Which is the smartwatch for you?

Need something new to get addicted to?

Lucky for you, smartwatch fever has taken over. On the subway, in the office, at the gym — it’s hard to live a day without catching a glimpse of the latest wearable technology strapped front and center on wrists everywhere.

Brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and Garmin are constantly coming out with the latest and greatest models, touting new and improved AI features, seamless user experience, and next-level tracking abilities. They’re just getting smarter and smarter, and for someone less savvy with technology, navigating the smartwatch market can be a daunting task.

The Garmin Forerunner 965 and Apple Watch Series 10 are both newer players in the smartwatch arena, each with its own unique features and user experiences.

The Forerunner has positioned itself as a sporty, navigation-friendly, personal fitness coach, while the Series 10 is marketed to more casual, everyday users who may appreciate the seamless integration into the iPhone ecosystem.

My quest was simple — in the race to produce the smartest watch of all, how do these competitors stack up?

I love testing and reviewing all things health and wellness. Naturally, I wanted to find out which watch was worth the $300+ price tag.

My quest became simple — in the race to produce the smartest watch of all, how did these competitors stack up?

An ultimate training companion, the rugged Garmin Forerunner 965 GPS Smartwatch delivers a full suite of cutting-edge training markers plus a side of smart features. Boasting a 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display, the Forerunner is a popular pick for hardcore athletes and outdoor adventurers.

It has health metrics for pulse tracking, heart rate, pulse, respiration, VO2, sleep, and recovery, providing plenty of insights that create a daily “Body Battery” score, which measures your energy reserves throughout the day. The smart features are less advanced than some other smartwatches, but users still have access to basics — including Garmin pay, music, and receiving texts and calls.

The solid, sporty design more closely resembles a watch, which makes it an attractive choice for those who aren’t sold on wearable tech. With 23 days of battery life, precise multi-band GPS tracking, and emergency alert features, the Garmin remains a trusted pick for people ready for their next adventure or competition.

Display: 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen display | Materials: Fiber-reinforced polymer case, ceramic bezel, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens | Battery: Up to 23 days in smartwatch mode | GPS: Multi-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) | Smart Features: Text/Call notifications, Garmin Play, Garmin Connect | Health Metrics: Heart rate monitoring, Pulse, Body Battery, VO2 max, sleep tracking, cycle tracking, stress tracking, respiration rate, and recovery insights | Water Resistance: 5 ATM water resistance | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ANT+ |

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Apple already boasts a family of advanced smartwatches, but the Series 10 takes a new focus on health and wellness. As the thinnest Apple Watch to date, the lightweight design makes it easy to wear day and night, no matter the activity. The Wide-angle OLED display is also visible from any angle, so you won’t have to disrupt your workout to get a reading.

With watchOS 11, the new Vitals app provides users with all sorts of health markers, from heart rate to wrist temperature, sleep duration, and even period cycle tracking. Big-picture goals are also easier to achieve than ever — users can answer a few questions and receive a customized interval workout in an instant. That info can be used to track goals with the multi-color Activity Ring, which can be paused whenever a recovery day is needed.

The Apple Series 10 may not have the hardcore construction or long-lasting battery duration of a Garmin, but it charges fast, is simple to set up for the non-tech savvy, and the sleek design is offered in several styles and band variations, making it an easy choice for casual, everyday wear.

Display: Wide-angle OLED screen, 42mm, and 46mm | Materials: Aluminum and Titanium | Battery: 18-36 hours | GPS: Built-in GPS | Smart Features: Text/call, Apple Music, Apple Apps, Siri, | Health Metrics: Heart Senser, blood oxygen levels, sleep apnea detection, cycle tracking | Water Resistance: Water-resistant up to 50 meters | Connectivity: GPS-only and GPS + Cellular models |

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Garmin VS. Apple Watch: Our review

Curious about which watch would make the most sense for me, I spent four weeks switching between the Garmin Forerunner 965 and the Apple Watch Series 10. My goal was to get to know both watches in every way possible, using them to set goals, track workouts, log my sleep, listen to music, communicate with friends, and basically just live my life uninterrupted (FYI, they do interrupt you, but only when there is a good reason).

As someone who isn’t anywhere near marathon-ready, I suspected that the Apple Watch Series 10 would be a better fit for my remarkably average lifestyle. It turns out I was wrong. Here’s why:

Battery life: Garmin

There’s no beating around the bush, Garmin comes out on top in this category. While in smartwatch mode, the battery lasts a whopping 23 days, which is more than ideal for someone prone to losing track of their chargers and despises that dreadful black screen (I’m talking about myself here.)

