Apple Watch Ultra vs Garmin epix Pro Gen 2 (Don't Buy, Until You Watch This)

Summary

In this detailed comparison, the presenter evaluates the Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, discussing design durability, user experience, fitness tracking, health integration, and smartwatch features. They highlight the Apple Watch's superior touchscreen and integration with Apple Health, while praising the Garmin's physical buttons and battery life. The review also touches on recovery metrics, GPS accuracy, and the practicality of each watch for daily wear and sports, ultimately guiding viewers on which device might suit their needs better.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has been testing both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 for several weeks, covering aspects from design to software and personal experience.
• 🔩 Both watches are durable, but the Apple Watch Ultra has a digital crown and microphone that can collect debris, unlike the Garmin which has buttons and is possibly more resistant to extreme conditions.
• 📐 The speaker experienced a malfunction with the Fenix 7X Pro, which was the first watch to break, while the Ultra and Epix Pro remained intact despite rough use.
• 🌟 The Apple Watch Ultra has a brighter display and better touch responsiveness compared to the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, which has a color AMOLED but slightly lags in responsiveness.
• 🔄 The Apple Watch integrates more seamlessly with Apple Health, providing more data than the Garmin, which is a significant factor for data enthusiasts.
• 🏃 Both watches offer robust fitness tracking, but the Garmin is easier to start a workout with due to its physical buttons, while the Apple Watch has a more intuitive touchscreen.
• 📊 The Garmin provides race prediction and training load features that the Apple Watch lacks, offering insights into athlete's performance trends over time.
• 📲 The Apple Watch excels as a smartwatch with features like Apple Pay, Express Transit, and camera control, which the Garmin does not match.
• 🔋 The battery life of both watches depends on usage, with the Garmin lasting longer without daily charging, but the Apple Watch offering a more convenient charging experience.
• 💰 The Garmin Epix Pro is more expensive than the Apple Watch Ultra, and the decision to purchase should be based on specific needs rather than price alone.
• 👍 The speaker suggests that the Apple Watch Ultra is suitable for both daily wear and training, while the Garmin may be more for dedicated workout sessions.

Q & A

What are the main differences in durability between the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2?

The Apple Watch Ultra has a digital crown and microphone and speaker that can accumulate sand and other objects, while the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 has no such features and only has five buttons, making it potentially more resistant to extreme conditions.

Which watch has shown to be more durable in the user's personal experience?

Both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 have shown to be durable, with no significant damage or screen cracks even after being hit against a wall and exposed to harsh conditions.

What are the advantages of the physical buttons on the Garmin Epix Pro compared to the Apple Watch Ultra?

The physical buttons on the Garmin Epix Pro allow for starting a run without using the touchscreen, which can be advantageous in wet conditions or when certain areas are hard to reach.

How does the Apple Watch Ultra's touchscreen experience compare to the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2's?

The Apple Watch Ultra has a superior touchscreen experience that is more responsive and user-friendly compared to the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2.

What are the differences in health integration between the Apple Watch and the Garmin devices?

The Apple Watch has deeper integration with Apple Health, providing more data, whereas the Garmin devices provide some data but not as comprehensive as the Apple Watch.

How does the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 perform in terms of third-party integrations like Strava?

The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 can connect to Strava and automatically uploads data from the app to the Garmin server and then to Strava, making the process seamless.

What is the user's preference regarding the watch straps in terms of security and ease of use?

The user prefers Velcro straps for their flexibility and ease of putting on and off, but acknowledges that silicone straps are more secure and less likely to be lost.

How does the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2's display compare to the Apple Watch Ultra's in terms of brightness and visibility?

The Apple Watch Ultra is brighter and has better visibility in daylight, offering pristine glanceability, while the Epix Pro Gen 2's display is good enough but not as impressive.

What are the user's observations regarding the GPS performance of both watches during outdoor activities?

Both watches have dual-band GPS, but the Apple Watch Ultra uses Apple Map data to smooth out the tracking, potentially hitting the mark a bit earlier than the Garmin, which may take slightly longer.

How does the Apple Watch Ultra handle fitness tracking for activities like running, cycling, and swimming?

