The dilemma of “smart watches” is when you want to do something right, you can always use your phone. And in the cases when you don’t want to carry a phone, you don’t need the phone functionality, or you’ll just carry the phone. Chances are during these cases what you need is very simple, so you don’t need a sophisticated watch. You got your new fancy Apple Watch, after a lot of fiddling and wiggling, you end up doing the exact same thing with your Garmin. When you have played with these toys long enough, you’ll know it’s stupid to do everything on your watch just because it can do. Because it just doesn’t make sense. You need a map??? Why not use your phone??? Who “mountaineering” without a phone and a lot of battery banks??? Why give yourself a hard time… When all those geeky things settle done, you’ll find yourself don’t need any of these smarter things other than the basic data tracking and displaying… Actually I’m still satisfied with the old Fenix 3 if I don’t have other watches available.
Fantastic, critical look. Testing Garmin vs Apple, too, and you’re spot on with your observations, especially when it comes to cycling. I love it as a smartwatch, and the 3rd party apps are… there… but Garmin is clearly superior for the fitness market.
Apple cant compete with Garmin fitness wise. Everything else sure apple Good at but the metrics to fitness Garmin all the way!😊 plus garmin screams athlete when someone wears it. When i see an apple watch user I cant take em seriously lol
Well that's the difference - if you want a smartwatch with sport functions and some endurance you go for the Apple, if you want a sports watch with smart functions and better endurance you go for a Garmin and if you want an indestructible watch with some notifications and some sport functions you go for a G-Shock...
You need to get a third party app. Work outdoors is top notch. Had I not known about that app, I wouldn’t have bought the Ultra. Still have my epic, but that app is an equalizer…imo.
@@bdubs1967 see, I like WorkOutDoors, but it’s far from an equalizer for me. It’s a good app, but it still doesn’t match up to Garmin’s mapping or information field display capabilities: Map downloads are cumbersome, there aren’t turn by turn directions, and topographical mapping is very slow. Plus I’ve had issues, even with downloaded maps, in areas with no reception. Still, it’s good enough that I can see someone (myself) saying, “yep, I’ll save myself $200 and just get this $6 app, instead.”
@@NorbReviews clearly, I haven't parted ways with my Epix so I may rescind my "equalizer" with closer. The Ultra is my 1st Apple Watch and I find myself wearing it more than my Epix. But, I favor the epix on MTB rides so....yea.
Me and you both... I used the 735xt for 4 years before upgrading to the Epix. Had it for a few weeks before the AWU was announced. I debated between the two for a LONG time and decided to return the Epix and get the AWU. It was love at first sight! The integration with the Apple Ecosystem, the smart features, and accurate pool swimming mode (my main issue with Garmin). But after about 2 months, I started to miss the Garmin. I do triathlons and train around 10-15 hours a week, I do a few long trail runs each year, and wear my watch all the time. As good as the AWU was, it wasn't a true sports watch to me. 1- Pausing the workouts even with the two buttons is a nightmare, especially here in Alberta (Canada) with long winters when I'm wearing layers and thick gloves outside 2- Putting workouts into the watch is so complicated 3- I downloaded the Athlytic app on the watch but what I see and how I feel don't match. I do a hard run workout and the watch says I'm 100% recovered??? 4- Initially, the battery life was fine but eventually, having to charge the watch every couple of days became annoying. 5- I do ski touring and there is no mode for that, so I had to put it into hiking mode There are just a lot of small things that a true sports watch does way better. I ended up selling the watch for a loss and going back to the Epix. AWU might be the best watch for someone who wants smart features but also exercises for fun. But if you are a serious athlete, don't make the mistake I made and stick to a true sports watch!
I'm still loving my Fenix 6 after almost 2 years of use, my brother is still using my fenix 3hr that is over 5 years old. We both work in heavy industry and wear our watches all the time, and they have shown almost no signs of wear. The lack of touchscreen is something that i really like, the hard buttons work very well especially in wet environments that touch screens just don't. The maps built in have been amazing, being able to easily navigate even with no service really helps out on mountain bike trails and when i was working in remote locations it was super helpful to get between locations.
Thanks for this video and your update commentary on real, long term use in a triathlon context. It’s not often someone is open about changing their mind, so that’s refreshing content. The update is extremely informative and useful for someone like me who really wants to have a good Apple Watch companion for his current existing Apple product ecosystem. I think I’ll stick with my Forerunner until the Ultra evolves thanks to your insight!
Long time Garmin user. Had to try the ultra and see for myself. Returned it after a week of use. Then got another, just to be sure I guess. Returned it and happily back to Garmin again.
I have te exact same experience. Had the ultra and my epix. Wanted to give the ultra a try because it’s Apple en in-line everything from Apple. It’s not only that iv been using a garmin Fenix Watch for the last 7 years that made the ultra a strange Watch. Everything I thought was normal on a sport watch was missing on the ultra. All the things you mentioned in the video. Controls are a mess with all the swiping etc. And I totally missed stress and body battery. Tried atletyc app and it was ok but don’t want more subscriptions in my live. I like the all in one package and app from garmin. It just works.
You nailed it. I chose the Epix after seeing that Garmin fixed most of the issues I had with the Fenix 6 over 2 years ago. Already seeing a lot of progress for organizing my strength training, running and cycling. Also, in Europe the prices are reversed. The Epix is 800 Eur and the AW is 1000 EUR. I miss some of the smartwatch features from my older AW5 but I get much more on the training side.
I quickly found out I'd need too many monthly/yearly subscriptions to make the watch useable making the watch way too expensive to own over the course of a few years so back it went.
Been using Apple product for quite a few years and have owned several Apple Watches. When I saw the Ultra, knowing Apple’s design mantra, I stayed with my Fenix. Apple may get there however … currently it hasn’t.
Hey, great review, love it. Personally there’s some points I would like to share. I know that’s maybe nerdy but really like « general health » data presented daily by Garmin such as body battery, preparation to workout, sleep score rating, stress rating etc. I find it really useful to help me train when it is the right time and have more insight of my body state. What do you think ?
Great video and it explains exactly why I am going back to my Epix Gen 2. I tried the Ultra for one month and although is the perfect smartwatch, it is not as near as complete as Garmin's Fenix line. My thoughts is that the apple watch is a seies 8 on steroids... I have had to download so many apps to make it work on the gym and for Cycling but none of the apps work as the stock ones on my Garmin. And on top of that, all those apps are paid ones, none of them are free. Hello again Garmin ❤.
May be they did not really expect them to be used as adventure watchers. In a way, they probably filled more expensive gadget niche. And adventure marketing just for the new owners to feel better and more adventurous about themselves
Great review! Agree w all points. Well said, well laid out, great inlay of additional video content, great background music, great sound quality. Keep it up!
great review, im looking at changing from a iwatch series 7 to a garmin forerunner 945. so confused,. currently getting into cycling/running and swimming, I want to train for a small marathon or even a triathlon in 6 months.