If you think about it, having 23 days of power means you could safely head out into the wilderness full-on, survivor-style, and still come back with a bit of charge left! Is camping my thing? No, but the exceptional lifespan did provide me with some relief knowing that my Garmin wouldn’t die on me in a moment of need — like on the subway or a five-mile run into part of the city I’d never explored before.

The Forerunner connects to a specialized cable with pins that fit precisely into a dedicated port on the inside of the watch’s face. I will warn you — it can be tempting to jam this plug-in, but be gentle, and patient, and it will eventually click into the slot. It takes roughly 90 minutes to charge back up to 100%. Not a bad wait, in my opinion.

Battery life: Apple

The Apple Watch does things a bit differently.

This was my first experience with a magnetic charging system, and I was very relieved with the fact that there’s no need to wobble anything into a charging port or worry about water damage. I actually found myself really liking the pad — at the very least it stood out from my other chargers so it was easy to grab quickly when in a pinch.

There’s only one major problem I have to pick with the Series 10 battery. It dies in under a day — around the 18-hour mark, to be exact. While it’s got nothing on the Garmin, it does charge back up pretty fast. You should be at 80% battery in about 30 minutes of charging.

The charging process, however, feels pretty similar to an iPhone in the sense that I am hesitant to leave the house without a charger.

Health and fitness features: Garmin

Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. This was all I heard when I read the blurb on the Garmin Forerunner, and I’ll admit that is probably why I was most attracted to it. Nobody wants to be deceived by their device, and the Forerunner promises to provide precision and 24/7 monitoring.

Garmin tracks your data in live time on your wrist, but the real work happens on the Garmin Connect App. Here, users can find detailed reports about their workouts, with advanced heart rate metrics, VO2 max estimation, pacing dynamics, and much, much more. Treadmills give you distance and calories burned, but the Garmin goes much deeper — I for one, had no clue how my data compared to other people in my age group, but with the insights feature, I could get a true field analysis.

Garmin also has a section for goal-setting and getting customized workout recommendations, which is pretty much a free personal trainer minus the snarky attitude. My preconceived notion of the Garmin was that it was developed for Olympians and Triathlon athletes (and there is a Triathlon mode for seamless cross-sport switching), but my testing has proven to me that this watch is great for people of varied fitness levels. There are plenty of weekly challenges for cycling, swimming, running, and even walking — so you can set goals unique to you and compete with your friends.

Sleep tracking is another major draw of the Garmin. The watch utilizes built-in sensors that track light, deep, and REM sleep to help you understand how much time you are spending in each stage, and where any disruptions may be coming from. As someone who is attempting to sleep-train a toddler, I found the Sleep Scores to be… slightly shaming…. but, in the best way possible. On my best nights, my battery was still pretty drained, which encouraged me to rest more before delving into activity. The result was that I was a bit less hard on myself, and in a better mood, overall.

Obtaining my morning Body Battery report and Training Readiness score — which provides a snapshot of your sleep, recovery, and overall health with heart rate variability (HRV) status — was truly impactful. I felt it helped me understand myself better, and use my energy in the most productive ways possible.

Health and fitness features: Apple

I’ve always considered the Apple Watch in the fitness tracking family, but I now understand that they’re not quite as technical as the sport-centered Garmin. You won’t get the same readiness scores to see how prepared you are for your next marathon, but there are still many physical biomarkers that the Series 10 tracks, including ECG levels, heart rhythm, and blood oxygen monitoring. It’s more of a holistic health tool than a competitive training system. But, it also has some standout features — like a Tides app for surfers, Headspace for mindfulness, and it even syncs up with Strava for the run-club types.

All your health data syncs with the Apple Health app, which makes it easy to access progress charts and set new goals, while also keeping you accountable by providing self-improvement tools — think tailored workouts, move alerts, and real-time feedback. It wasn’t unusual for me to receive an alert that I should get up and move or turn the volume down on my hand-banging soundtrack. I don’t like being disturbed, so I shut down these alerts pretty quickly, but I can see why some people would appreciate the nudge.

The Forerunner offers basic cycle logging, but the Series 10 delves even deeper into period predictions and fertility tracking. (Side story: One of my friends claimed that she used her Apple Watch to time her cycle and eventually became pregnant!)

Most Apple watches allow period logging, which provides users with a space to track mood changes, cramps, and flow levels. But, the Series 10 has a new, sensitive temperature setting that tracks temperature variations overnight, identifying ovulation patterns and making predictions. Supposedly, it works (at least, according to my previously mentioned friend).

