Apple Watch vs Garmin: Which Should You Wear?
Accuracy, battery, apps and health features compared from two weeks with each, and the one question that decides it.
Accuracy
Both were within 2 bpm of a chest strap on steady runs; the Series 10 reacted fastest on intervals, the Forerunner 265's dual-band GPS was the most accurate over distance.
Battery
Apple Watch: a day and a half. Garmin Forerunner 265 or Venu 3: 11–12 days with daily GPS. This is the largest practical difference.
Apps and notifications
Apple Watch replies to messages, takes calls, pays, runs thousands of apps. Garmin shows notifications, pays with Garmin Pay, and stops there.
Health
Apple: ECG, sleep apnoea, temperature, fall and crash detection. Garmin: training load, readiness, Body Battery, sleep coaching; ECG on Venu 3 in some regions.
The question
Do you want a watch that does phone things, or a watch that does training things and lasts? iPhone owners who answer "phone things" buy the Apple Watch; everyone who trains seriously buys the Garmin.
» See the full rankings: Best Smartwatches of 2026, Best Smartwatches for iPhone .