2022 is fastly advancing and, with it, new flagship models are emerging from the main technology and consumer electronics companies. And if there is one device that has experienced great growth, it is the smartwatch. Users are becoming increasingly aware of the need to lead a healthy lifestyle and keep a close eye on their sport, something that is made easier with a good smartwatch. In this review we compare two of the best you can currently find: Apple Watch Series 7 Vs Garmin Fenix 7. Ready to discover their advantages? Don’t miss out!
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Apple Watch Series 7 Vs Garmin Fenix 7: Buying guide
The final choice will depend on which of the two smartwatches best meets your needs, which you should have identified beforehand. But first of all, let us warn you about something.
In case you didn’t know, it’s common for brands to launch the same smartwatch model in different versions with slight changes. So that you don’t get confused when it comes to choosing, we’re going to go over all the available versions of each of the smartwatches:
Available versions of the Garmin Fenix 7
If you’ve already owned a Garmin watch, you’ll know that there are usually several versions of the same model. In this case, you can find the following:
- Fenix 7: standard, solar and sapphire versions.
- Fenix 7S: standard version, solar and sapphire, but with a smaller size.
- Fenix 7X: this is only available in solar and sapphire, and is characterised by its larger dial.
Apple Watch Series 7 models to choose from
In the case of the Apple Watch, rather than different versions, we find the same smartwatch in different strap sizes. Depending on the size of your wrist, you can opt for the 41 mm or the 45 mm model.
You can also buy it in different colours, although not all are available in the same sizes. The colour range includes red, blue, white, green and grey.
1) What you can’t see: battery life and internal memory
We start the analysis by looking at the battery life of each smartwatch and its storage capacity.
First of all, we note that the Garmin Fenix 7 has a battery life that can last up to 18 days, a far cry from the 18 hours that the Apple Watch Series 7 lasts. It is important to note that the Apple smartwatch has fast charging, but even so, the autonomy is much lower than that of its rival.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the Garmin’s 18-day battery life is for use as a smartwatch. If, for example, you activate the GPS, the battery life is reduced to 57 hours. On the other hand, in battery saving mode, it can last up to 57 days.
Finally, as far as storage is concerned, the Garmin Fenix has a memory of 16 GB, while the Apple Watch Series 7 doubles this to 32 GB.
2) Visual appearance
In other comparisons we find that, physically, they are more similar to each other. However, this is not the case. It is easy to see that we are looking at two models that have nothing to do with each other.
The Garmin Fenix 7 maintains an aesthetic that is more reminiscent of classic watches, with a spherical screen shape and a thicker bezel. In contrast, the Apple Watch Series 7 opts for a thinner, square display, giving it a more modern and youthful look.
The Garmin display has Corning Gorilla Glass DX, which is tougher than the Apple Watch’s LTPO OLED glass. On the other hand, the screen resolution is higher on the Apple model, with 396×484 pixels compared to 260×260 pixels on the Garmin.
As a result, the Apple Watch Series 7 is much lighter than the Garmin, although the Garmin watch offers a much more robust display. However, it is worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 7 has increased its screen size by 20% over the previous model, the Series 6.
3) Wellness and health
One of the main reasons you buy a smartwatch is usually because you want to get the most out of your physical activity and keep a close eye on it. So you’ll want to know which of the two offers the best performance from a fitness and health perspective.
Sports sensors
As we mentioned in the introduction, the use of smartwatches among sports enthusiasts is growing all the time. In this sense, the Garmin Fenix 7 offers more possibilities than the Apple Watch Series 7.
It has sensors to measure heart rate zones and the highest peak in this parameter, recovery time, interval training, different sports profiles (running, swimming, golf, kayaking, surfing, cycling, hiking, climbing, etc.).
On the other hand, for people who like skiing, the Garmin Fenix 7 is the perfect choice, as it has up-to-date maps of more than 2,000 ski resorts around the world.
Health sensors
Now, let’s dwell on the health-related functionalities and sensors. Both smartwatches have a sensor to measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels, accelerometer, sleep analysis, barometric altimeter, gyroscope, and more.
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a sensor that detects falls, while the Garmin Fenix 7 is capable of detecting incidences of certain activities. The Apple Watch Series 7, on the other hand, has an ECG sensor, which can generate an electrocardiogram with important information for your doctor.
4) Connectivity and syncing
Smartwatches are not called smartwatches by chance, but because of the many technological features that give them the ability to coordinate with other devices.
iOs and Android operating systems
If you are at all familiar with the Apple universe, you will know that it is the most secretive brand in existence today. It’s not surprising that the Apple Watch Series 7 can only be compatible with other Apple devices, but not with Android devices. The Garmin Fenix 7, on the other hand, is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices.
Connectivity and range
The Apple Watch Series 7 supports Bluetooth and WiFi. The Garmin Fenix 7 adds ANT+ connectivity to these two options, a protocol that allows two devices to be easily connected.
Synchronisation with apps and assistants
Like other Apple devices, the Apple smartwatch is synchronised with Siri, the company’s own virtual assistant. The Garmin Fenix 7, on the other hand, does not have this functionality, although it is compatible with the Garmin Connect app.
New payment method
One of the most common uses for smartwatches is contactless payment, a feature that is present on both models. The Apple Watch Series 7 uses Apple Pay, Apple’s payment gateway, while Garmin has Garmin Pay, its own.
5) Resistance level
Finally, we focus on the resistance of both smartwatches to external agents, such as water or dust. Especially if you like to do outdoor sports. We compare the two models:
- Apple Watch Series 7: waterproof to a depth of 50 metres and has an IP6X rating, which is evidence that it has good dust resistance.
- Garmin Fenix 7: in this case, immersion is possible to a depth of up to 100 metres in water, while it does not report a dust resistance rating.
What are the best-selling Apple smartwatches?
Here’s a list of the most popular Apple Watch smartwatches on Amazon, so you can see which are the most popular with other buyers:
[amazon bestseller = “apple watch” items = “5”]
And the most popular Garmin smartwatches?
Of course, we also share the list of the best-selling Garmin smartwatches:
[amazon bestseller = “smartwatch garmin” items = “5”]
Apple Watch Series 7 Vs Garmin Fenix 7: Which smartwatch do we recommend?
The decision of which smartwatch is better can vary depending on individual needs, which depends on what you are going to use the smartwatch for. It’s worth noting that both offer excellent performance, as we can imagine considering their price. As you can see, these are not low-end smartwatches.
So how do you know which one suits you best? Personally, if you have other Apple devices, we recommend you stick with the Apple Watch Series 7. The interconnectivity you can achieve with the other devices allows you to get much more out of the smartwatch by combining it with your iPhone or any other Apple device.
But, if you don’t have an iPhone and the most important thing for you is that the smartwatch you choose serves you to get the best possible sports performance, our advice is to go for the Garmin Fenix 7. The reason is that it has a greater number and variety of sports profiles than its rival, and is specifically designed for fitness and sport.
Even so, and as we said before, both are high-end smartwatches that, although they require a higher investment than other competitors, are worthy of it.