Those interested in sleep tracking can sync their watch with the new Vitals Apps, which tracks sleep patterns and breathing and can even detect sleep apnea. Each night you sleep, the watch analyzes your breathing disturbances and categorizes them as either elevated or not elevated. After 30 days, the data is analyzed, and the watch can notify you of a potential condition. Now I get it when people say the Apple Watch is a great investment in their health. It could actually save your life.

Display, Interface, and User Experience: Garmin

Judging on aesthetics alone, the Garmin is a great choice for someone who wants to wear something that actually resembles a real watch — it’s sturdy, sharp, and tough — but not quite as sleek or petite as the Apple Watch.

The vibrant 1.4-inch AMOLED display provides impeccable visibility no matter the amount of sunlight. I rarely had to squint to get a glimpse of the Garmin. Unlike the Apple Watch, I was able to snap it on my wrist with one hand, which saved me quite a bit of time while I was swapping the wrists back and forth for testing.

While I’m all for the design and display, Garmin’s user experience is a bit less intuitive. As a fitness watch, the interface is primarily built to guide users around their detailed workout plans and training analytics. All of this is more or less easy to navigate; click the top to go up, the bottom to go back, and the middle button to start and stop.

The Garmin’s non-health-related smart features were also somewhat underwhelming. I still received calls and texts, but I wasn’t able to respond to them. At times, I found myself getting frustrated with having the notification pop up without the ability to respond directly. The Garmin Connect app does allow users to message other users and compete with them in “challenges,” but I still felt like the smart software was a bit behind in comparison to the Apple Watch.

Display, Interface, and User Experience: Apple

While I think of the Garmin as your typical jock who couldn’t care less about anything except football practice, I see the Apple watch as the popular kid who is friendly, neat, organized, and chatty, but a little bit type-A.

The always-on Retina display is as bright as they make it out to be, and the design is so aesthetically pleasing that you probably wouldn’t be less ashamed to wear it out to dinner. Why? It’s smooth, light, thin, and pretty small (available in 42mm and 46mm sizes). Not to mention, half the point of wearing one seems to be picking out a band to dress it up in. It feels like every big brand has an Apple Watch band these days — Nike, Kate Spade, and even Hermès.

Navigating the Apple Watch was actually less of a challenge for me, a non-tech-savvy lifelong iPhone user. The touchscreen is highly responsive — sometimes so responsive that I felt like my fingers barely had to touch the screen. Like your regular iPhone, the layout is also easily customizable, saving time when you want to get to what you need without scrolling around for five minutes.

While the Series 10 may offer less detailed metrics for athletes, it makes up for it with a sea of smart features. The watch integrates seamlessly with an iPhone, making it easy to receive messages and calls right from your wrist (though I’m sure I looked like a psychopath while telling my wrist how my day was). Apple Pay, Siri, and all the other Apple apps are also at your beck and call, which makes it an easy choice for anyone who doesn’t want to read pages of directions just to turn their watch on.

GPS and Safety: Garmin

As far as safety and tracking go, the Garmin is a cut above the rest. The watch features built-in,multi-band GPS tracking, meaning it supports several satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. By combining the mapping software of each program, Garmin can provide more detailed tracking information in trickier environments, like dense forests, tall mountains, and clustered cities.

There are a couple of safety features, too. A smart incident tracking feature sends an immediate alert to your selected emergency contact if an accident or crash is detected, and the Livetrack features allow friends and family to track your location in real time. For advanced runners, cyclists, and hikers in need of precise data, Garmin is the clear winner in this category.

GPS and Safety: Apple

Having easy access to Apple Maps — a familiar face for me as an iPhone user — was probably the biggest draw of the Series 10 navigation systems. The Apple Watch Series 10 offers a reliable GPS tracking service with GPS and GLONASS support, but it’s not quite as precise or reliable as the Garmin Forerunner. This shouldn’t be an issue for your everyday Joe, but someone looking to eat, pray, love, or escape into the wilderness for weeks at a time may want to invest in a watch that picks up signals without interference.

The fleet of safety features might make up for the more casual GPS nodes. With Fall Detection, emergency services are alerted immediately, which could be especially appreciated by older users. Crash Detection uses sensors to detect car accidents, and an Emergency SOS and built-in heart monitor can send alerts if any irregularities are detected that might indicate health issues. There’s also a Family Setup Mode for tracking loved ones.