The Apple Watch Ultra performs well for outdoor fitness tracking, offering features like precision start and the ability to wait for GPS lock, ensuring accurate distance and pacing data.

What is the user's opinion on the recovery metrics provided by the Garmin devices compared to the Apple Watch?

The user finds the recovery metrics on the Garmin devices helpful for understanding their training load and recovery status, while the Apple Watch lacks these features, necessitating the use of additional devices like WHOOP or Oura Ring.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Comparative Review of Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2

The script begins with an introduction to the comparison between the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, highlighting the author's personal experience wearing both watches for several weeks. It discusses the durability, design, and functionality of the watches, including the potential for debris to get stuck in the Apple Watch's digital crown and speaker, which is not an issue with the Garmin. The author also mentions an unfortunate incident with a button on their Fenix 7X Pro, which did not occur with the other two watches. Strap options and their implications for use and drying are also covered, along with fashion statements each watch makes. The paragraph concludes with a comparison of hardware, where the Garmin's physical buttons offer an advantage over the Apple Watch Ultra's touchscreen.

05:01

🏃‍♂️ Fitness Tracking and User Experience Insights

This paragraph delves into the fitness tracking capabilities and user experience of both watches. It covers the ease of starting fitness tracking on the Garmin versus the Apple Watch Ultra, which requires activation of precision start. Heart rate data accuracy is discussed, with a preference for chest straps but acknowledgment that wrist devices are becoming increasingly reliable. GPS performance is compared, with the Apple Watch Ultra hitting the mark slightly earlier than the Garmin. The paragraph also highlights the track workout features of the Apple Watch Ultra, which offers custom workouts and automatic tracking, versus the Garmin's manual approach. Additionally, race prediction features and VO2 max tracking are compared, with the Apple Watch showing more fluctuation. Navigation and route creation are discussed, with praise for Garmin's route creation and the author's desire for a similar feature on the Apple Watch. Strength training tracking is also briefly mentioned, with the Apple Watch offering more convenience in this area.

10:01

💤 Recovery, Health Features, and Smartwatch Capabilities

The focus shifts to recovery and health features, noting the absence of recovery metrics on the Apple Watch and suggesting alternatives like WHOOP or Oura Ring. The Garmin's training load and recovery metrics are described as helpful indicators for workout scheduling and lifestyle choices. The Apple Watch Ultra's temperature sensor is highlighted as a valuable health monitoring feature. Sleep tracking is discussed, with a recommendation to view sleep data from both devices with skepticism and to focus on trends rather than exact figures. Smartwatch features are compared, with the Apple Watch offering more functionality, such as Apple Pay, Express Transit, camera control, and music control. The Garmin's music control is also mentioned. The paragraph concludes with a comparison of battery life and charging experiences, noting that advertised battery life often differs from actual usage and that the Apple Watch's charging method is preferred over the Garmin's.

15:01

💸 Price Considerations and Final Recommendations

The final paragraph addresses the price difference between the Epix Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra, with the former being more expensive. It discusses the value of each watch in terms of daily wear and training needs, suggesting that the Apple Watch Ultra may be more suitable for those who require both training and daily life features. The author shares personal anecdotes about wearing each watch and the social implications of wearing an Apple Watch in athletic circles. The paragraph ends with advice on determining one's specific needs before purchasing, a reminder to follow the author on social media, and a humorous caution against unnecessary purchases, advocating for buying used items instead.

Keywords

💡Apple Watch Ultra

The Apple Watch Ultra is a high-end smartwatch by Apple, designed for durability and advanced health tracking. It is a central focus of the video, where the reviewer compares its features and performance with the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2. The script mentions its digital crown, which can collect sand and other debris, and its bright display that is easily visible in daylight, indicating its design for outdoor activities and its user experience.

💡Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2

The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 is a competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra and is another key subject in the video. It is a rugged sports watch known for its durability and fitness tracking capabilities. The script discusses its hardware buttons, which offer a tactile advantage over touchscreens in certain conditions, and its color AMOLED display, which is compared to the Apple Watch Ultra's brightness and clarity.

