Garmin was the go-to smartwatch for fitness users long before Apple released the Apple Watch. Although Apple’s wearable gained popularity after its debut more than a decade ago due to its broader appeal, lighter design and colorful wristbands, many athletes still prefer Garmin for sports. Reasons include a focus on measuring specific health metrics that Apple Watches still don’t do, the addition of useful physical buttons, and long battery life.
Still, given that the Apple Watch is more widely available, that doesn’t mean fitness users won’t have a good time with Apple’s wearable. For example, the company introduced the Workout Buddy feature with watchOS 26, which functions as an AI coach providing important information about your exercise session. Users can also enjoy Apple Fitness+, available not only on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, but also on the watch with programs such as “Time to Walk”, “Time to Run” and guided meditations.
Still, Garmin is often considered the best option for athletes, especially if they don’t have an iPhone, because the Apple Watch is entirely dependent on the Apple platform.
Specific health measures and long-lasting battery life
Garmin offers an all-in-one solution for athletes with its features such as workout preparation, body battery, HRV status, load reports and structured training modes. Although Apple has significantly improved the health features available on the Apple Watch, including its own workout load, sleep metrics, and perceived exertion, users still need third-party apps to better understand their health. AI chatbots and apps like Gentler Streak are almost mandatory.
For Garmin users, these features bring a native experience of your body’s readiness for training, the hidden costs of daily stress, alcohol consumption and other activities, and even the changing variability of your heart rate. Another important point that usually makes athletes choose Garmin over the Apple Watch is the impressive battery life. While the new Apple Watch Series 11 is expected to last between 24 and 36 hours of regular use, Garmin watches are said to offer users at least 10 days of battery life, even with heavy use.
For models like the Enduro 2 or Instinct 2X Solar, which are watches recommended for ultramarathons or expeditions, they can last up to 46 days or more, depending on how much sunlight you get on your watch when spending time outdoors. Even though the Apple Watch doesn’t allow users to run out of battery during the day, they have to charge their watch every evening, which is not a concern for Garmin users, especially the most demanding ones.
Physical navigation and robust design
With the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple wanted to create a robust experience for athletes. Apple recommends this model with a titanium finish and tougher screen for people who enjoy hiking trails, rock climbing, marathon runners, etc. This was a response to Garmin’s rugged construction, since models like the Instinct 3 feature a metal-reinforced bezel and fiber-reinforced polymer housing. It also meets MIL-STD-810 standards for thermal, shock and water resistance, allowing it to be worn during most outdoor activities.
However, Garmin users also focus on one very important point that makes these smartwatches a no-brainer: their main user experience is controlling the watch without looking at it, thanks to its physical buttons. With a total of five buttons, the layout allows users to perform actions in any conditions, whether they have just stopped at a red light while cycling or their hands are completely wet after running in the rain. As an Apple Watch user, I can’t count how many times I’ve accidentally ended a workout by swiping right and then trying to hit the pause button. That said, this is why many users still choose Garmin, especially serious athletes, because the most critical element is not the overall performance of the watch, but the extent to which the device is dedicated to helping you focus on your workout.
