Whether you’re just getting started on your fitness journey or you’re a seasoned athlete looking for a supporting wearable, you’ll likely have debated between a Garmin or an Apple Watch.
But which smartwatch is better suited for your specific needs? If you have an iPhone, does that mean you must buy an Apple Watch?
To help you decide, we’ve answered the biggest questions surrounding Garmin vs Apple Watch below, and concluded which smartwatch brand is better for different circumstances.
Make sure you visit our best smartwatch list, which details the very best options that we’ve reviewed. For a more tailored look, make sure you visit our best Apple Watch and best Garmin lists.
Is Garmin better than Apple Watch?
Whether a Garmin smartwatch is “better” than an Apple Watch is completely dependent on your individual needs and wants from a wearable. However, it’s worth noting first and foremost that if you’re sporting one of the best Android phones, then you should immediately disregard an Apple Watch, as they aren’t compatible with anything other than an iPhone.
That said, if you want a more dedicated fitness and health tracker that offers an insightful look at your overall wellbeing, then a Garmin smartwatch will likely suit you best.
On the other hand, if you are an iPhone user looking for an all-rounder device that provides health tracking but also works as an extension to your phone, then an Apple Watch is likely a better option.
While Garmin offers a much wider range of smartwatches, with prices starting anywhere from £129.99/$149.99 up to £1099.99/$1199.99, the current entire Apple Watch series is made up of just three options: SE, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Even so, its price range isn’t too dissimilar from Garmin’s, as Apple Watches start at £219/$249 and can cost over £799/$799.
Can you call and text on a Garmin Watch?
If you have an Android phone paired, then you can make and receive calls and texts on your Garmin watch. While you can make and receive calls, plus see incoming messages and miscellaneous notifications with a paired iPhone, it is not possible to send texts.
Android users do benefit from a few additional communication features with a Garmin watch, including:
- Answer, Decline or Reply to Decline incoming calls
- Clear, Dismiss, Call Back, Message or Add Reminder for missed calls
- Dismiss, Listen, Call or Clear Voicemail
- Dismiss, Call, Reply, Disable/Block app for SMS or MMS
- Dismiss or Disable/Block miscellaneous app notifications
iOS users are more limited, but they can perform the following actions via their paired Garmin watch:
- Answer or Decline incoming calls
- Clear missed calls
- Delete voicemail notifications
- Clear text or SMS messages
- Clear miscellaneous notifications
It is possible for iOS users to call back missed calls or listen to voicemail messages through their Garmin watch, but the call will go through to their iPhone.
Is Garmin more accurate for heart rate?
We have been continuously impressed with both the Apple Watch and Garmin’s tracking accuracy, especially with HRV. In fact, across our reviews, we consistently praise Garmin watches, such as the Vivoactive 6, as being “capable of delivering reliable continuous data”.
That’s not to say Apple Watches aren’t reliable. In fact, we compare the Apple Watch series’ heart rate data against other dedicated heart rate devices, and receive similar results, which show the watches are accurate. However, the Apple Watch series is designed to collect data into the accompanying Apple Health app, rather than provide an analysis of wellness.
With this in mind, if you want more advice and insight into your data, then a dedicated Garmin smartwatch might suit you better.
Garmin vs Apple Watch for running
Garmin boasts a strong reputation for supporting runners across all levels, with the majority of watches fitted with free training plans, in-depth tracking features and more. In fact, Garmin has a whole smartwatch series where running is the focus, with the Forerunner range.
Plus, most Garmin watches, like the Forerunner 970, are fitted with Garmin’s latest multiband GPS, which we find is the best and most accurate tracking performance available on a smartwatch.
Even so, all of the current Apple Watch series, including the cheaper Apple Watch SE, offer in-depth running insights within the Workouts app, which allows you to create custom interval workouts, explains your stride length and ground contact time, plus has automatic track detection too.
Garmin watches typically have a much longer battery life
In terms of battery life and longevity, Garmin watches undoubtedly lead the pack. While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts the longest battery of any Apple Watch series, with a maximum of up to 60 hours (as per our tests), it’s certainly not the most impressive figure.
The exact amount of battery life you can expect from a Garmin smartwatch will depend on the model. For example, Garmin Vivoactive 6 promises up to 11 days of battery life while the Garmin Fenix 8 boasts up to a whopping 29 days in smartwatch mode. Not only that, but some Garmin watches like the Instinct 3 and Fenix 8 are available with a Solar display, which cleverly keeps the device topped up with solar power.
Verdict
Essentially, choosing between a Garmin or an Apple Watch will depend on your needs. If you’re an iPhone user who wants the best of both worlds in a wearable, and one that can track health and fitness while offering an extension to your phone, then an Apple Watch is a brilliant choice.
That’s not to say iPhone users can’t embrace a Garmin smartwatch. Sure, you’ll miss out on all the communication features that Android users benefit from, but a Garmin wearable is a better choice for those who want a more in-depth look into their health and fitness metrics.
Plus, with five collections to choose from, ranging across various budgets, there’s more likely to be a Garmin smartwatch for you.
