5 things a Garmin watch can do that an Apple Watch can’t do

The Apple Watch is the most popular smartwatch, as Counterpoint reports. It integrates seamlessly with the iPhone and AirPods and offers three different lines that appeal to different audiences. However, runners, hikers and swimmers sometimes prefer to have a Garmin watch. This is partly because of the things a Garmin watch can do that an Apple Watch can’t, like offering solar charging, full button navigation, and even measuring more specific health metrics.

Truth be told, the Garmin Experience has been available for over two decades, while the Apple Watch recently celebrated its first 10-year anniversary, making the former more established in the market. The first Garmin smartwatch, the Forerunner 201, was released in 2003. Since then, the company has released more than 40 versions of the watch, with some of the latest versions including an OLED display, lightweight titanium bezels, and a battery that’s as durable as the product as a whole.

A Garmin watch can offer athletes much more than an Apple Watch, and that may be one of the reasons why these smartwatches are still so popular among sports enthusiasts. These features make some users unaware that Apple is responsible for creating much more mainstream smartwatches through the Apple Watch design, different band customizations, and watch faces.

Garmin offers 10 watch models with solar charging capabilities, such as the Fenix, Forerunner, Instinct, Edge, and Enduro. Although the battery in Garmin watches is already known to last a long time, you can extend its life by several months with solar charging – or even never have to use its USB charging cable.

These smart watches have a semi-transparent layer of solar cells on the screen that converts direct sunlight into electricity to power your watch. With this, you can enjoy outdoor activities like running and cycling more while seeing your watch recharge instead of losing it.

Some Garmin watches have a solar intensity widget, which indicates the amount of sunlight received. They are made with panels that are easy to read in direct sunlight without backlighting. The company even claims that leaving a watch with a dead battery in the sun can turn it back on. Models like the Garmin Edge 840 Solar also show new metrics for cycling called “trip saved,” which show you can get an extra 20 minutes of battery life for every hour of riding on a solar charge.

Data enthusiasts have gotten many new health metrics with the Apple Watch over the past few years, especially with the latest watchOS 26 software update. However, Apple Watch users need apps like Gentler Streak to get a balanced visual understanding of their health data, or use The Outsiders to learn more about their readiness for the day.

Garmin, on the other hand, is an all-in-one solution for athletes with features like workout readiness, body battery, HRV status, load reports, and structured training modes. For example, Training Readiness provides a single score calculated each morning that summarizes sleep, recovery time, training load, HRV and stress to tell you whether you should aim for a personal best or simply rest and recover. Body Battery, on the other hand, is a real-time fuel gauge for your body and shows the hidden costs of stressful meetings, an evening glass of wine, or an intense workout.

HRV status compares your overnight heart rate variability to your two-week baseline. For the Apple Watch, users must once again rely on third-party apps to analyze this information. In contrast, the Load Reports feature measures your last seven days of effort, categorizing activities into base, tempo, and sprints. Apple’s training load is more about helping you prevent injuries, ignore the type of physiological stress.

Apple promises all-day battery life for Apple Watches. The latest models have improved a lot, with the Series 11’s battery lasting up to 24 hours and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 lasting up to 42 hours. In low consumption mode, this duration is extended to 38 hours and 72 hours respectively. Garmin watches, however, last several days, some models last weeks or more thanks to solar charging.

For example, Garmin lifestyle models like the Venu 5 or the Epix 3 feature AMOLED screens. Garmin claims these watches can last 10 to 16 days, while the always-on display can make them last up to a week. However, with GPS tracking, this time window is limited to between 15 and 30 hours. Standard models like the Fenix ​​8 and Forerunner 975 have more generous batteries thanks to the microLED screen; they can last 14 to 28 days, while solar models can reach over 40 days if you spend a few hours outside each day.

The ultra level, which includes the Enduro 2 or Instinct 2X Solar, is perfect for ultramarathons or expeditions, as they can last up to 46 days or more if you get enough sunlight daily. Some features use more battery and can significantly reduce this time, such as multi-band GPS, music streaming, or continuous blood oxygen monitoring rather than limiting it to bedtime.

Another big difference between the brands is the way Garmin prioritizes physical button navigation over Apple’s touch-controlled focus. While some of Garmin’s latest watches, like the Fenix ​​8 or Forerunner 975, have touchscreen capabilities, they are designed with physical buttons in mind, especially if you play a sport that can leave your hands wet or covered in chalk, affecting the responsiveness of the touchscreen.

All Garmins feature a five-button layout that allows users to navigate without looking through muscle memory. Most of them perform one action if you press them and another when you hold the button. For example, the top left button is the backlight or flashlight, while the secondary action, when held down, is the command menu. The middle button on the left is used to scroll up, while holding this button opens the main settings and watch face options.

So during a high-intensity run or bike ride, these physical buttons can provide click-to-click confirmation that a touchscreen can’t match. For example, if you stop at a red light while cycling, you just press a button to pause, while Apple Watch users will have to swipe right and then press the pause button – don’t ask me how many times I’ve accidentally ended a workout doing this.

Some Garmin watches come with a flashlight. While competing Apple Watch models can light up their screen for use as a flashlight, it’s not as sophisticated (or dedicated) as Garmin’s LED flashlight., which you can find on models like Descent, Enduro and Fenix.

Garmin says the built-in flashlight is ideal for nighttime outdoor activities or simply for illuminating dimly lit environments at home. Since the flashlight features real LED lights on the front of the watch, it’s a simpler experience than having your Apple Watch lit up on the side of your wrist.

Some other watches also offer a red or green light to less disturb your eyes at night. The flashlight can also be used in different brightness levels. That said, it’s another useful feature you never thought you’d need until you run super early, stumble upon a dark room, or, God forbid, hike a mountain after sunset.