Adventure Showdown
Apple: smartwatch + fitness. Garmin: GPS expertise. Tested six weeks.
GPS
10km: Garmin 10.07km (0.3%), Apple 10.12km (0.8%). Garmin better in trees.
Battery
Garmin solar: 21 days. Apple: 3 days. 12h GPS: Garmin 18%, Apple 42%.
Health
Apple intervals: 1.2 BPM vs chest strap. Garmin: 2.1 BPM. Both within 1 BPM steady-state.
Build
Both MIL-STD-810H, diving rated. Garmin 79g vs Apple 84g.
Smart
Apple wins: App Store, LTE, Siri, Pay. Garmin basics behind.
Verdict
Garmin: multi-day battery + GPS. Apple: smartwatch + fitness. Ultra 3's 3 days works for most.