I'm glad you talked about the altimeter issue I called support today about it and they told me try doing a workout and wait 24-48 hours to calibrate it.
I made exact same move (AW Ultra to Fenix 7). Just got so fed up of AW touch screen glitches in the rain or when running with gloves. Garmin (and buttons) just work - doesn’t get in the way of your training. Plus no contest for trail running.
Great take on the Ultra, I think it just boils down to the revenue they make from 3rd party apps. I don't think they will ever elevate any of their other built in workouts. I tried the Garmin Fenix Pro for my paddling and it was great but being out at sea I need cellular available for emergencies so went back to my apple watch.
Spot on review. I have been observing how at the beginning of many workouts the apple watch fails to record heart rate then kicks in a good minute or more in. My Fenix or Polars never had this issue.
I've tried almost every smart watch under the sun yet I keep going back to garmin, yeah you can't use siri or google assistant, can't really make phone calls, but there's just something so great about the simplicity, and of course the fitness suite can't be beat
For me the Venu 2 Plus is the best of both worlds. You can read your messages on a nice amoled display, can make phonecalls, have all the garmin functionality and still get 9 days of battery life.
Love this review, spot on with short comings of the apple watch. I have the Garmin fenix 6xpro and was thinking of going the apple direction but will definitely be waiting for second or third gen Apple ultra.
I have the 6x solar and the ultra and I definitely miss the battery life still but what killed me what the accuracy in trail running on the 6x. Unless I was doing something wrong
Good quality video there, you deserve more subscribers. As an Android user I have no interest in the apple watch, but I did recently get the Garmin Forerunner 955, but I feel like I really don't know how to use it properly, I have a five day a week routine of treadmill, strength and swimming but a lot of the tracking seems to be off for me, treadmill says I'm running much faster than the treadmill says, strength training is surprisingly accurate, and pool swimming always adds at least one or two extra laps. Once the weather warms up I'm also wanting to go on a fairly long hike, so I need to learn a bit about setting up maps and all that. Feels like this watch can do so much, but learning how to use it to its fullest isn't easy.
Thanks, nice video. I have been using Apple Watch for years, changed AW7 for Garmin epics in Spring, several months ago bought AW Ultra. I am not a big sportsman and I am satisfied but sometimes I still using Epics and I think Garmin has much better functions for sports, training, activity, etc. AW Ultra are better smartwatch. It is difficult how to combine, wearing two watches sucks.
Apple aren’t interested in making ‘good’ hardware, they’re interested in making ‘good enough’ hardware, then letting the devs take the slack. There was a time when they were a great company, alas that was a long time ago. Now they’re just a machine to make money, which is fine, so long as people know thats what they’re buying into ! Great videos by the way
When the ultra was released I started thinking about the justification to upgrade from my current AW6. The AW which has cellular has been great with the native tools and functionality...Phone, txt to voice, vice versa, flashlight, etc.., siri . that allow me to keep my phone in my pocket or nearby....just not with me glued to the screen. I could not justify the $800 dollar purchase, but I did research and purchase a Garmin Fenix 6 sapphire new for $350 and I'm super happy with the buttons, functionality, battery life as I'm learning to use it more and more. I also prefer the looks of the Fenix as I have a few nice mechanical watches as well and I prefer that look of a rugged or diver design. I don't mind wearing a 2nd watch either, so I will put the apple on my other wrist if I think I'm going to need certain features that come in handy and can keep me from reaching for my phone.
I had purchased both the Apple Watch Ultra and Epix months ago. In the end I returned the AW ultra and kept the Epix. I use the Epix for anything sports/fitness related and I’m still using my AW4 for everything else. Epix is still leaps and bounds better than AW minus some of the “smart” features.
To me the Epix 2 as a smart watch is underrated. As a smartwatch, is does everything, I really need: notifications about messages from my connected smartphone, viewing my daily appointments form my google calendar and get notifications, when an appointment approaches, notifications of incoming phone calls, timer, stop watch, alarms, current weather and forecast, sunrise and sunset times. I don‘t need much more from a smart watch perspective. If I want to respond to a message or answer a phone call, I would always switch to my smartphone, which I have always with me. Doing such things on a watch would be very cumbersome anyway. Would I like to listen music from my smart watch? Certainly not. On the other hand, the Epix 2 has everything, what I need to track activities and monitor the state of my body. Garmin has everything build in, including offline maps, which is the killer feature for me. And on top of that a much better battery life. I also prefer the user interface of the Epix, which is better structured and more ergonomic. And finally, I am not bound to the apple ecosystem as the Garmin watches work with IOS and Android devices equally well.
That is your case, your need. Not for all, in my case the possibility to leave my phone at home while I am on the mountain bike is the best. I have full tracking, real SOS free, can answer messages, check my email, also offline topo maps, everything without the need to carry my phone. That is really great for me. The battery is not an issue, I can charge every two days without issue, just when I go to sleep. So, I used garmin fenix, fr and epic for about 6 years, great watches no doubt, best sportwatches no doubt, but I prefer a smartwatch thatn a sportwatch I think this is the decision point.
@@isaacvff If I do sports, hiking or biking, I don‘t answer phone calls at all if possible. These activities are meant to be away from your daily business. Usually I have a biking bag, a backpack or a hip back with me, so it is easy to carry a phone with me. During activities it is enough to be notified of calls or messages, but nothing except very urgent cases would force me to answer a phone call, especially when being in the nature. Long battery life is one of the top features I want to have and in that matter the Apple Watches are still a joke. Every two days charging is no way. It is great not be free of that ant the new 52mm Epix Pro offers even more battery life than the Epix 2. I think Apple should also go into that direction. So far not much improvement there.
I had a very similar experience w/ the Garmin Venu vs both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro & 5 40mm. Garmin worked out of the box, GW series never did work as advertised. The Venu after a year still gets 2x the GW5 Pro. Same with the apps
Garmin is missing LTE and voice assistant. They have it (sort of) on their Venu 2 and forerunner 945LTE but where are those things on their flagship Fenix or Epix?
The lack of maps and routes on the watch is a huge omission and the reason I'm hanging on to my 955. The other glaring problem with all watches is the teeny tiny font for activity metrics which can't be enlarged and I can't read while running. I can reduce down to 2 metrics per page but they remain the same size 😂. Big sighs of relief all round at Garmin.
I am not convinced about the Apple Ultra. When it came out, I decided to switch from Apple watch 7 to Garmin 7x SS last week and enjoying it a lot. Looks great (both professional and sporty at the same time), works great, massive battery life + solar, lots of fitness options, cool apps. I definitely miss the Apple wallet because I could add my octopus card (Hong Kong public transport, entry card, buying stuff, etc) and microphone (really, Garmin... a microphone vs a flashlight and you went for the flashlight??)... but so far, Garmin impresses me.
