A few weeks ago, I went from my trusty Apple Watch, which between the Series 7 and my previous Series 3, I had been using for about 5 years, and now I’m using the Garmin Fenix 7. So 3 weeks in, how am I getting on having taken that leap from this to this, let’s find out.
The main reason why I wanted to make the change was because after I finished my first half marathon, the battery life on the Apple Watch was at 15%, that’s 15% having started out from 100% about just over 2 and a half hours earlier.
Now I’m aiming to do much longer runs than this in the future, but if I’m tracking my workout then the battery life on this just wasn’t going to cut it.
So after some extensive research into which watch to get, I opted for the standard Garmin Fenix 7.
It ended up being a straight shootout between the Garmin Fenix 7 and the Forerunner 265, and because I managed to get the Fenix 7 at a really good price lower than the 265, I opted for this one.
Now, the Apple Watch is like the right hand of the iPhone, they just get each other. Notifications, apps, Siri, you name it.
But what happens when you introduce a third wheel into this harmonious relationship, that’s going to take the place of the Apple Watch?
First up, notifications. With the Apple Watch, it was a seamless flow of information. Texts, calls, emails, they all just appeared on my wrist, they are mostly all interactive, I can delete, respond and initiate all from the Apple Watch.
But with the Garmin. It’s a bit like going from a private chat to a group text. You get the messages, but it’s not quite as personal or interactive.
I’m not too fussed about that if I’m honest, I knew before I got this that there would be some drawbacks about moving to the Fenix 7 and taking that one step out of the Apple ecosystem.
While people mock and criticise Apple for having hardware that just works and interacts seamlessly with each other, giving you, the user, that sense of needing to be in the ecosystem to have that better unified experience, I’m not one that thinks Apple should share that unique quality that makes their ecosystem so popular, with every piece of tech out there, then it would be less special.
If I want the better smartphone-smartwatch experience, I’ll get an Apple Watch, but because I want something else that this Apple Watch can’t give me, I’ve had to make the sacrifice in order to get those specific features that I want, and that’s fine.
Then there’s the apps as well. Apple’s App Store ecosystem is fulled with apps that work in perfect harmony, some maybe good and some bad. While the Garmin, while robust, is more like a well-tended allotment. It’s got what you need, but you might have to dig a little.
But for me, here’s where the tables turn.
The Fenix 7’s GPS accuracy, battery life, and rugged build quality make it the Iron Man of sports watches.
However, we can’t forget that the Apple Watch Series 7 is a titan of a smartwatch. Its integration with the iPhone is unparalleled, and its ease of use is second to none. It’s like having a mini iPhone on your wrist.
The Garmin Fenix 7 excels as a sportswatch with its robust build, superior battery life, and specialised training features. It’s particularly suited for outdoor and fitness enthusiasts who need a durable and reliable device, that has the battery life to cater for those pursuits.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch Series 7 shines as a smartwatch with its large display, fast charging, and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem.
It’s ideal for users who prioritise connectivity, health features, and a seamless experience with their iPhone and other Apple devices.
Both watches offer unique strengths, so the choice between them would depend on your own specific needs and preferences.
Having used this now for a few weeks, the biggest difference for my use case, is the battery life, while I could probably stretch to one day’s use out of the Series 7, needing to charge it again overnight, every night. It limits me to other things that I want to do with my smartwatch.
While the Fenix 7, on a full charge can last up to 18 days in smartwatch mode, and that’s just with this standard edition.
It can last up to 57 hours in GPS mode, which means, for me, there’s not going to be any long activity that I do, that I can’t track on this watch. I start an activity and the watch let’s me know, that in this mode, with the current battery life, this is how long you’ll get before the battery dies.
Which makes you realise, the Apple Watch Series are suitable for daily use with a convenient quick charge feature, making it ideal for users who are happy to charge their devices regularly.
But on the other hand, the Garmin Fenix 7 and other sport watches with long battery lives, and that includes the Apple Watch Ultra, stand out for their extended battery life, especially in outdoor and sports settings, reducing the need for frequent charging.
It’s that feature primarily, that makes the Fenix 7 a strong choice for athletes and adventurers who require long-lasting performance together with reliable navigation sensors and their ability to often work without the total reliance of one of these, like the Apple Watch does, and because of the better battery life, I’ve been able to finally do sleep tracking without having to worry about waking up to a dead watch, which has happened in the past.
I have previously mentioned how the Apple Watch activity rings were one of the main reasons as to why I’m in this position right now, where I am fitter, healthier and happier but those recent experiences with the battery life of the Series 7, meant I needed to find an alternative that wasn’t the expensive Apple Watch Ultra.
The Apple Watch’s activity rings are excellent for users who want a simple, motivating, and integrated way to track their daily activity, and for me it got me on that path.
While on the other hand, Garmin’s activity tracking offers more depth and customisation, which may be preferred choice of people who are more focused on detailed fitness metrics and performance tracking.
But both systems have their merits, and the choice between them will obviously depend on your personal fitness goals and preferences. For me, right at this moment, the Garmin approach is best for me.
So, what’s the verdict? If your life revolves around fitness, the Garmin Fenix 7 might just be your new best friend. But if you can’t live without that Apple ecosystem, you might want to stick with the Apple Watch.
What do you think about the switch? Would you trade your Apple Watch for a Garmin? Or have you already done, how are you getting on? Let me know in the comments.
If you want to see the video version of this article, check out the YouTube link below: