Garmin and Apple are two of the top brands when it comes to premium smartwatches. When shopping for a high-end GPS-enabled fitness tracker, how do you decide between the two? We decided to compare two of the latest models from each brand, the Garmin fēnix 5 Plus vs the Apple Watch Series 4, to give you a better idea of which to get for yourself or as a gift.
The Garmin fenix 5 Plus is jam-packed with fitness-related features and advanced navigation.
Navigation
Garmin vs Apple Watch Comparison Chart
| Model | Garmin fēnix 5 Plus | Apple Watch Series 4 |
|  | |
| Price | Check Price at Garmin.com | Check Price at Amazon.com |
| Design | Rugged, round display | Sleek, rectangular display |
| Case Sizes | 42mm, 47mm, 51mm | 40mm, 44mm |
| Screen Size | 1.2 inches | 1.78 inches |
| Resolutions | 240 x 240 | 324 x 394, 368 x 448 |
| AMOLED Display | No | Yes |
| Water Resistance | Up to 10 ATM | Up to 5 ATM |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Pedometer | Yes | Yes |
| Calorie Burn Tracker | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Stroke Counter | Yes | Yes |
| Multisport Mode | Yes | No |
| Navigation | Advanced | Basic |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android | iOS |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 days | Up to 18 hours |
Design
The Garmin fēnix 5 Plus has a rugged look; the Apple Watch Series 4 has a sleek design.
The overall design of each of these smartwatches should quickly pull you closer to either camp, hopefully making this buying decision much easier.
The rugged and robust build of the fēnix 5 Plus makes it clear that it’s designed for the great outdoors. Long-distance cyclists, mountain climbers, and other athletes who spend as much time training outside as staying indoors will give Garmin’s tough-as-nails smartwatch a solid nod. It’s available in larger sizes than Apple’s, although it has a smaller 1.2 inch screen and a lower resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. Its bright display is easy to see even under intense outdoor light, and it has an always-on option so you can glance at it on the move and check your readouts instantly.
On the other hand, Apple kept the smooth and sleek curves of previous generations of the Apple Watch. It arguably looks more sophisticated, even classy. Despite a smaller case size, its screen only has a thin bezel, maximizing the available space to display each app in vibrant color. Speaking of which, the Apple Watch can be controlled via touchscreen, digital crown, or voice command, while you’ll have to rely on the fēnix 5 Plus’s buttons.
Both devices sport scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lenses and can withstand continuous use underwater, although the Garmin fēnix 5 Plus can go twice as deep as the Series 4.
The Garmin fenix 5 Plus is jam-packed with fitness-related features and advanced navigation.
Activity Tracking
The Garmin fēnix 5 Plus is jam-packed with more fitness-related features.
The Garmin fēnix 5 Plus is an outdoor activity tracker first, and a smartwatch second. This becomes very clear once you compare the depth of the fitness features it offers and the metrics it can measure. It can accurately monitor your heart-rate, using this data to count steps, record sleep quality, calculate calories burned, and determine workout intensity. Moreover, it can compute your workout progress and what level of activity your body can handle at any given moment using your recent exercise history, helping you tune your form as well as keep you within safe limits.
Both devices have multinetwork satellite reception (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) and ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, and compass) to provide excellent navigation even on higher elevations. However, Garmin preloaded the fēnix 5 Plus with map data to optimize its ability to track your location as well as provide optimal routing for off-road trails, a feature any cyclist will love.
Furthermore, fēnix 5 Plus has a multisport mode that automatically detects your activity and loads the appropriate profile. You’ll be able to keep different records for running, cycling, hiking, swimming, rowing, and more. It’s also designed specially for golfers — it comes with thousands of courses detailed with exact yardages, along with a shot distance calculator, scorecard, and more third-party apps to help improve your game.
The Apple Watch Series 4’s activity tracking is nothing to sneeze at, but compared to the fēnix 5 Plus, it’s better suited for keeping an active lifestyle and less for intense training and outdoor challenges.
This Apple Watch Series 4 comes in a Gold Stainless Steel Case with Gold Milanese Loop. Featuring electrical and optical heart sensors, ECG app, and a 30% larger Retina display.
Smart Features
The Apple Watch’s design and features make it the better smartwatch.
In terms of connectivity, the Apple Watch Series 4 has the clear edge. While both have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the Apple Watch syncs automatically and lets you answer calls or send quick replies to texts. With the GPS + Cellular model, you’ll even be able to completely leave your iPhone behind and still stay connected to the internet as well as be available on the same phone number. Apple basically designed a tiny iPhone you can wear.
The larger display and better controls on the Apple Watch also enhance its smartwatch experience. You can access a much bigger library of compatible apps, including Facebook, Strava, Nest, Evernote, Shazam, GoPro, TripAdvisor, etc., and enjoy them on an actual interactive touchscreen. The cellular model will also let you stream music directly from Apple Music, although this requires a monthly plan. The earlier fēnix 5 previously did not have any music capabilities at all, but the new Plus can now store up to 1,000 songs.
Both also offer mobile payment features in the form of Apple Pay and Garmin Pay, so you can enjoy that perk of being able to pay with your wrist, or a fallback in case you forgot your wallet when you went out for a run.
Compatibility and Battery Life
The Garmin fēnix 5 Plus works with Android and it can last up to a week without recharging.
The fēnix 5 Plus packs some serious battery life indeed. Without GPS and music, you can stretch out a single charge to last a full week. That means you can continue wearing the Garmin for several days and track multiple training sessions, while you’ll have to take off and charge the Apple Watch every night as its battery life is only up to 18 hours. With GPS turned on, the Garmin fēnix 5 Plus still lasts almost twice as long as the Apple Watch, 11 hours compared to 6 hours.
Finally, the Apple Watch will only work with iOS devices, while the Garmin can be used with Android in addition.
Verdict
Serious athletes will want the Garmin fēnix 5 Plus, but the Apple Watch Series 4 is the better buy otherwise.
This Apple Watch Series 4 comes in a Gold Stainless Steel Case with Gold Milanese Loop. Featuring electrical and optical heart sensors, ECG app, and a 30% larger Retina display.
The Garmin fenix 5 Plus is jam-packed with fitness-related features and advanced navigation.
The plethora of fitness tracking and navigation features on the Garmin fēnix 5 Plus makes it the clear choice for intense training and outdoor adventures. Triathletes, marathon runners, and those who love the outdoors will especially appreciate how it can help maximize and fine-tune workouts, and how reliable its map guidance is — not to mention how long its battery can last.
On the other hand, if you just want to be able to stay active or are still figuring out what training regimen works for you, the Apple Watch is not only more casual-friendly, it’s also less expensive. That might be a surprise since this is Apple we’re talking about here, but it’s a rare instance of an Apple product being the “budget” choice.
The Garmin fēnix 5 Plus is truly a high-durability gadget with a focused mission, and its premium price tag reflects that. While there are similarly priced Apple Watch Series 4 models, such as the Hermes edition, you can actually get two non-cellular Apple Watches for the price of the fēnix 5 Plus. If you’re more of a fitness enthusiast who wants to enjoy a smartwatch for more than just training, the Apple Watch is the way to go.
FAQs
The accuracy of Garmin and Apple Watch smartwatches is comparable. Both yield accurate and reliable results.
Yes, you can easily connect a Garmin smartwatch or activity tracker to an Apple device via Bluetooth.
Yes, pairing a Garmin with an iPhone through Bluetooth is a breeze.
With the plethora of Garmin watches available today, it’s hard to answer this question with a straight yes or no. Overall, fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the wealth of fitness metrics that top-tier Garmin watches offer.