Thanks for the review. I really like the Epix Gen2. It is better than the Fenix3HR I moved from, in every way. I charge daily but usually from 80% charge with no battery extenders turned on. My Fenix3HR had terrible altitude errors, but not the Epix Gen2. I enjoyed your review.
Got a Garmin 530 for my cycling, and it’s completely eliminated my need of a new Fenix. Still on my 3HR and outside of bands I can’t see the need for upgrading. Best watch I’ve ever had.
Thanks for this - I clearly will have to keep my fenix 5 plus if I get the AW Ultra. I don't really have a problem with that, but I am interested in finally getting an AW so I can leave my phone behind for certain occasions. Maybe I should just get an SE with cellular? But the battery life just seems so short... Completely agreed re: apple wanting their 30%...but they could at least provide offline mapping support & the ability for workouts like skiing or SUP to record your GPS track with some basic metric customization like the garmin screens.
i want the AWu for Gym, outdoor exercises, for light hiking trails skiing, and jogging I have a MacBook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max i never had a watch before, i'm just tired of lugging my iPhone 14 promax in the gym I would like to pair up my $280 Bose to the Apple Watch if i get one next week, i was looking at something called Garmin fenix 7 i've never had any of their stuff except for GPS for the car ha ha I'm stuck I don't know which one to get does garmin have LTE cellular? can i make calls with it in case i leave my phone at home???? i'm stuck between a rock
I understand your frustration but the thing is we have choices from two awesome watches from two company who is providing awesome products for us outdoors people
I have the fenix 5 sapphire.. it’s just too good. I’ve had to replace the band but that’s it. I’d love to upgrade to something more impressive like the epix but it’s too expensive. I got this fenix with a 45% discount. Keeping my eyes open for the next discount.. just can never go wrong with Garmin.
They can provide every single feature that Garmin’s top line watches have and they can do it better but they won’t. You are right Because than how will they extort money from third party app developers and in the name of app store charges, or how will they cut their 30% when you buy a paid service on those app. Bullshit!!! I barely used my apple watch to take calls, send messages. Their battery died when i needed it most. Got fed up Hassle charging it everyday. I ditched my apple watch last year for Garmin forerunner 255 and was very happy with all the analysis and training plans. I bought Epix pro Gen 2 yesterday and i love it. On my wrist It doesn’t look every other rectangle apple watch or Chinese copies of apple watches.
You look, and sound like a RUclips channel with 1.12 Million subs. I can't believe you only have 1.12K. Your voice volume in comparison to your relaxing music is perfectly balanced, and your mic on your shirt with the proper fluff ball to block out the sounds of the wind, make you sound and look like a true pro. I subbed btw, which I do rarely, as I myself RUclips full time, and generally don't have time to watch others. PS: Forgot to mention, I'm torn between Apple Watch ultra or a Fenix 7X solar sapphire. I only jog / walk, and love keeping track of my overall steps, and how much exercise I've done with the green ring, where it measures how many min you been active over a certain heart rate. I'm torn. Currently on a Series 5 Apple watch. Had a 5X Fenix years ago.
Great critical look at the Apple Watch. The lack of deep integration with the action button is a real head scratcher. As is the poor underwater performance with buttons. I went scuba diving with the Apple Watch and it was very frustrating to not be able to switch modes easily and select things. Super dumb.
Your 'rant' was not a rant. Verbal carpenter, you're hitting the nail every time. You're a million Subber easily. You were very fair to Apple. Keep 'ranting'. I'm not Apple, but YES, I even expect better than Apple. As you said, especially when their advertising was, well, embellishing! Great point. Subbed, #822 of 1,000,000. Lol. Great conversation!
Completely agree max! I love kayaking but have to use MapMyRide in order to get GPS data, ridiculous! Also you’re right, MySwimPro is a fantastic app for serious swimmers but the native workout app absolutely sucks! I could see Apple maybe not wanting to venture into personalized workout plans like MySwimPro provides, but they should at least be able to accurately track a set.
i got the series 7 42mm apple watch for Christmas in 2021 but man...ill cry the day my suunto traverse alpha dies, 6 years so far and still over a week in between charging : )
I got teh Epix pro 51 mm in December and haven't taken it off since. I like my AWU as a smart watch, but I still prefer the Epix, it looks better, I like the buttons, and it makes me want to go out and exercise because the watch has so many workout features. I keep telling myself Ill use the AWU for work!
@Max Patten good job and practical review I largely agree with. Especially Apple Workout app e.g. not recording with GNSS track and L+R stroke/min including when paddle-boarding is a sorry ‘laugh’ @09:45 tip💡to add WorkOutDoors app to the Action button of your Ultra to start WOD with 1 press: (1) create a ‘Open app’ 🤖automation for WOD in the Shortcut app on your 📲, (2) set this 🤖automation under its ‘Details’ to ‘Show on Apple watch’ (3) in Watch app under Action button set Action to ‘Shortcuts’ and select your newly created shortcut to Open WOD’. Done ✅ from now on open WOD with 1 press of Action button👌 Additionally in WOD settings you can set what you want when WOD opens: countdown, instant recording or just menu/ map. nJoy
Nice honest review from real athletes perspective without the marketing hype. As a longtime garmin user I too jumped on the ultra and as a smart watch I absolutely love it. But the need to fill gaps with 3rd party apps and the inability to use physical buttons to start / pause / stop fitness is such a disappointment. However I’m going to stay and push through this new relationship.
I’ve gone on other reviews video and a problem is Garmin uses are very territorial, on videos like Quantified Scientist, some are unable to accept if their Garmin are not the best at something, it’s like a comment here, "I see them with a Apple Watch and can’t take them seriously"… man get over yourself, that isn’t a good look either. People should be able to chose a device of their choice without put downs
Agree. Apple Watch on WatchOS 9.2 has made a lot of improvements. However I am still very frustrated with the native Apple Watch work out app it doesn’t allow to customize the screens! If I want to have all parameters (heart zone, pace, heart rate, distance, time running) IN A SINGLE SCREEN FOR RUNNING isn’t possible. That’s why I rely on WorkOutDoors, frankly, the only reason I still use my Apple Watch (I’m saving for a Fenix 7)…not to mention lack of topo maps, and the poor battery…
Here i am switching from Apple Watch to amazfit to fossil gen 6 to finally garmin venu sq 2 music and i hope my experiments ends. I loved the apple watch for the smrtwatch it was it lacked 3 major things- 1 no android connection, 2 poor battery life charge everyday , 3 the fitness native support and very less fitness data- you explained that -pretty well awesome video. With garmin i get all 3 issues solved it lacks the software experience,3rd party apps support but overall beats apple watch if you are a active sports person or focusing on health. So let garmin help me be in peace with my watch for next 5 years. 😊
touchscreen on any device will not work when there is sweat on it. my experience in apple watch ultra is frustrating when im running. and it's not just the altimeter that is wonky. barometer is wonky too. I use my garmin fenix 6 barometer as a warning for setting my tent when camping or finding shelter before it rained when im mountain hiking. ditched my apple ultra as a daily driver few months ago and returned to my fenix 6.