💡Durability

Durability refers to the ability of a device to withstand wear and tear, which is a significant aspect when comparing the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2. The script highlights the resilience of both watches, mentioning that neither has broken despite being subjected to harsh conditions, emphasizing their robustness for users who engage in intense physical activities.

💡Strap Options

Strap options are an important consideration for watch wearers, as they affect comfort, security, and style. The script discusses the different types of straps available for the watches, such as Velcro and silicone, and how they cater to different preferences and usage scenarios, including the ease of putting them on and off and their drying times after getting wet.

💡Fitness Tracking

Fitness tracking is a core feature of both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, and the script delves into their capabilities in this area. It mentions outdoor activities like running, cycling, and swimming, and how each watch performs in tracking these activities, including the ease of starting a workout, GPS accuracy, and heart rate monitoring.

💡GPS

GPS, or Global Positioning System, is crucial for accurate tracking of outdoor activities in smartwatches. The script compares the dual-band GPS of both watches and how they use different algorithms to determine the user's location. It notes the slight difference in the distance covered reported by each watch, suggesting variations in their GPS accuracy.

💡Integration

Integration refers to how well the watches work with other devices and services, such as third-party apps and health systems. The script discusses the integration of both watches with Apple Health and Strava, noting the deeper and more seamless integration of the Apple Watch Ultra with Apple's ecosystem, versus the Garmin's more limited data sharing.

💡User Experience

User experience encompasses how intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable a product is to use. The script contrasts the user experience of the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, highlighting the responsiveness of the Apple Watch's interface and the lag sometimes experienced with the Garmin, as well as the convenience of physical buttons on the Garmin for starting activities.

💡Smartwatch Features

Smartwatch features refer to the capabilities that go beyond basic timekeeping and fitness tracking, such as mobile payments, transit passes, and music control. The script highlights the Apple Watch's advantages in this area, including Apple Pay support for a wide range of credit cards, Express Transit for tap-and-go travel, and camera control for taking photos with a paired iPhone.

💡Battery Life

Battery life is a critical factor for wearable devices, especially for those used in sports and outdoor activities. The script addresses the differing battery life expectations versus actual performance for both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, noting that the advertised life does not always reflect real-world usage, especially when using GPS and other power-intensive features.

💡Price

Price is an important consideration for consumers when choosing between the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2. The script mentions the higher cost of the Garmin Epix Pro and the additional expense of bands for the Apple Watch, suggesting that both watches are premium products with significant price tags, and advises viewers to consider their specific needs and budget when making a decision.

Highlights

Both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 are designed for durability and can withstand extreme conditions, but the Apple Watch has a digital crown that can collect debris.

The Garmin Epix Pro has an advantage with physical buttons, which are beneficial in wet conditions or when precise control is needed.

The Apple Watch Ultra offers a brighter display with excellent daylight visibility and superior touch responsiveness compared to the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2.

Apple Watch Ultra integrates more deeply with Apple Health, providing more data than the Garmin, which is a significant advantage for data enthusiasts.

Both watches can connect to Strava, but the Garmin has a more seamless automatic upload process from the watch to Strava.

The Apple Watch Ultra has a more user-friendly interface for sharing fitness data on social media, particularly with screenshots from the Apple Fitness app.

The Garmin Epix Pro is positioned as a dedicated sports watch, while the Apple Watch Ultra is a smartwatch with strong sports features.

The Garmin watch has an easier one-button interface for starting fitness tracking, whereas the Apple Watch Ultra requires enabling precision start in settings.

The Apple Watch Ultra's heart rate data is often more accurate than other watches, as demonstrated by the quantified scientist Rob.

Both watches feature dual-band GPS, but the Apple Watch Ultra seems to reach the 10-mile mark slightly earlier than the Garmin.

For track workouts, the Apple Watch Ultra provides highly accurate pacing and distance data with its custom workouts feature.

The Garmin watch offers race prediction features for various distances, which can be valuable for tracking training progress over time.

The Apple Watch Ultra's temperature sensor can monitor body temperature changes, which can be helpful in identifying illness or the effects of alcohol consumption.

