Apple Watch Series 6 vs Garmin Fenix 6 Pro (2021): Which One Is The Better Match For Your Lifestyle?

The new Apple Watch Series 6 is currently making waves in the smartwatch scene, thanks to its powerful health and wellness features. But even though it’s hogging all of the spotlight right now, we shouldn’t forget that there are other devices out there that deserve attention as well. Take the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, for example. It’s a great smartwatch option, most especially for those who take sports and fitness very seriously. If you’re not sure whether to cop the newest smartwatch from Apple or to go for the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, here’s an in-depth comparison of the two models, taking their design, display, features, battery life, and apps into consideration.

Apple Watch Series 6 vs Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Comparison Chart

Design and Display

The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro has a rugged design while the Apple Watch Series 6 has a sleeker look.

Just from its design and construction alone, you can tell that the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is meant to be taken outdoors. Equipped with a sturdy casing and sapphire glass, you can wear it while you’re roughing it up in the mountains without having to worry about scratching or denting it. Also, it’s great that Garmin gave it physical buttons, making it so much easier to press its controls even if you have sports gloves on. It has a transflective screen as well so even if you’re out for a run and the sun’s shining bright above you, its display remains clear and readable. To boot, it has a water resistance of 10ATM so you can take it with you as you explore the depths of the sea.

As for the Apple Watch Series 6, it looks every bit like a smartwatch. It’s sleek, it’s modern, and would probably appeal more to the majority versus the sporty look of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro. It’s around 12 grams lighter too, making it more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. And because it isn’t as bulky, it’s less likely to flop around while you’re running, allowing it to take more accurate readings. While the size of its display is comparable to that of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, it boasts a much better screen resolution of 448 x 368 pixels (the Fenix 6 Pro’s is at 260 x 260 only).

Features

The Apple Watch Series 6 has better general health metrics while the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro has better sports-related metrics.

If wellness is your priority and would like to have ready access to your general health metrics, you can count on the Apple Watch Series 6 to deliver. In fact, you can expect its heart rate readings to be very accurate, even more so than that of the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro. It’s also exceptionally good at calculating the number of calories you’ve burned which, for a lot of people, is a very important health metric. One of the most impressive features of the Apple Watch Series 6, however, would have to be its electrical heart rate sensor. It takes your ECG on demand and will let you know if your heart’s beating in a normal pattern or if there are any signs of atrial fibrillation.

As for the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, its features are geared more towards those who are highly engaged in sports and fitness. It provides sports-centered health metrics such as Body Battery, a measurement of your body’s energy levels. Getting a higher number means that you have enough energy to perform tasks and activities. A low number, however, should be taken as a sign to rest and conserve energy. It’s pretty impressive, too, that the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is also able to adjust its readings according to the terrain, altitude, and temperature of the environment you’re training in. To boot, it keeps track of your heart rate and respiration rate around the clock.

Something that the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro do have in common, however, is the ability to measure blood oxygen level (what Garmin calls PulseOX). This feature is a helpful one to have, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic because your blood oxygen level is an indicator of how severely the virus is affecting your body.

Apps and Battery

The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro has much better battery life while the Apple Watch Series 6 can be used with a wider variety of apps.

When it comes battery life, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is hands down the more impressive smartwatch. If it’s in GPS mode, it can last up to 10 hours on a single charge while the Apple Watch Series 6 would go kaput after just 3 hours. Sans GPS usage, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro can go two whole weeks without needing a charge while the Apple Watch Series 6 would need a recharge every single day. Not just that but the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro also has a wider range of battery management options, allowing you to save more juice if you’re starting to run out. You can even make it last up to a month although don’t count on it to track with much accuracy.

While the Apple Watch Series 6’s battery life leaves much to be desired, Apple makes up for this with its wide range of apps. Because you can customize the Apple Watch Series 6 with so many different kinds of apps, you can use it for pretty much all aspects of life including fitness, entertainment, productivity, and travel. With the Garmin Connect IQ Store, you’re limited to mostly music, sports, and fitness apps.

Verdict

The Apple Watch Series 6 is for those who want an all-around smartwatch while the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is for those who want a sports-centered smartwatch.

It’s safe to say that the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro are very different smartwatches meant for very different types of people.

The Apple Watch Series 6 is better suited to those who want an all-around smartwatch. Not only is it equipped with health features such as an electrical heart rate sensor and a blood oxygen sensor, but it’s also compatible with an impressive array of apps. This makes it useful in different areas of life and not just wellness. Also, its sleek and modern design makes it more appealing to a wider audience. Of course, the Apple Watch Series 6 is the no-brainer option if you’re already immersed in the Apple ecosystem.

As for the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro, it’s really more for those who want a smartwatch that specializes in sports and fitness (and are willing to pay a hefty price for it). Its design is clearly meant to withstand all kinds of outdoor activities (kayaking, skiing, mountain biking, you name it) and its features are also geared more towards tracking sports-related health metrics such as Body Battery and respiration rate. Another reason to go with the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is for its impressive 14-day battery life.

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