In tried to use the Apple Watch as well, coming from Garmin, and only made it about a week. The swim thing was a huge thing for me. Have you been able to find any decent swim app. MySwimPro was all I found, and it was SO expensive, so an immediate no go. Also agree with everything else you said.
I sold my fenix 3 hr and got an apple watch. I loved the smart phone functions but agree the native workout apps are terrible on the Apple watch. That and having to charge every night (non ultra watch) led me to sell the apple watch and buy another garmin. I found the smartwatch functions were cool but the only thing I really used was viewing texts and emails, which can be done on the garmin.
I think the Apple Watch Ultra has its place as does the standard Apple Watch but for anyone who loves being outdoors, the Gamin beat Apple every time. The battery life is a big plus in the Garmin, I charge mine most weekends when I'm uploading my latest Topo maps and after a week of 14 walks and three visits to the gym, I've still got 15-18 days of battery life left. Being able to plan a route and then load that into my watch and have the maps is also a massive plus. AW is a great tool for indoor and urban use but it's like a fish out of water as soon as you leave those environments.
yea as soon as you lose cellular the AWU isn't great. My Garmin Epix pro works great in the middle of no where. It tracks like a champ and the onboard maps and battery life, make it the clear choice for outdoor stuff.
Lack of offline maps is a glaring omission. Also I can’t believe they still don’t have Trail Running as a workout option (neither does workoutdoors app). Functional fitness would be a good one too.
The pinnacle of smartwatch would be(in my opinion) a fenix 7 with calling and text messages! As much as I would like to have a Ultra!It misses the topo maps!!! I don't have any but I'm in between this problem, I love the connectivity and the way you navigate in the screen... All those icons moving...all that"apple thing"... Ah ah... But I do mtb a lot for long hours and I like to explore new trails! And I don't want to be worried if my battery will last, I want to be able at some time of my ride to look at the maps and discover a new trail and trying that trail for the first time... That's exploring! And I think that with a Ultra you can't do it!But I love the way the Ultra"works"!! 😅
Great video review. I'll stick with my Garmin smartwatch collection lol. Even my low level FR 55 Garmin smartwatch works for my rugged/outdoor/athletic lifestyle over the apple smartwatch selection. I'm perhaps bias towards Garmin because I'm a army veteran. And in nature Garmin products target outdoor navigation 🧭 lol. However if I get a AWU as a gift I wouldn't turn it down lol. Anyways peace man it's the function for me too lol
Absolutely nailed it. Whilst Apple will continue to develop their smartwatches, there’s no way they would do so at the expense of the revenue generated from apps. I’ve been using Apple Watches since S2 and finally made the leap from S8 to the Garmin Forerunner. It’s not been an easy transition but I’m glad I’ve done it. With Apple Watches, they collect all this data and don’t really do anything with it unless you dig through apple health. With my Garmin, it constantly takes that same data and says “hey, why not take a rest day” or “you’re showing more stress than usual. Why not do some breath work?”. Also, it’s so nice having everything in one single app.
Echo’s my thoughts too, unfortunately. About to sell the AWU for an Epix 2. Want the Training Readiness and Morning Report. I don’t trust Athlytic. Garmin just works, something I’d normally say about Apple. But with dapple, it just works applies only in the Apple ecosystem.
Good choice. I have 8 and Epix 2 and epix is miles better in anything pretty much :) while looks good hehehe :) Oh and battery on epix is 10 better as well.
Great video. Are you planning to switch back to Garmin? Apple Watch lost me several years ago when they did the following: 1) showing 1/100 sec on the stop watch. - waste of space. With a touch screen to toggle on and off, no one will ever need this precision 2) Needing to swipe to stop workouts 3) Unlocking the screen after swimming. The delay of the speaker purging the water is gimmicky and does not warrant freezing my touch screen while it does this. I noticed this a few years ago and as of last year, Watch OS still does these.
The Apple Watch business model is like a gaming console or a laptop - you have to purchase subscriptions and apps to do the things you want. I did noticed the Apple Watch just takes snapshots of your health status (to extend battery life I think) unlike the Garmin watches which are constantly checking.
Yes I wish I’d mentioned in the video that Garmin watches have 24/7 continuous HR tracking; Apple Watch even with the Ultra model only appears to check every few minutes. This results (in my experience) in significantly higher resting heart rate measurements.
@@iMaxPatten I have Garmin Forerunner 945 and the altimeter is not showing right elevation even after doing calibration. Not that I am defending Apple Watch just saying.
My only problem…why can’t the watch broadcast the heart rate to my bike computer?? It’s not that difficult especially when cheaper fitness watches can do so.
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The dilemma of “smart watches” is when you want to do something right, you can always use your phone. And in the cases when you don’t want to carry a phone, you don’t need the phone functionality, or you’ll just carry the phone. Chances are during these cases what you need is very simple, so you don’t need a sophisticated watch. You got your new fancy Apple Watch, after a lot of fiddling and wiggling, you end up doing the exact same thing with your Garmin. When you have played with these toys long enough, you’ll know it’s stupid to do everything on your watch just because it can do. Because it just doesn’t make sense. You need a map??? Why not use your phone??? Who “mountaineering” without a phone and a lot of battery banks??? Why give yourself a hard time… When all those geeky things settle done, you’ll find yourself don’t need any of these smarter things other than the basic data tracking and displaying… Actually I’m still satisfied with the old Fenix 3 if I don’t have other watches available.
Great comments
Fantastic, critical look. Testing Garmin vs Apple, too, and you’re spot on with your observations, especially when it comes to cycling. I love it as a smartwatch, and the 3rd party apps are… there… but Garmin is clearly superior for the fitness market.
Apple cant compete with Garmin fitness wise. Everything else sure apple
Good at but the metrics to fitness Garmin all the way!😊 plus garmin screams athlete when someone wears it. When i see an apple watch user I cant take em seriously lol
Well that's the difference - if you want a smartwatch with sport functions and some endurance you go for the Apple, if you want a sports watch with smart functions and better endurance you go for a Garmin and if you want an indestructible watch with some notifications and some sport functions you go for a G-Shock...
You need to get a third party app. Work outdoors is top notch. Had I not known about that app, I wouldn’t have bought the Ultra. Still have my epic, but that app is an equalizer…imo.
@@bdubs1967 see, I like WorkOutDoors, but it’s far from an equalizer for me. It’s a good app, but it still doesn’t match up to Garmin’s mapping or information field display capabilities: Map downloads are cumbersome, there aren’t turn by turn directions, and topographical mapping is very slow. Plus I’ve had issues, even with downloaded maps, in areas with no reception. Still, it’s good enough that I can see someone (myself) saying, “yep, I’ll save myself $200 and just get this $6 app, instead.”
