As a 10-year-old Apple Watch veteran, I’ve only really noticed Garmin for the past six months or so in my role as one of Techradar’s fitness and wearables experts.
Since this year’s trip, there has been a terrible mass of negativity about Garmin for various reasons: a global power outage that saw units made useless for well over a day, users disturbed over older, premium models left out in the software, and recently the controversial Garmin Connect+ subscription service.
I have seen lots of despair in Garmin -forums such as R/Garmin Sureddit, read countless posts and comments about users considering trenching their Garmins or switching to Apple, Samsung and co.
But as an employed Apple Watch user, I’m here to give a comforting hand to the Garmin troop. Life may not be perfect right now, but there are still a myriad of reasons to be grateful for your Garmin and a wealth of impressive features and benefits of using one.
It made me think about how many advantages and disadvantages there is to use a Garmin, and so I thought I would gather some of them here to bring Garmin users a little needed joy.
Who knows, if you are on the market after a new smartwatch, this might be the push you need to grab one of the best Garmins instead of an Apple Watch Ultra 2. Of course, features and benefits swing both ways, but let me put some of the things that Garmin is doing better than Apple Watch right now.
1. Battery life
The best Apple Watch gets you a maximum of 72 hours of battery life on a single charge in low power mode. When you come to Garmin, battery life is measured specifications for days rather than hours. Of course, there are reasons for this, Apple Watches tend to have brighter screens and generally a little more is going on under the cap, but no one refuses that even formidable, powerful models like Garmin Fenix 8 offer crazy life. The latter is assessed for up to 34 days typically use, an astonishing figure.
Pounds for pounds, any equivalent Garmin will smash the Apple Watch battery life with an order of magnitude, and that is before we even consider Garmin’s secret weapon and point number 2 …
2. Solo charging
Completement of battery life is solar charging, an option offered on lots of Garmin models. In return for a less impressive display, you get solar charging for potentially unlimited battery life under the right conditions. Although it is rarely a reality, solar charging is pushing the aforementioned 34-day battery life of Fenix 8 to up to 58 days on solar energy.
Apple has never even suggested solar charging on the Apple Watch during its 10 years of existence, and I would very much like to see the company try it.
3. Running of measurements
If you want the best running watch to help you hone your step up your pace and break your marathon record, Garmin is really the only option.
Garmin has a dedicated series of running watches that are speared by the impressive precursor 965, but the entire lineup boasts a number of industry-leading ongoing measurements that Apple cannot hold a candle.
On their most advanced, Garmin, which runs measurements and functions, includes continuous dynamics, vertical oscillation and conditions, soil contact time and balance, stride length, cadence, running power, class step pace, performance condition, lactate limit, pacepro and even a race time prediction.
Apple Watch is doing some of these, but no one denies Garmin leading the package when it comes to running.
4. Training plans and Garmin -trainer
While your Apple Watch can track a workout, Garmin has a comprehensive range of training tools. In particular, you can use Garmin Training Training Plans to burn your race or bicycle regime, and you can also use the Garmin Connect app to create step-by-step training you can follow from your wrist.
You even get daily suggested workouts based on your previous performance (for running or cycling) and information about how long you have to travel for improvement based on your efforts.
Apple may have newer training loading features from Watchos 11, but otherwise the company has hardly scratched the surface of this field.
5. Contingency and body battery
Garmin also has very impressive contingency results and its own body battery technology that you will not find on any Apple Watch. Now there is some debate about the effectiveness of this kind of tech, and some people are likely to tell you that it is a pseudoscience.
However, Garmin takes measurements like your heartbeat, activity data and more to generate a score out of 100 to estimate your energy reserves and general readiness to tackle today’s training.
For some people (myself included) it is not always useful – you can often become a slave to the numbers and end up feeling worse than you can actually be – but for those who want it, Garmin’s body battery and contingency results are much better than something Apple offers in space.
6. Models and pricing
In any case, Garmin boasts the richest set -up of models of any Smartwatch manufacturer, Apple included. While Cupertino has chosen a simple three-unit setup, Garmin has models within models on top of layers of configurations packed around pricing structures.
It’s one lot To get your head around, especially if you are a beginner – what is the difference between the Garmin Instinct 3 Amoled, Solar and Instinct E, for example? – But the result is that there is a Garmin to All. From the cheapest runs 55 to Tactix 8 filled with ballistics tracking and night vision, there is a Garmin in any color and at each price point.
7. Platform Agnosticism
One of the best things about buying a Garmin is that it works with both iPhone and Android just as well. Of course, you miss out on some key review features you get from an Apple Watch on iPhone, but generally a Garmin will release you to move more easily between iPhone and Android if you feel so inclined.
It can be huge release when it comes to choosing your next smartphone, especially because moving between the two does not mean losing all your training data and exercise.
8. A real flashlight
Bonus Round – Apple Watch has a flashlight feature, but it just involves looking up the screen for Max White Lightness. Lots of Garmins, such as instinct 3, come with a full flashlight for exploring or just fumbling your way to the bathroom at. 3.
Garmin users take the heart
As I have said, this is not an exhaustive list in any way, but hopefully Garmin users can take some heart that there are still plenty of reasons to be happy with their purchases and stick to the brand.
Did I miss something? If you can think of something else, Garmin is doing better than Apple Watch, let go of your thoughts in the comments below!