Sleep tracking on both watches should be taken with a grain of salt, as accuracy can vary, but they are good for tracking trends in sleep patterns.

The Apple Watch Ultra excels as a smartwatch with features like Apple Pay, Express Transit, and camera control, which are not as seamlessly integrated on the Garmin.

Battery life is dependent on usage, with the Garmin lasting longer without GPS usage but both requiring daily charging with intensive use.

The Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 is more expensive than the Apple Watch Ultra, and the choice between them should be based on specific needs and preferences.

The presenter personally prefers to wear the Apple Watch Ultra daily and for training due to its versatility and integration with other Apple services.

Transcripts

- Now before you buy the Apple Watch Ultra

or the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2, there are some things

that you might want to know.

I've been wearing these watches for the past couple of weeks

and I'll discuss a variety of topics all the way

from the hardware and design to the software

and the recovery metrics

to my overall thoughts and experience.

Which one will I actually keep?

From a design and durability perspective,

they're both built to last.

The only downsides of the Apple Watch Ultra is that

it has a digital crown where you can get like sand

and other objects stuck inside

of it as well as the microphone and speaker

whereas the Garmin does not have these

and it only has five buttons

so there's a higher probability

that it can withstand more extreme conditions.

And now I also have the Fenix 7X Pro.

And actually, surprisingly, none

of my watches have ever broken,

this is the first watch that has.

One of the buttons on here just doesn't work.

My Ultra and the Epix Pro were totally fine.

I'll take them into the areas that I'm not supposed to,

don't tell anybody.

And so far they've seen to survive.

I've hit both watches up against the wall

as I'm walking around places

and they have like minor signs of use

but none of them have gotten destroyed

and none of the screens have cracked.

So they're pretty durable.

When it comes to the strap,

they both have a kind of a quick release option

so you can switch out the strap that you're using.

I tend to prefer more of these

like Velcro straps are a bit flexible

and you can kind of like put them on and off.

But these silicone straps are also nice.

These are more secure.

If you can latch it in multiple ways

you're less likely to lose the watch.

Whereas if I use this kind of like quick strap Velcro here

it tends to kind of come unhooked

or get stuck on my clothes when I'm putting a jacket on.

So just be mindful of which strap

and what environments you're using that watch in.

When it comes to how quickly they can dry,

with a silicone strap, you typically would want to remove it

and dry it before you place it back on.

But these more flexible ones, they're probably

going to absorb the moisture and then dry slowly over time.

In terms of fashion statements

the Garmin definitely says I'm an intense athlete.

I love to do sports

whereas the Apple Watch Ultra kind of says

I'm an intense athlete but also says I'm a techie

and I'm an Apple fanboy or girl.

I know people in the comments,

you're gonna start to hate on each other.

Oh my God, I just switched

from Garmin to Apple and now I'm an Apple person.

They're both great watches.

When it comes to hardware,

there is one advantage the Garmin Epix Pro has

over the Apple Watch Ultra and that is the hardware buttons.

I love being able to press kind of the up down buttons.

You can start a run purely based on physical buttons.

Although I love the touchscreen and the touch experience

and the Apple Watch is 10 times better.

Anytime there's moisture involved

or I just can't physically reach certain areas,

having physical buttons is way better

which leads us into the display and user experience.

The Epix Pro does have the new color AMOLED

so it's trying to compete with the Apple Watch Ultra

'cause on the Fenix right, it's darker

it's kind of like black and white, not as exciting.

There is a little bit of color, but it's not the same.

The Ultra is way brighter

like I can easily see it in daylight.

Glanceability is pristine

whereas the Epix Pro Gen 2 is like pretty good.

It's good enough.

And then when it comes to actually using the watch

the Apple Watch just feels like it's responsive

whereas the Garmin it's like lags

just by some milliseconds

where I can notice the slowness sometimes

but because it just feels more like

a classic rugged old school watch,

I'm okay with letting those things slide.

Apple Health Integration.

Here are two screenshots.

This is the Garmin Apple Health

and this is the Apple Watch Apple Health.

Obviously same operating system,

deeper integration, more data.

Garmin provides some data but not all the same data.

