Tech & Gadgets
Apple Watch Series 9 vs Garmin Fenix 7: Smartwatch vs Fitness Tracker
As someone who's trained for marathons with Garmin and lived daily life with Apple Watch, I can tell you these devices serve fundamentally different purposes. Here's my comprehensive comparison after using both for an entire year.
Quick Verdict
Best for casual fitness: Apple Watch Series 9
Best for serious athletes: Garmin Fenix 7
Best battery life: Garmin Fenix 7 (by far)
Best smartwatch features: Apple Watch Series 9
Specifications Comparison
Apple Watch Series 9
- Price: $399 (41mm)
- Battery: 18 hours
- GPS Accuracy: Good
- Sports Modes: 80+
- Water Resistance: 50m
Garmin Fenix 7
- Price: $699
- Battery: 18 days (smartwatch mode)
- GPS Accuracy: Excellent (Multi-band)
- Sports Modes: 100+
- Water Resistance: 100m
Battery Life: No Contest
Garmin Fenix 7 dominates with 18 days of battery in smartwatch mode and 57 hours with continuous GPS. During my marathon training, I tracked 10+ hour runs without worrying about battery.
Apple Watch Series 9 needs daily charging. While 18 hours is enough for most days, long workout days or sleep tracking overnight requires strategic charging.
Fitness Tracking Accuracy
Garmin's multi-band GPS and advanced sensors provide more accurate data for serious training. Heart rate zones, VO2 max, training load, and recovery metrics are far more detailed and reliable.
Apple Watch is excellent for casual fitness tracking but less precise for serious training. The heart rate sensor occasionally lags during high-intensity intervals.
Smartwatch Features
Apple Watch excels here with seamless iPhone integration, responsive Siri, Apple Pay, messaging, and thousands of apps. It's a true extension of your iPhone.
Garmin Fenix 7 offers basic smart notifications but feels dated compared to Apple Watch. No voice assistant, limited apps, and clunky interface for daily tasks.
Pros & Cons
Apple Watch Series 9 Pros
- ✓ Best smartwatch experience
- ✓ Beautiful display and UI
- ✓ Extensive app ecosystem
- ✓ Seamless Apple integration
Apple Watch Series 9 Cons
- ✗ Poor battery life
- ✗ Less accurate for serious training
- ✗ Limited advanced metrics
- ✗ Requires iPhone
Garmin Fenix 7 Pros
- ✓ Outstanding battery life
- ✓ Superior GPS accuracy
- ✓ Advanced training metrics
- ✓ Rugged, durable build
Garmin Fenix 7 Cons
- ✗ Much higher price
- ✗ Dated smartwatch features
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ Bulky design
Final Recommendation
Choose Apple Watch Series 9 if you want an excellent all-around smartwatch with good fitness tracking for casual workouts, gym sessions, and daily activity.
Choose Garmin Fenix 7 if you're a serious athlete training for races, need multi-day battery life, or prioritize accuracy over smartwatch features.