subscription
• Lots of charts, graphs, and trends over time

Cons:

• Interface can feel busy or dated
• Health data is somewhat siloed compared with Apple Health

Garmin Connect can sync to Strava and other platforms, so you still get that social layer if you want it.

If you love reading your own data like a coach would, Garmin Connect feels like home. If you want quick hits and a simple summary, Apple Health feels calmer.

Which One Is Better For Different Types of Users?

We could compare specs forever, but choices are easier when you think about your lifestyle.

For casual exercisers and people starting a fitness routine

You:

• Walk, maybe run a bit, do some gym sessions or home workouts
• Care about closing rings and staying active every day
• Use an iPhone and like the idea of notifications and apps on your wrist

Recommendation:

• Apple Watch is usually the better pick. It makes daily movement engaging and slots into your digital life naturally.

If you are on Android, then some Garmin lifestyle models (Venu, Vivoactive, etc.) make sense instead.

For committed runners and cyclists

You:

• Train several times a week with specific goals
• Care about pace, heart rate zones, structured workouts
• Probably use Strava or training platforms

Recommendation:

• Garmin Forerunner or similar is usually the stronger training tool.
• Apple Watch can still work, especially with third‑party apps, but you will feel some limits in battery and training‑first features.

If you are heavily invested in the Apple world and only do shorter runs or rides, then Apple Watch still makes sense. But if you plan to progress toward marathons or long rides, Garmin takes the lead.

For triathletes and endurance athletes

You:

• Train across swim, bike, and run
• Compete in long events
• Need strong GPS and battery life

Recommendation:

• Garmin, almost every time. Forerunner 7xx series, Fenix/Epix series, or similar.

Apple Watch Ultra closes some of the gap for shorter tri events, but Garmin still has deeper multi‑sport support and longer battery life.

For hikers, trail runners, and outdoor lovers

You:

• Spend many hours outside, often away from power outlets
• Care about navigation, altitude, weather, and maps

Recommendation:

• Garmin outdoor lines (Fenix, Epix, Instinct, etc.) feel like they are built exactly for you.

Apple Watch Ultra is a strong option for lighter outdoor use and shorter trips, but Garmin still has the upper hand for long outings.

For health tracking first, workouts second

You:

• Want 24/7 heart rate, ECG, irregular rhythm alerts
• Walk, maybe do light exercise, but care more about health monitoring
• Use an iPhone, maybe work with a doctor or care team

Recommendation:

• Apple Watch is usually the clear choice.

Garmin tracks health data well, but Apple has stronger medical‑style features and better integration with health records in supported regions.

Price and Value: Are You Overpaying for What You Need?

Watches change every year, but some patterns stay stable.

Apple Watch pricing style

Apple Watch prices sit in a narrow range:

• SE models at lower prices, fewer health features, still solid for fitness
• Standard Series models at mid to high prices, full feature set
• Ultra models at the high end

You pay for:

• Premium build and screen
• Deep integration with the Apple world
• Health and safety features

There are fewer cheap options. The entry point is still higher than many basic fitness trackers.

Garmin pricing style

Garmin covers a wide price band:

• Entry‑level Forerunner and lifestyle models that give strong fitness features for a lower price
• Mid‑range models that balance training features and nicer screens
• High‑end outdoor and premium models at equal or higher prices than Apple Watch Ultra

You pay for:

• Fitness and training features
• Battery life and outdoor toughness

If you want the “most fitness per dollar,” Garmin often gives more long‑term training value, especially if you do not care much about rich apps or very sharp screens.

So Which One Should You Buy?

I am not going to say “it depends,” because that is lazy advice. You probably already lean one way emotionally. Let me stress‑test that instinct a bit.

Ask yourself a few blunt questions:

• Do I use an iPhone and want my watch to feel like part of that world?
• Do I train seriously, or do I want to become that kind of person in the next year?
• Will I get annoyed charging my watch almost every day?
• Do I care more about health monitoring or pure performance metrics?

Then match your answers:

If you live in the Apple world, care about health and everyday convenience, and do light to moderate training, an Apple Watch will make your life simpler and still push your fitness forward.

If you care deeply about training, battery life, and outdoor performance, and you want your watch to feel like a coach more than a phone accessory, Garmin will likely make you happier over time.

You do not have to get this perfect on the first try, but you can choose poorly. For example, if you plan to start ultra‑running next year, buying a basic Apple Watch now and hoping it turns into a training computer later is not a great strategy. In that case, starting with a mid‑range Garmin prepares you for where you are going, not just where you are.

On the other side, if you mostly walk, do some light workouts, and care about handling calls, messages, and payments, buying a heavy, complex Garmin outdoor watch might just give you battery life you never need and menus you rarely open.

Pick the watch that matches the life you are likely to live in the next 12 to 24 months, not the fantasy version of yourself or the version from five years ago. The right smartwatch is the one that quietly nudges you toward better habits without getting in your way every single day.