@@NorbReviews clearly, I haven't parted ways with my Epix so I may rescind my "equalizer" with closer. The Ultra is my 1st Apple Watch and I find myself wearing it more than my Epix. But, I favor the epix on MTB rides so....yea.
Me and you both...
I used the 735xt for 4 years before upgrading to the Epix. Had it for a few weeks before the AWU was announced. I debated between the two for a LONG time and decided to return the Epix and get the AWU. It was love at first sight! The integration with the Apple Ecosystem, the smart features, and accurate pool swimming mode (my main issue with Garmin). But after about 2 months, I started to miss the Garmin. I do triathlons and train around 10-15 hours a week, I do a few long trail runs each year, and wear my watch all the time.
As good as the AWU was, it wasn't a true sports watch to me.
1- Pausing the workouts even with the two buttons is a nightmare, especially here in Alberta (Canada) with long winters when I'm wearing layers and thick gloves outside
2- Putting workouts into the watch is so complicated
3- I downloaded the Athlytic app on the watch but what I see and how I feel don't match. I do a hard run workout and the watch says I'm 100% recovered???
4- Initially, the battery life was fine but eventually, having to charge the watch every couple of days became annoying.
5- I do ski touring and there is no mode for that, so I had to put it into hiking mode
There are just a lot of small things that a true sports watch does way better.
I ended up selling the watch for a loss and going back to the Epix. AWU might be the best watch for someone who wants smart features but also exercises for fun. But if you are a serious athlete, don't make the mistake I made and stick to a true sports watch!
Depends on what kinda athlete you are. If you use the Apple Watch Ultra with Workoutdoors its really good.
Thanks for this comment 🙏🏻 very helpful and informative 💪🏼
I'm still loving my Fenix 6 after almost 2 years of use, my brother is still using my fenix 3hr that is over 5 years old. We both work in heavy industry and wear our watches all the time, and they have shown almost no signs of wear. The lack of touchscreen is something that i really like, the hard buttons work very well especially in wet environments that touch screens just don't. The maps built in have been amazing, being able to easily navigate even with no service really helps out on mountain bike trails and when i was working in remote locations it was super helpful to get between locations.
I want t hat watch!
Thanks for this video and your update commentary on real, long term use in a triathlon context. It’s not often someone is open about changing their mind, so that’s refreshing content. The update is extremely informative and useful for someone like me who really wants to have a good Apple Watch companion for his current existing Apple product ecosystem. I think I’ll stick with my Forerunner until the Ultra evolves thanks to your insight!
I’d rather give my money to the company passionate about fitness and not looking to eat into a new market.
Long time Garmin user. Had to try the ultra and see for myself. Returned it after a week of use. Then got another, just to be sure I guess. Returned it and happily back to Garmin again.
I have te exact same experience. Had the ultra and my epix. Wanted to give the ultra a try because it’s Apple en in-line everything from Apple. It’s not only that iv been using a garmin Fenix Watch for the last 7 years that made the ultra a strange Watch. Everything I thought was normal on a sport watch was missing on the ultra. All the things you mentioned in the video. Controls are a mess with all the swiping etc. And I totally missed stress and body battery. Tried atletyc app and it was ok but don’t want more subscriptions in my live. I like the all in one package and app from garmin. It just works.
You nailed it. I chose the Epix after seeing that Garmin fixed most of the issues I had with the Fenix 6 over 2 years ago. Already seeing a lot of progress for organizing my strength training, running and cycling. Also, in Europe the prices are reversed. The Epix is 800 Eur and the AW is 1000 EUR. I miss some of the smartwatch features from my older AW5 but I get much more on the training side.
I keep my AW7 for daily use and my Fenix for fun times.
I quickly found out I'd need too many monthly/yearly subscriptions to make the watch useable making the watch way too expensive to own over the course of a few years so back it went.
Maybe to sum it up in a quick sense: Apple makes smartwatches w/ athletic features whereas Garmin makes athletic watches with smart features?
Been using Apple product for quite a few years and have owned several Apple Watches. When I saw the Ultra, knowing Apple’s design mantra, I stayed with my Fenix. Apple may get there however … currently it hasn’t.
Hey, great review, love it. Personally there’s some points I would like to share. I know that’s maybe nerdy but really like « general health » data presented daily by Garmin such as body battery, preparation to workout, sleep score rating, stress rating etc. I find it really useful to help me train when it is the right time and have more insight of my body state. What do you think ?
Great video and it explains exactly why I am going back to my Epix Gen 2. I tried the Ultra for one month and although is the perfect smartwatch, it is not as near as complete as Garmin's Fenix line. My thoughts is that the apple watch is a seies 8 on steroids... I have had to download so many apps to make it work on the gym and for Cycling but none of the apps work as the stock ones on my Garmin. And on top of that, all those apps are paid ones, none of them are free. Hello again Garmin ❤.
May be they did not really expect them to be used as adventure watchers. In a way, they probably filled more expensive gadget niche. And adventure marketing just for the new owners to feel better and more adventurous about themselves
Great review! Agree w all points. Well said, well laid out, great inlay of additional video content, great background music, great sound quality. Keep it up!
I think you were totally fair in your gripes. I think this is why I had apprehension about buying this watch. I will wait until the 2..good job
great review, im looking at changing from a iwatch series 7 to a garmin forerunner 945. so confused,. currently getting into cycling/running and swimming, I want to train for a small marathon or even a triathlon in 6 months.
I'm glad you talked about the altimeter issue I called support today about it and they told me try doing a workout and wait 24-48 hours to calibrate it.
I made exact same move (AW Ultra to Fenix 7). Just got so fed up of AW touch screen glitches in the rain or when running with gloves. Garmin (and buttons) just work - doesn’t get in the way of your training. Plus no contest for trail running.
Great take on the Ultra, I think it just boils down to the revenue they make from 3rd party apps. I don't think they will ever elevate any of their other built in workouts. I tried the Garmin Fenix Pro for my paddling and it was great but being out at sea I need cellular available for emergencies so went back to my apple watch.
Yeah, it's kind of surprising they don't have any watches with inReach. I take my GPSMap 66i for situations like that.
It wouldn't surprise me that within two years Garmin will be making more of their high-end watches with cellular functions. Let's hope so!
from the developer perspective, it's good for them. and competition drives innovation
Which Watch would you recommend for bodybuilders?
Good to hear an honest accurate review. Thanks!
Spot on review. I have been observing how at the beginning of many workouts the apple watch fails to record heart rate then kicks in a good minute or more in. My Fenix or Polars never had this issue.
I've tried almost every smart watch under the sun yet I keep going back to garmin, yeah you can't use siri or google assistant, can't really make phone calls, but there's just something so great about the simplicity, and of course the fitness suite can't be beat
For me the Venu 2 Plus is the best of both worlds. You can read your messages on a nice amoled display, can make phonecalls, have all the garmin functionality and still get 9 days of battery life.