As someone who just loves data,

I just like to have as much as possible

so that's why I keep wearing the Apple Watch.

When it comes to third party integrations

both of them can connect to Strava.

Garmin automatically uploads from the app

to the Garmin server and then to Strava.

So it's pretty seamless.

I've never had issues with Garmin uploading.

Sometimes their servers will be down

and it might be delayed, but it's pretty fast.

There's no problems there.

When it comes to the Apple Watch Ultra

you have to actually go in and turn on automatic uploads

in the Strava app, you have to give it access

to Apple Health and sometimes it doesn't work perfectly

so you have to manually import it.

And then the data isn't exactly the same.

Like the mileage might show something

on the Apple Fitness app

whereas it shows a different value on the Strava app.

So honestly, I don't know what's going on

when the data gets transferred.

And when it comes to sharing on social media

I know people love taking those photos

of their watch right after the run.

It's more fun to actually just screenshot

the Apple Fitness app and share that screenshot

from your iPhone versus on the Garmin,

it's cool to see the visual map and the distance you ran.

So I just like sharing social media pictures

from my Garmin watch over the Apple Watch Ultra.

If you do plan to buy any of these products

I will have them linked down below

and if you click that link, it helps support the channel

so I greatly appreciate it.

Fitness tracking.

Garmin is a fitness and sports watch

whereas Apple Watch Ultra could be considered a smartwatch

with sports tendencies.

But every year Apple just keeps releasing more

and more features to compete with Garmin.

Really wanna see Garmin step up their game

'cause Apple's fighting for your market share baby.

Also Apple PR is amazing.

They're really helpful in terms

of providing info so I can make these videos better.

Garmin, non-existent.

I wanna learn more about Garmin watches.

Please just give me more info.

Both the Garmin Epix Pro and the Apple Watch have a plethora

of different fitness tracking options.

But I think the most important ones

are outdoor fitness tracking.

You have your running, your cycling and your swimming

probably the top three sports.

And then there's a whole bunch of other little things too.

When it comes to starting the fitness tracking,

the Garmin is super easy

'cause you can just press one button,

select your workout type

and then another button to get that workout started

after you've discovered GPS.

The Apple Watch Ultra does have precision start.

You need to activate it in your settings

and then you can go ahead

and use the touchscreen to select your workout type

and then press the action button to start that workout.

And both watches provide the ability

for you to wait until GPS is locked and acquired.

So your distance

and pacing data is close to accurate as possible.

When it comes to heart rate data

I know the quantified scientist

Rob has done a ton of videos where he's shown

that the Apple Watch heart rate data can be more accurate

than all the other watches.

I do prefer to wear a chest strap

'cause that will just measure the electrical signals

on my heart and that can be more accurate

as well as more responsive in terms

of the changes in your heart rate.

But these wrist devices are getting good enough

if you wanna just get like a vague idea.

And I tend to look at both watches

when I'm running to see hey,

how close are the heart rates?

And I found the Epix Pro

and the Apple Watch to be relatively close, you know,

within three beats per minute.

So I think overall they're live updating pretty on par.

When it comes down to GPS,

both watches have dual banded GPS.

They use slightly different algorithms

to figure out where you're running.

Apple Watch Ultra will use Apple Map data as well

to kind of smooth it out.

But I've noticed the Apple Watch Ultra will hit

like the 10 mile mark just a little bit earlier.

Whereas the Garmin takes a little bit longer.

I don't know if there's some kind

of smoothing data happening

with the Ultra where the Garmin's kind of overestimating

or the Apple Watch Ultra's underestimating.

But then when it comes down to the track,

the Apple Watch Ultra just hands down wins.

When I show up to the track to do a track workout

I love using the custom workouts feature.

I can input what my workout is for the day.

If it's like 8 200 meters with like 90 seconds rest

I can put that in on the watch.

I wish there was a way to do it on your phone.

And then once I show up to the track

I select that custom workout, automatically says,

hey you're at a track, which lane are you in?

I've picked the lane.

And then as soon as I'm ready

I press the action button to start the workout

and it's very, very close in terms of like meter

to meter when I'm running around the track in lane one.

And I love that I don't have to press buttons

like it just knows.

It'll buzz when I start and buzz when I end

and give me pretty close to accurate data

in terms of my time of running on the distance on the track.

The Garmin has the same features

where I can create a workout on my iPhone and then send it

to the Garmin or use an app like Training Peaks.

Right now my coach will actually write the workouts

and it automatically sends to Garmin, which I love.

Waiting for Training Peaks beta on the Apple Watch.

And that I've noticed it kind of overestimates

if I start at the meter line and then I do like 200 meters

it takes a little bit longer

to actually say I finished the 200 meters.

So I don't know what Garmin is doing differently

but it seems to be just like a little bit off.

So I'd probably prefer to manually start stop

when I'm doing track workouts with that.

But the Garmin does have something really cool

which is race prediction

for 5K, 10K, half and full marathon.

I think it's just interesting to see that data

as well as trends over time as I'm training.

Like am I getting better?

Am I getting worse?

Whereas in the Apple Watch Ultra you don't get as much

of that data.

You probably could use like a third party app

to create these estimations but it's not fully integrated

and maybe that's where the VO2 max variable

is more interesting on the Apple Watch.

I've noticed that it actually fluctuates

on the Apple Watch a lot more.

It recalculates it each time I do a run outside,

whereas the Garmin,

my VO2 max has stayed at 50 ever since I bought it.

The Apple Watch has gone down to 44 and now like up to 52.

And then I can start to learn, hey, am I detraining

or am I actually trying to push the the top end

of my system?

So one thing I love is if I'm in a new city

or if I'm here in New York City and I wanna do a fun run

but I don't know really where I'm going,

I want to have my watch navigate me.

On the Apple Watch Ultra,

I do need to open up the Apple Maps app

and then turn on navigation

and then I have to switch between the apps

which can be a little bit complicated

especially when your fingers get wet and you're all sweaty.

Like it works as a solution but it's not ideal.

I have to either put in biking or walking directions

and I can't really manipulate the way I'm going

but I can put in the final destination

and kind of run in a vague direction and it'll reroute me

if I don't wanna run in the streets,

I wanna run kind of along the West Side Highway.

That's kind of the hack that I figured out.

But I'd love to see a deeper integration

with creating a running route.

I know the Samsung Watch does a great job

of that and then Garmin does as well.

So on the Garmin app I can actually go in

and set like points of where I wanna run around.

I can go ahead and say, hey, I wanna run five miles

in this direction, give me a running route.

And it automatically creates one.

Coros I think actually does the best running routes

but Garmin does have a option that's good enough

and then it's actually within the fitness tracking.

So I can kind of scroll through the menus

and get down to the bottom and see where I've gone,

where I'm going and which direction I need to turn.

I'd love to see Garmin and Apple Watch get on the same level

as Coros when it comes to drawing out the map

that I wanna run and then giving me turn by turn navigations

while I'm doing it and then also rerouting me

because sometimes I'm not very good at listening

or I miss the turn and the priority is to run, not to get

to the destination in the right exact path I need to.

And the last piece of fitness tracking is strength training.

I think a lot of like runners

and endurance people don't do enough strength training.

So it's like how can we incorporate that

and is the watch valuable?

On the Apple Watch Ultra,

there are certain apps that I like to use

where my personal trainer will write a workout

and it automatically pops up.

It can measure the reps automatically,

it'll show me the weights,

I can change the weights and I can just tap next, next, next

as I'm doing the workout.

So that is extremely valuable.

I have links down below

for those personal training apps that I love.

The Garmin does have a feature

where you can input the workouts

and it'll measure your reps as well.

But it's a bit more complicated when you have

to manually do that stuff yourself.

You're less likely to do it.

Like the Apple Watch has those apps too

but honestly I never use 'em.

It's so much easier to do it in a notebook,

Apple Notes or just not do it at all.

So having the ability

for someone else to write those workouts

and being able to do it is so valuable.

But then again, do I need to know my heart rate

during these strength training workouts?

Maybe, probably not.

It's there, I don't use it but it's nice to have.

Who doesn't love data?

Recovery.

