Garmin vs Apple Watch: Fitness Tracking Compared

For fitness enthusiasts, the watch decision often comes down to Garmin or Apple. Garmin specializes in sports and fitness tracking. Apple offers a do-everything smartwatch with fitness features built in. We wore the Garmin Forerunner 265 and Apple Watch Series 10 during identical workouts for four weeks.

GPS Accuracy

Garmin Forerunner 265: Multi-band GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) with SatIQ technology. In our running tests across open roads, wooded trails, and urban canyons, the Garmin tracked distances within 1% of known measurements. The multi-band GPS locked quickly (under 10 seconds outdoors) and maintained accuracy through tree cover and tall buildings.

Apple Watch Series 10: Dual-frequency GPS. Distance tracking was accurate within 2% on open roads and within 3% on wooded trails. GPS lock took 15-20 seconds on average. Urban canyon performance was slightly less consistent than Garmin.

Winner: Garmin Forerunner 265 for GPS accuracy and speed.

Heart Rate Monitoring

Both watches use optical heart rate sensors. We compared both against a Polar H10 chest strap (the gold standard) during running, cycling, and weight training.

Garmin Forerunner 265: Average error of 2-3 BPM during steady-state cardio. During interval training with rapid heart rate changes, error increased to 5-8 BPM. The Garmin's heart rate data was more consistent during running than cycling.

Apple Watch Series 10: Average error of 2-4 BPM during steady-state cardio. Interval training error of 4-7 BPM. The Apple Watch handled wrist movement during weight training better than the Garmin.

Winner: Tie. Both are adequate for fitness tracking but neither replaces a chest strap for serious training.

Training Features

Garmin Forerunner 265: Training Status (productive, maintaining, detraining), Training Load, Race Predictor, Recovery Time Advisor, suggested daily workouts, Garmin Coach (structured training plans), PacePro (real-time pace guidance), and Running Dynamics (with compatible accessories). The depth of training analysis is extraordinary.

Apple Watch Series 10: Workout app with basic metrics (distance, pace, heart rate, splits), auto-workout detection, Running Power (built-in), and integration with Apple Fitness+ for guided workouts. Functional but surface-level compared to Garmin.

Winner: Garmin, decisively. For serious runners and athletes, Garmin's training tools are in a different league.

Battery Life

Garmin Forerunner 265: 13 days in smartwatch mode, 24 hours in GPS mode. We charged it twice in four weeks.

Apple Watch Series 10: 18-20 hours. Requires nightly charging. Using GPS workout tracking for an hour reduces remaining battery by roughly 15%.

Winner: Garmin, dramatically. 13 days versus one day is not a close comparison.

Smart Features

Garmin Forerunner 265: Basic notifications (text, email, phone). Music storage and playback via Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music. Garmin Pay for contactless payments. No microphone or speaker for calls.

Apple Watch Series 10: Full notification management, iMessage with keyboard, phone calls, Apple Pay, App Store, Siri, Maps navigation, music streaming, and the broadest app ecosystem of any watch. It is a full computer on your wrist.

Winner: Apple Watch, decisively. As a smartwatch, Apple is untouchable.

Display

Garmin Forerunner 265: 1.3-inch AMOLED, always-on display, excellent outdoor visibility.

Apple Watch Series 10: Always-on OLED, brighter, with richer colors and a more responsive touch interface.

Winner: Apple Watch for display quality, though the Garmin's AMOLED is a massive upgrade over previous Garmin watches.

Price

Garmin Forerunner 265: $350 Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm): $399

Winner: Garmin for price.

Read our smartwatch guide →

The Verdict

Buy the Garmin Forerunner 265 if: You are a runner, cyclist, or athlete who wants the deepest training analysis, the best GPS accuracy, and weeks of battery life. Smart features are secondary.

Buy the Apple Watch Series 10 if: You want a smartwatch first and fitness tracker second. If you use an iPhone and want seamless integration with your phone, the Apple Watch is the choice.

These watches serve fundamentally different purposes. Garmin is a fitness tool with smart features. Apple Watch is a smart device with fitness features. Your priority determines the winner.

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