Love this review, spot on with short comings of the apple watch. I have the Garmin fenix 6xpro and was thinking of going the apple direction but will definitely be waiting for second or third gen Apple ultra.
I have the 6x solar and the ultra and I definitely miss the battery life still but what killed me what the accuracy in trail running on the 6x. Unless I was doing something wrong
@@juniorsegovia116 since you have both, what are your thoughts on the ultra? Do you use it more than the 6x? Thanks for your opinion and insights.
Good quality video there, you deserve more subscribers.
As an Android user I have no interest in the apple watch, but I did recently get the Garmin Forerunner 955, but I feel like I really don't know how to use it properly, I have a five day a week routine of treadmill, strength and swimming but a lot of the tracking seems to be off for me, treadmill says I'm running much faster than the treadmill says, strength training is surprisingly accurate, and pool swimming always adds at least one or two extra laps. Once the weather warms up I'm also wanting to go on a fairly long hike, so I need to learn a bit about setting up maps and all that.
Feels like this watch can do so much, but learning how to use it to its fullest isn't easy.
Thanks, nice video. I have been using Apple Watch for years, changed AW7 for Garmin epics in Spring, several months ago bought AW Ultra. I am not a big sportsman and I am satisfied but sometimes I still using Epics and I think Garmin has much better functions for sports, training, activity, etc. AW Ultra are better smartwatch. It is difficult how to combine, wearing two watches sucks.
Apple aren’t interested in making ‘good’ hardware, they’re interested in making ‘good enough’ hardware, then letting the devs take the slack. There was a time when they were a great company, alas that was a long time ago. Now they’re just a machine to make money, which is fine, so long as people know thats what they’re buying into ! Great videos by the way
When the ultra was released I started thinking about the justification to upgrade from my current AW6. The AW which has cellular has been great with the native tools and functionality...Phone, txt to voice, vice versa, flashlight, etc.., siri . that allow me to keep my phone in my pocket or nearby....just not with me glued to the screen. I could not justify the $800 dollar purchase, but I did research and purchase a Garmin Fenix 6 sapphire new for $350 and I'm super happy with the buttons, functionality, battery life as I'm learning to use it more and more. I also prefer the looks of the Fenix as I have a few nice mechanical watches as well and I prefer that look of a rugged or diver design. I don't mind wearing a 2nd watch either, so I will put the apple on my other wrist if I think I'm going to need certain features that come in handy and can keep me from reaching for my phone.
Me too.....
Couldn’t you calibrate altimeter and/or set it manually like you do it on expedition?
I had purchased both the Apple Watch Ultra and Epix months ago. In the end I returned the AW ultra and kept the Epix. I use the Epix for anything sports/fitness related and I’m still using my AW4 for everything else. Epix is still leaps and bounds better than AW minus some of the “smart” features.
What watchOS version you one take a look at washes 9
To me the Epix 2 as a smart watch is underrated. As a smartwatch, is does everything, I really need: notifications about messages from my connected smartphone, viewing my daily appointments form my google calendar and get notifications, when an appointment approaches, notifications of incoming phone calls, timer, stop watch, alarms, current weather and forecast, sunrise and sunset times. I don‘t need much more from a smart watch perspective. If I want to respond to a message or answer a phone call, I would always switch to my smartphone, which I have always with me. Doing such things on a watch would be very cumbersome anyway. Would I like to listen music from my smart watch? Certainly not. On the other hand, the Epix 2 has everything, what I need to track activities and monitor the state of my body. Garmin has everything build in, including offline maps, which is the killer feature for me. And on top of that a much better battery life. I also prefer the user interface of the Epix, which is better structured and more ergonomic. And finally, I am not bound to the apple ecosystem as the Garmin watches work with IOS and Android devices equally well.
That is your case, your need. Not for all, in my case the possibility to leave my phone at home while I am on the mountain bike is the best. I have full tracking, real SOS free, can answer
messages, check my email, also offline topo maps, everything without the need to carry my phone. That is really great for me. The battery is not an issue, I can charge every two days without issue, just when I go to sleep. So, I used garmin fenix, fr and epic for about 6 years, great watches no doubt, best sportwatches no doubt, but I prefer a smartwatch thatn a sportwatch I think this is the decision point.
@@isaacvff If I do sports, hiking or biking, I don‘t answer phone calls at all if possible. These activities are meant to be away from your daily business. Usually I have a biking bag, a backpack or a hip back with me, so it is easy to carry a phone with me. During activities it is enough to be notified of calls or messages, but nothing except very urgent cases would force me to answer a phone call, especially when being in the nature.
Long battery life is one of the top features I want to have and in that matter the Apple Watches are still a joke. Every two days charging is no way. It is great not be free of that ant the new 52mm Epix Pro offers even more battery life than the Epix 2. I think Apple should also go into that direction. So far not much improvement there.
I had a very similar experience w/ the Garmin Venu vs both the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro & 5 40mm. Garmin worked out of the box, GW series never did work as advertised. The Venu after a year still gets 2x the GW5 Pro. Same with the apps
Does apple watch ultra WORK when you’re in the water?!? Apple watch touchscreen doesn’t work when wet
great video, thank you. I flip flopped between both but have returned to Garmin exclusively. Garmin need to be better advertising their features.
anyone know the song in the background of the first part of the video?
thanks
what's the LUT you are using ?
Garmin is missing LTE and voice assistant. They have it (sort of) on their Venu 2 and forerunner 945LTE but where are those things on their flagship Fenix or Epix?
Good point. I do think that within a couple of years Garmin will have LTE functionality and voice assistant on their middle to high range watches.
What is that lavalier mic you are using please? And thank you😊. (Sounds amazing)
The lack of maps and routes on the watch is a huge omission and the reason I'm hanging on to my 955. The other glaring problem with all watches is the teeny tiny font for activity metrics which can't be enlarged and I can't read while running. I can reduce down to 2 metrics per page but they remain the same size 😂. Big sighs of relief all round at Garmin.
Yo your channel has huge potential! Good job!! 👌👌
I am not convinced about the Apple Ultra. When it came out, I decided to switch from Apple watch 7 to Garmin 7x SS last week and enjoying it a lot. Looks great (both professional and sporty at the same time), works great, massive battery life + solar, lots of fitness options, cool apps. I definitely miss the Apple wallet because I could add my octopus card (Hong Kong public transport, entry card, buying stuff, etc) and microphone (really, Garmin... a microphone vs a flashlight and you went for the flashlight??)... but so far, Garmin impresses me.
Thanks for the review. I really like the Epix Gen2. It is better than the Fenix3HR I moved from, in every way. I charge daily but usually from 80% charge with no battery extenders turned on. My Fenix3HR had terrible altitude errors, but not the Epix Gen2. I enjoyed your review.
Got a Garmin 530 for my cycling, and it’s completely eliminated my need of a new Fenix. Still on my 3HR and outside of bands I can’t see the need for upgrading. Best watch I’ve ever had.
Thanks for this - I clearly will have to keep my fenix 5 plus if I get the AW Ultra.
I don't really have a problem with that, but I am interested in finally getting an AW so I can leave my phone behind for certain occasions. Maybe I should just get an SE with cellular? But the battery life just seems so short...
Completely agreed re: apple wanting their 30%...but they could at least provide offline mapping support & the ability for workouts like skiing or SUP to record your GPS track with some basic metric customization like the garmin screens.
i want the AWu for Gym, outdoor exercises, for light hiking trails skiing, and jogging I have a MacBook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max i never had a watch before, i'm just tired of lugging my iPhone 14 promax in the gym I would like to pair up my $280 Bose to the Apple Watch if i get one next week, i was looking at something called Garmin fenix 7 i've never had any of their stuff except for GPS for the car ha ha I'm stuck I don't know which one to get does garmin have LTE cellular? can i make calls with it in case i leave my phone at home???? i'm stuck between a rock
Grea review. Regarding swimming in pool I have the same impression.
Will go rather for Fenix 7 or so 🤔
does it have jacket mode ?
Love how you colour grade your shots omg
I understand your frustration but the thing is we have choices from two awesome watches from two company who is providing awesome products for us outdoors people
I have the fenix 5 sapphire.. it’s just too good. I’ve had to replace the band but that’s it. I’d love to upgrade to something more impressive like the epix but it’s too expensive. I got this fenix with a 45% discount. Keeping my eyes open for the next discount.. just can never go wrong with Garmin.
Thank You
I was considering a new watch and my choices where between Garmin and Apple.
They can provide every single feature that Garmin’s top line watches have and they can do it better but they won’t. You are right Because than how will they extort money from third party app developers and in the name of app store charges, or how will they cut their 30% when you buy a paid service on those app. Bullshit!!! I barely used my apple watch to take calls, send messages. Their battery died when i needed it most. Got fed up Hassle charging it everyday. I ditched my apple watch last year for Garmin forerunner 255 and was very happy with all the analysis and training plans. I bought Epix pro Gen 2 yesterday and i love it. On my wrist It doesn’t look every other rectangle apple watch or Chinese copies of apple watches.
You look, and sound like a RUclips channel with 1.12 Million subs. I can't believe you only have 1.12K. Your voice volume in comparison to your relaxing music is perfectly balanced, and your mic on your shirt with the proper fluff ball to block out the sounds of the wind, make you sound and look like a true pro. I subbed btw, which I do rarely, as I myself RUclips full time, and generally don't have time to watch others.
PS: Forgot to mention, I'm torn between Apple Watch ultra or a Fenix 7X solar sapphire. I only jog / walk, and love keeping track of my overall steps, and how much exercise I've done with the green ring, where it measures how many min you been active over a certain heart rate. I'm torn. Currently on a Series 5 Apple watch. Had a 5X Fenix years ago.
You are a very good speaker, I enjoyed your video 👍
I prefer my ultra, each to their own
Glad I went with Garmin Fenix 7x in white / blue titanium. It's amazing!
great Video! can anyone pls tell me what music is playing in the backround? it sounds so calming
Great critical look at the Apple Watch. The lack of deep integration with the action button is a real head scratcher. As is the poor underwater performance with buttons. I went scuba diving with the Apple Watch and it was very frustrating to not be able to switch modes easily and select things. Super dumb.
Your 'rant' was not a rant. Verbal carpenter, you're hitting the nail every time.
You're a million Subber easily.
You were very fair to Apple.
Keep 'ranting'.
I'm not Apple, but YES, I even expect better than Apple. As you said, especially when their advertising was, well, embellishing! Great point.
Subbed, #822 of 1,000,000. Lol. Great conversation!
Get a 255 and Edge 530 and you are setup for every Triathlon :)
finally a honest and real review. Was watching a few videos on AWU i am not one bit sold but those reviewers were "high" on something.
So at the end of the day the apple watch ultra is just a regular apple watch disguised as a sports smart watch
Completely agree max! I love kayaking but have to use MapMyRide in order to get GPS data, ridiculous! Also you’re right, MySwimPro is a fantastic app for serious swimmers but the native workout app absolutely sucks! I could see Apple maybe not wanting to venture into personalized workout plans like MySwimPro provides, but they should at least be able to accurately track a set.
I'm using the fenix 7 for a year now, I can't imagine myself going back to the Apple watch.
Apple watches are wrist computers with sports-like function. Garmin watches are sports watches with computer-like functions.
i got the series 7 42mm apple watch for Christmas in 2021 but man...ill cry the day my suunto traverse alpha dies, 6 years so far and still over a week in between charging : )
The only thing i have missed from the awu is the remote camera app.
I got teh Epix pro 51 mm in December and haven't taken it off since. I like my AWU as a smart watch, but I still prefer the Epix, it looks better, I like the buttons, and it makes me want to go out and exercise because the watch has so many workout features. I keep telling myself Ill use the AWU for work!
@Max Patten good job and practical review I largely agree with.
Especially Apple Workout app e.g. not recording with GNSS track and L+R stroke/min including when paddle-boarding is a sorry ‘laugh’
@09:45 tip💡to add WorkOutDoors app to the Action button of your Ultra to start WOD with 1 press:
(1) create a ‘Open app’ 🤖automation for WOD in the Shortcut app on your 📲,
(2) set this 🤖automation under its ‘Details’ to ‘Show on Apple watch’
(3) in Watch app under Action button set Action to ‘Shortcuts’ and select your newly created shortcut to Open WOD’.
Done ✅ from now on open WOD with 1 press of Action button👌
Additionally in WOD settings you can set what you want when WOD opens: countdown, instant recording or just menu/ map. nJoy
Goood pointsI hadn’t heard before. Some things to consider.
Nice honest review from real athletes perspective without the marketing hype. As a longtime garmin user I too jumped on the ultra and as a smart watch I absolutely love it. But the need to fill gaps with 3rd party apps and the inability to use physical buttons to start / pause / stop fitness is such a disappointment. However I’m going to stay and push through this new relationship.
Same here. I am just having a change of heart every 30 mins whether I should sell my epix. Did you keep the Garmin, just in case?
Stay garmin 😊 i almost went Ultra myself. Went from fenix 5 to now 7 and glad i did :)
That’s Apple wanting you to buy apps and subscriptions so they get 30% 😊
I’ve gone on other reviews video and a problem is Garmin uses are very territorial, on videos like Quantified Scientist, some are unable to accept if their Garmin are not the best at something, it’s like a comment here, "I see them with a Apple Watch and can’t take them seriously"… man get over yourself, that isn’t a good look either. People should be able to chose a device of their choice without put downs
Great review!!! Sugestion for all, if you want smart watch-Apple. But if you want sport watch with smart funkctions-Garmin!