The one thing that everyone talks about

is Garmin has recovery, the Apple Watch does not.

So let me buy a WHOOP

or an Oura Ring to go with my Apple Watch.

They're probably right.

Use my links below and that just helps support the channel.

The more things you buy, the more money I make.

I'm kidding, honestly, just buy it used, you'll save money.

The most valuable features for me

on the Garmin are the training load, right?

It'll say detraining, it'll say overreaching

or it'll say being productive

and am I gonna listen to that exactly?

Probably not.

But it's helpful to know that hey,

if I just did a track workout yesterday

probably not good to do another one tomorrow.

Like give enough space between workouts

and then if I do indulge in adult beverages

or I don't get a good enough sleep if I'm traveling,

if I'm not getting enough magnesium

for my diet or supplements

like I can see those recovery metrics change.

And yes, there are apps like Athletic

that can give you recovery on the Apple Watch

but I've tend to notice

like every device's recovery metric can be slightly off.

So it's like this wave and you're like

I don't know, which one do I trust?

Always trust how you feel.

Use the data as like another variable

to help provide a little more insights.

But how you feel comes first, don't forget that.

Next, the health and wellness features.

One thing I love about the Ultra

is that it has a temperature sensor

so it can measure my body temperature

and deviations when I wear it at night.

That's really helpful 'cause I think once

when I got sick I could see

that my body temperature had spiked

and I was like, okay, let's take it a little easy today.

I know something is up.

When you tend to invite adult beverages

that can also spike your body temperature a little bit.

So it's a reminder to hold back

and you know only drink so much of that poison.

They both have sleep tracking features

and it's like which one is more accurate?

I don't know.

Okay, the best little Dreem EEG headband

that you can wear is 80% accurate

and are you seriously gonna wear that on your forehead?

I did that and it kept me single forever.

So how accurate is the sleep tracking on your wrist?

It's like if you look, I can show you both of these numbers.

There's like some differences in terms of deep sleep, awake,

the actual time that you slept,

maybe the start and end time of your sleep.

I would take all this information with a grain of salt.

I sleep with like seven different sleep trackers

and every single one is slightly different.

So the most important thing is just looking at trends.

Am I getting total sleep that's good enough?

Like last week how much was I sleeping versus this week?

The Apple Watch Ultra does a good job

of telling me total trends of how much I slept today

versus the last few days versus the last week.

So I really appreciate that.

The Garmin does a really good job

of showing trends of that data

plus like heart rate variability and training load.

And then they did add in some new stuff like the stress,

the body battery and honestly these features are cool

but they're not like useful.

I do have the stress on the WHOOP as well.

If you are trying to dial a specific variable

like there's something that you're focused on

in terms of trying to decrease your stress,

then yes, these things are valuable.

But other than that, if you're not looking

at the data and trying to take actionable steps

and the data is not valuable, don't look at it.

Smartwatch features.

So yeah, the Apple Watch is more of a smartwatch

and it has more features like Apple Pay versus Garmin Pay.

Garmin Pay doesn't support all

of the credit cards that I have

so I can't put every card I want on there.

The Apple Watch does support pretty much every card I have.

And then in New York City I use the subway system

and I need Express Transit 'cause I can just tap and go.

I don't have to press any buttons.

So for me that efficiency is really valuable and important.

So I pretty much have to wear my Apple Watch

when I leave the house.

When I go buy things you can use Garmin pay to pay

for things if your credit card is supported.

But the Apple Watch just supports everything

and I can go ahead and select which card I want

to use is super seamless.

Camera control, right?

If I'm setting up my phone

at the gym and I want to take a photo,

I can use my Apple Watch to see what the camera

is taking a photo or video of.

I can start and stop recording.

That is really valuable to me.

Coros does support that with like GoPros and stuff

but Garmin does not support anything like that right now.

Music control, definitely possible on the Garmin.

If you have headphones where you can control the volume

or press next song, pause, that could be good enough.

But on the Apple Watch you do have the digital crown.

You can change the volume, you can press next.

You can go through and open Spotify,

Apple Music and actually pick playlists.

There's just a lot more control.