The Final Verdict

I spent years debating whether to join the community of smart-watch-wearing people. I’m not your typical tech wizard — in all honestly, it took me several hours of YouTube videos and re-reading the directions simply to turn these watches on. I’ve been testing the Garmin Forerunner and Apple Watch Series 10 for about a month, and I still wouldn’t consider myself addicted to either.

When I began this review, I sensed that the Apple Watch Series 10 would be a better fit for me, as someone who enjoys the occasional jog or casual hike but is far from a professional athlete. And, while I was initially attracted to the fact that the Apple Watch just felt like an extension of my phone, I surprisingly found myself to be more of a Garmin fan by the end of the four weeks.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m impressed with the range of smart features packed into the Series 10. Every time I found myself thinking, “Oh, it would be cool if it had this feature,” I learned that it did — in fact — already have that feature. However, as a busy, working mom, I simply don’t feel like I have the time in my life to take advantage of all of these things, nor do I want to learn how to use them.

The Forerunner makes sense to me because when I do have some extra time, I want to focus on fitness, and I don’t want to pay for a personal trainer to help me meet my goals. The Garmin Connect app is basically a virtual gym, equipped with everything you need to dial in on your skills and improve your performance. It may be less visually attractive than the Apple Watch, but it gets the job done, and it feels more like a tool than a robot.

I’ve learned a lot about the technology and myself amid this smartwatch showdown. My routine hasn’t been uprooted, but I have felt encouraged to stand up more, get in those final steps to hit my goals and skip the binge-watching for a little extra sleep. I’d say that for anyone looking to optimize their health and wellness, both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Garmin Forerunner are excellent choices.

How We Tested

To review and compare the Garmin Forerunner and Apple Watch Series 10, I wore both watches for about four weeks and considered several factors while testing each watch, including the design and display, fitness features, smart features, and charging and battery life.

• Design and display: Before I began wearing each watch, I reviewed their size, weight, comfortability, and ability to strap on and adjust the band without assistance. I also took note of how bright and easy-to-read the screens were from different angles and whether the displays were intuitive enough for most people to navigate. I also adjusted the different settings to see how simple it was to alter and customize the displays.
• Fitness features: To test out the full range of fitness features, I took both the Apple Watch and Garmin through various activities, including swimming, running, weight training, and more. I synced the watches with the Apple Health app and Garmin Connect to access and review the health data provided by each. I also wore each watch while I slept, noting the time I went to bed and woke up to ensure the sleep data was accurate.
• Smart features: Both the Apple and Garmin watches are advertised as smart watches, so I spent hours exploring their different functionalities, from sending and receiving texts to listening to music, using contactless payment, and accessing different apps. I also considered how easy it was to integrate the smartwatches with my phone.
• Battery Life and Charging: Battery life is a major factor for individuals with different routines and use cases. I tracked how long each watch stayed “alive,” as well as the time it took to reach a full charge to ensure that the watches were meeting their advertised battery life and charge time. I also considered the ease of using the different charging ports.

Garmin VS Apple FAQs

Can you make calls and send texts from the Garmin and the Apple Watch?

The Series 10 allows users to exchange text messages, phone calls, and app notifications. The Forerunner still receives calls and texts, but you can not respond to them through the watch.

Is Garmin or Apple more expensive?

The Garmin Forerunner is a more expensive option, retailing for around $600. The Apple Watch Series 10 is typically priced between $300 and $400.

Does Garmin or Apple have a better battery life?

The Forerunner boasts an impressive battery life, lasting up to 23 days on a single charge. This makes it a great choice for people who are traveling, camping, or simply dislike the requirement of charging something frequently. The Series 10 battery lasts for about 18 hours, so it’s more important to have access to the charging pad frequently.

Is Garmin or Apple better for everyday activities?

Per our testing, the Apple Watch Series 10 was a better choice for casual users. The Series 10 was easier to integrate into the Apple ecosystem, offered more convenient smart features (texts, apps, payments), and the design was a bit more intuitive and user-friendly. It’s also a more stylish option for those looking to wear a watch around on the day-to-day.

Is Garmin or Apple better for fitness tracking?

The Garmin is typically regarded as a better fitness watch, and our review confirmed that. The Garmin offers more detailed analytics and personalized suggestions when it comes to training, especially for runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes. When compared to the Apple Watch’s touchscreen, we found that the Garmin’s side buttons were less distracting and easier to use while working out. The design is also more rugged and durable, making it a good option for hikers or outdoor enthusiasts.

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