This is a great review 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Agree. Apple Watch on WatchOS 9.2 has made a lot of improvements. However I am still very frustrated with the native Apple Watch work out app it doesn’t allow to customize the screens! If I want to have all parameters (heart zone, pace, heart rate, distance, time running) IN A SINGLE SCREEN FOR RUNNING isn’t possible. That’s why I rely on WorkOutDoors, frankly, the only reason I still use my Apple Watch (I’m saving for a Fenix 7)…not to mention lack of topo maps, and the poor battery…
I’m getting tired of having 10+ app subscriptions running and none able to see the whole picture
I use to have apple watch and I don’t like it and keep using G-Shock. Now I use Garmin Instinct 2 and I’m happy with my decision.
I agree man. It’s not cynical. It feels like Garmins are made by athletes - and Apple Watches are made by nerds in Yeezys
Here i am switching from Apple Watch to amazfit to fossil gen 6 to finally garmin venu sq 2 music and i hope my experiments ends. I loved the apple watch for the smrtwatch it was it lacked 3 major things- 1 no android connection, 2 poor battery life charge everyday , 3 the fitness native support and very less fitness data- you explained that -pretty well awesome video. With garmin i get all 3 issues solved it lacks the software experience,3rd party apps support but overall beats apple watch if you are a active sports person or focusing on health. So let garmin help me be in peace with my watch for next 5 years. 😊
Apple Watch is Apple Watch lol. Press and hold your buttons. Hard reset. Take out your battery 😂
touchscreen on any device will not work when there is sweat on it. my experience in apple watch ultra is frustrating when im running. and it's not just the altimeter that is wonky. barometer is wonky too. I use my garmin fenix 6 barometer as a warning for setting my tent when camping or finding shelter before it rained when im mountain hiking. ditched my apple ultra as a daily driver few months ago and returned to my fenix 6.
In tried to use the Apple Watch as well, coming from Garmin, and only made it about a week. The swim thing was a huge thing for me. Have you been able to find any decent swim app. MySwimPro was all I found, and it was SO expensive, so an immediate no go. Also agree with everything else you said.
I sold my fenix 3 hr and got an apple watch. I loved the smart phone functions but agree the native workout apps are terrible on the Apple watch. That and having to charge every night (non ultra watch) led me to sell the apple watch and buy another garmin. I found the smartwatch functions were cool but the only thing I really used was viewing texts and emails, which can be done on the garmin.
I think the Apple Watch Ultra has its place as does the standard Apple Watch but for anyone who loves being outdoors, the Gamin beat Apple every time. The battery life is a big plus in the Garmin, I charge mine most weekends when I'm uploading my latest Topo maps and after a week of 14 walks and three visits to the gym, I've still got 15-18 days of battery life left. Being able to plan a route and then load that into my watch and have the maps is also a massive plus. AW is a great tool for indoor and urban use but it's like a fish out of water as soon as you leave those environments.
yea as soon as you lose cellular the AWU isn't great. My Garmin Epix pro works great in the middle of no where. It tracks like a champ and the onboard maps and battery life, make it the clear choice for outdoor stuff.
Lack of offline maps is a glaring omission. Also I can’t believe they still don’t have Trail Running as a workout option (neither does workoutdoors app). Functional fitness would be a good one too.
WorkOutDoors App
I have had the Ultra for almost a month and I find I really miss my Epix 2
The pinnacle of smartwatch would be(in my opinion) a fenix 7 with calling and text messages! As much as I would like to have a Ultra!It misses the topo maps!!! I don't have any but I'm in between this problem, I love the connectivity and the way you navigate in the screen... All those icons moving...all that"apple thing"... Ah ah... But I do mtb a lot for long hours and I like to explore new trails! And I don't want to be worried if my battery will last, I want to be able at some time of my ride to look at the maps and discover a new trail and trying that trail for the first time... That's exploring! And I think that with a Ultra you can't do it!But I love the way the Ultra"works"!! 😅
Great video review. I'll stick with my Garmin smartwatch collection lol. Even my low level FR 55 Garmin smartwatch works for my rugged/outdoor/athletic lifestyle over the apple smartwatch selection. I'm perhaps bias towards Garmin because I'm a army veteran. And in nature Garmin products target outdoor navigation 🧭 lol. However if I get a AWU as a gift I wouldn't turn it down lol. Anyways peace man it's the function for me too lol
Great breakdown:)
I recently bought the Epix Gen 2 and man have I slept on Garmin. Never going back to a Galaxy or Apple watch anytime soon.
The Altimeter thing has plagued GARMIN Indefinitely and is still problematic on my 6X pro and brand new Edge Explore 2 which set altimeter to the DEM
Absolutely nailed it. Whilst Apple will continue to develop their smartwatches, there’s no way they would do so at the expense of the revenue generated from apps. I’ve been using Apple Watches since S2 and finally made the leap from S8 to the Garmin Forerunner. It’s not been an easy transition but I’m glad I’ve done it. With Apple Watches, they collect all this data and don’t really do anything with it unless you dig through apple health. With my Garmin, it constantly takes that same data and says “hey, why not take a rest day” or “you’re showing more stress than usual. Why not do some breath work?”. Also, it’s so nice having everything in one single app.
Echo’s my thoughts too, unfortunately. About to sell the AWU for an Epix 2. Want the Training Readiness and Morning Report. I don’t trust Athlytic. Garmin just works, something I’d normally say about Apple. But with dapple, it just works applies only in the Apple ecosystem.
Good choice. I have 8 and Epix 2 and epix is miles better in anything pretty much :) while looks good hehehe :)
Oh and battery on epix is 10 better as well.
Great video. Are you planning to switch back to Garmin?
Apple Watch lost me several years ago when they did the following:
1) showing 1/100 sec on the stop watch. - waste of space. With a touch screen to toggle on and off, no one will ever need this precision
2) Needing to swipe to stop workouts
3) Unlocking the screen after swimming. The delay of the speaker purging the water is gimmicky and does not warrant freezing my touch screen while it does this.
I noticed this a few years ago and as of last year, Watch OS still does these.
Hahahahaha that reaction when you learn that apple is second to Garmin 😧😣
The Apple Watch business model is like a gaming console or a laptop - you have to purchase subscriptions and apps to do the things you want. I did noticed the Apple Watch just takes snapshots of your health status (to extend battery life I think) unlike the Garmin watches which are constantly checking.
Yes I wish I’d mentioned in the video that Garmin watches have 24/7 continuous HR tracking; Apple Watch even with the Ultra model only appears to check every few minutes. This results (in my experience) in significantly higher resting heart rate measurements.
@@iMaxPatten I have Garmin Forerunner 945 and the altimeter is not showing right elevation even after doing calibration. Not that I am defending Apple Watch just saying.
Wait what now? Lasting a full day is impressive? I guess the emperor's got some seriously new clothes
You, sir, deserve a million subscribers.
My only problem…why can’t the watch broadcast the heart rate to my bike computer?? It’s not that difficult especially when cheaper fitness watches can do so.