It is a bit slower

than your iPhone so sometimes you know it's just nice

to have your iPhone to be able to maneuver.

But the full capabilities of music and music streaming

if you have a cellular plan are available.

Speaking of cellular, I think I pay 5

or $10 a month for the Apple Watch cellular plan.

And that's nice 'cause I can leave the house

and do phone calls, messaging and know

if there's any kind of emergency I can use my watch.

And then even AirPods is like the headphones to make calls.

So there's just that extra security, I can share my location

if I'm going for a run

and I don't need to bring my phone with me.

It's just very hard to do

'cause there's no camera on the Apple Watch.

And since I'm filming 90% of my life

I kind of have to carry a phone.

But if you're not an obnoxious vlogger like me

you can get away with it.

Weather, air, quality, UV rays.

If it's very humid, hot, I can just easily see, hey,

what kind of clothes do I need to bring when I go outside?

I wanna make sure if the UV rays are high

I'm wearing sunscreen or a hat.

If the air quality outside is bad, I try not to work out.

I can look at it on my phone

but I have it on my watch at all times for glanceability

and then when I'm outside with no iPhone with cellular

I can see the weather update.

You can get that on the Garmin, but for some reason because

of the connection issues from my Garmin to my iPhone,

it wouldn't always update perfectly.

Battery life and charging.

Everyone seems to ask.

Oh, Garmin, monthly battery life.

Apple Watch, you get like a day, you gotta charge every day.

The biggest thing I've learned is what they advertise

is not what you actually get.

So the Garmin, yes,

they might say like you can get like 20 days or something

but when you're running and using the GPS

that the battery dies so much faster.

I took it on a trip and I ran every day.

I did workouts as well.

I was on top of that

and it lasted me about like five to seven days.

So really, the battery life depends on usage.

The Apple Watch Ultra

with heavy usage will last me a full day.

You know, if I'm doing cellular, music streaming,

jumping around, it's like good enough.

Sometimes I'll just do like the, you know,

stay within the 20 to 80% range.

So I'll charge a little in the morning

and a little at night.

You know, when I'm showering or getting ready.

What I do love about the Garmin

is that I can go on a trip, you know,

three to five days and not have to bring the charger.

And plugging in with a cable is not the best experience

which the Apple Watch just like magnetically sticks on.

I love that charging experience so much more.

Price.

The Epix Pro is definitely more expensive

than the Apple Watch Ultra.

You don't hear that very often.

This one I think was like 11 or $1,200.

It was the top of the line Epix Pro Gen 2.

I got the most expensive Apple Watch Ultra as well.

Each band I think is also $100.

So if you add all the bands that I bought

they could be pretty on par with price.

Both very high-end expensive watches.

So if you're looking at these two,

price probably doesn't matter, but use the links down below

if you plan to buy one.

Now which one should you buy?

The thing I notice is with my Garmin

I'll wear it when I'm working out

and then I take it off as soon as I'm done with that.

The Apple Watch Ultra on the other hand, is more

of like a daily wear and I still do wear it when I train.

So if the Apple Watch Ultra training features

are good enough for you, like for example,

the track mode is hands down the best,

the outdoor running is pretty good,

almost on par with the Garmin.

Apple Watch can cover your training needs

and your daily life needs.

If you're looking for specific like integrations

for training for a specific event

or if your friends are gonna laugh at you

because you're the only one running

with an Apple Watch, then yeah, maybe you should go

with the Garmin or be like me, be a misfit, stick out.

Have people make fun of you.

I never thought people would laugh at you

for wearing an Apple device

but I think Apple watches are becoming more

and more common in the running space.

And the biggest thing is if you stop training

are you gonna stop wearing your Garmin?

So then maybe you should just buy one used.

Do you really need the top tier?

Are you a high level athlete?

Figure out your specific needs

and buy the watch that's best for you.

These are both great devices.

I will continue to wear two watches at all times

just so I can keep learning

and absorbing how everything works.

Remember to follow me

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Stop buying stuff.

You don't need it, trust me.

Buy it used.

Don't buy it, don't buy it, don't buy it.

Why'd you buy it?