Apple launched the primary Apple Watch Extremely in 2022, focused on the out of doors journey market the place Garmin is dominant. The up to date Apple Watch Extremely 2 offers some minor inner upgrades, together with a brand new colorway, with continued software program updates to make it extra compelling. Garmin has additionally listened to its person base and launched the Garmin Epix Professional in 2023 as its flagship GPS sports activities watch with an excellent AMOLED show, LED flashlight, and far more.
I’ve reviewed and examined watches from each firms and it is positively fascinating to lastly see the 2 transferring into one another’s experience, with Apple bringing extra superior sports activities monitoring functionality whereas Garmin offers developments in smartphone-connected experiences.
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Whereas this text is pitting Apple’s newest with Garmin’s finest GPS sports activities watch, the Epix Professional, I’ve reviewed sufficient of Garmin’s cheaper however very succesful watches to advocate them on your consideration, too. For now, and from specs and options alone, listed here are the clear and distinct causes to buy one wearable over the opposite.
Specs
| Garmin Epix Professional (Sapphire) | Apple Watch Extremely 2 | |
| Show | 1.4-inch 454×454-pixel decision, AMOLED sapphire crystal | 49mm 410×502 LTPO OLED sapphire glass touchscreen |
| Supplies | Fiber-reinforced polymer case materials with titanium bezel and rear cowl | Titanium casing and three band choices |
| Storage | 32GB inner storage | 32GB inner storage |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM (100 meters) | 100 meters |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth, ANT+, multi-band and twin frequency GNSS | LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, ANT+, multi-band and twin frequency GNSS |
| Sensors | Optical HR, barometer, compass, altimeter, Pulse Ox | Optical HR, barometer, compass, altimeter, Pulse Ox, pores and skin temperature, water temperature, depth gauge |
| Battery | As much as 31 days as a smartwatch, 82 hours with GPS monitoring | As much as 36 hours |
| Dimensions | 51 x 51 x 15.0mm and 88 grams | 49 x 44 x 14.4mm and 61.3 grams |
| Value | $1,099 | $799 |
You can purchase the Garmin Epix Professional (2nd Gen) if…
1. Extraordinarily lengthy battery life is significant
The Garmin Epix Professional has the longest battery lifetime of any Garmin watch with an AMOLED show. The Epix Professional, 51mm mannequin, can final you as much as 31 days in smartwatch mode, as much as 82 hours with GPS, as much as 62 hours with all satellite tv for pc techniques, and as much as 17 hours in GPS mode with music enjoying. There are even longer battery life choices with maximizing GPS modes for much less frequent intervals.
Though the Apple Watch Extremely 2 has greatly-increased battery life over present Watch fashions, 36 hours continues to be fairly low in comparison with the Epix Professional. We’ll must see what the battery life is in sensible situations to have a greater understanding of Apple’s claims.
Additionally: Garmin Epix Professional overview: A near-perfect sports activities watch
2. Intensive customizable knowledge fields are wanted
Apple’s newest model of WatchOS contains a number of new choices for knowledge fields, together with working energy, however Garmin is thought for its exhaustive help of customizable knowledge fields in all of its included sports activities. There are even third-party knowledge fields within the Garmin Join retailer to additional develop choices for athletes past what the sports activities and modes that the corporate offers.
When you have specific areas of health that you’re working to enhance, you possibly can embrace these metrics in your Garmin watch. On prime of that, customers can have a number of fields seem on the primary watch face so the exercise expertise is tailor-made to your wants.
3. Mapping on the watch is desired
Probably the most compelling options of the Garmin Epix Professional is the in depth topographic map help that features the NextFork characteristic which helps information you to the proper path throughout out of doors adventures. The touchscreen and buttons facilitate mapping whereas the massive vibrant AMOLED show of the Epix Professional makes navigating instantly on the watch sensible. It’s clearly one of the best GPS sports activities look ahead to mapping in your wrist.
Additionally: Finest sports activities watches: Garmin, Coros, Polar, and extra
You can purchase the Apple Watch Extremely 2 if…
1. Connectivity and security are your precedence
Initially, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 solely connects to the iPhone, so Android telephone customers ought to look elsewhere. Nonetheless, for those who’re an iPhone person, Apple took connectivity to the subsequent stage with mobile help offered by default. This implies it helps the brand new crash detection, fall detection, and emergency SOS options. You may name and textual content, stream music, get instructions, and collect info by way of Siri.
For consciousness, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 offers an 86-decibel siren that’s designed to draw consideration if you end up in bother on the path.
Extra: Apple Watch Extremely overview: More durable than a Powerful Mudder
2. Smartwatch capabilities are important
At its core, the Apple Watch Extremely 2 is an Apple Watch so all the smartwatch performance that makes the Apple Watch one of the best smartwatch obtainable is current on the Extremely 2. Huge third-party app help, seamless connectivity to an Apple iPhone, and extra are offered.
The entire well being and wellness options which might be part of the Apple Well being ecosystem are current on the Extremely 2 so the watch offers all the pieces you like concerning the Apple Watch in a bigger bundle.
3. You scuba dive
Garmin affords only some watches centered on diving experiences so it was fascinating to see how far Apple went with help for the Apple Watch Extremely 2 on this area of interest market. The Extremely 2 serves as a full-featured dive pc together with the Oceanic Plus app. Air standing, ascent/descent monitoring, and extra are offered in a easy and simply understood format. It helps that the brand new Apple Watch Extremely 2 design has a rugged design with tactile buttons and a new Ocean Band for aquatic environments. Depth session logs are additionally now offered on the Watch Extremely 2.
Options to contemplate
There are different GPS sports activities watches and smartwatches to contemplate if neither of those meets your wants. Take into account these ZDNET-recommended gadgets:
