Aside from a new color option, we saw no major hardware updates to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at Apple’s recent September event. Two weeks ago, Garmin introduced The Fenix 8, adopting some key features seen on Apple’s premium smartwatch. How do these devices compare? Let’s explore.
Design & Display
Both the Apple Watch Ultra and Fenix 8 feature a titanium case, sapphire crystal glass, and 100m water resistance. The Fenix 8 also has a stainless steel option for $100 less. The Fenix 8 offers three size options—43mm (1.3″ screen), 47mm (1.4″), and 51mm (1.4″), whereas the Apple Watch Ultra has only a 49mm case (1.92″).
The Apple Watch Ultra case is a rectangle, the signature style of the Apple Watch, whereas the Fenix 8 features a round more traditional watch style. The Ultra features an always-on LTPO OLED display with up to 3,000 nits of brightness, which provides excellent outdoor visibility in direct sunlight.
The Fenix 8 has also adopted an AMOLED display option as the default. This display however is not quite as bright at ~1,000 nits of brightness, but does offer an option with a traditional Memory-In-Pixel (MIP) screen, which is more power-efficient and most visible in direct sunlight. The MIP version also features a solar panel, which is able to further improve battery life.
Battery Life
Battery life is a significant differentiator:
- Apple Watch Ultra: Offers up to 36 hours of battery life, extendable to 60 hours with low-power mode.
- Garmin Fenix 8: Garmin does not measure their battery life in hours but in days. With up to 29 days (13 days with an always on screen) in smartwatch mode for the 51mm AMOLED model. Even when using all satellite systems, the device is able to achieve multiple days of battery life (up to 68 hours).
Health & Fitness Tracking
Both watches offer health and fitness tracking, including optical heart rate monitoring and multi-band GNSS location tracking. The watches have similar built in sensors including: altimeter, gyroscope, barometer, ambient light, and depth sensor. Notably the Fenix 8 has a blood oxygen sensor, which the Apple Watch Ultra is missing due to a patent dispute between Apple and another third party. Both watches also support diving up to 40 meters.
When it comes to how fitness activities are displayed, Garmin offers the greatest customization of data fields, allowing for more fields to be displayed and a greater choice of options when compared to the Ultra. While Apple’s activities app is a bit more limited, the Ultra does have access to Apple’s popular App Store.
Garmin Epix (left) showing Garmin’s activity UI compared to Apple Watch Ultra (right)
WatchOS 11 vs. GarminOS
With the introduction of WatchOS 11, Apple has brought several features to the Apple Watch Ultra that will make it more comparable to Garmin’s offerings. Though WatchOS 11 is not officially released, so it will be interesting to see how they executed. New features like training load and effort rating give users insights into their workout intensity over time, similar to Garmin’s training load and training readiness.
Flashlight Feature
A feature that initially many thought gimmicky but has proven extremely popular among Garmin users is the LED flashlight built into the Fenix 8 something the Apple Watch Ultra does not offer, though you can use the Ultra’s screen as a flashlight.
Voice Control
- Apple Watch Ultra: One of Apple’s core strengths is voice control. The Apple Watch Ultra integrates Siri seamlessly, allowing users to control the watch, dictate messages, control smart home devices, and ask for directions hands-free.
- Garmin Fenix 8: Garmin has introduced voice control functionality in the Fenix 8 series for the first time, allowing users to control their phone’s smart assistant and send speech-to-text messages. It also allows you to control some functionality on the watch itself. This feature is brand new and Apple’s Siri offers a more integrated and polished experience.
Cellular Connectivity
Where the Apple Watch Ultra stands out is in its built-in LTE connectivity. The Ultra allows users to make calls, send texts, and stream music without needing a phone nearby—ideal for those who want full independence from their phone. The Fenix 8, in contrast, lacks a built-in LTE option. Even if it did, the watch could only offer limited functionality due to limitations imposed by the iPhone.
Conclusion
Both the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Fenix 8 offer compelling functionality for those looking for a high end smartwatch.
- If you want deep iPhone integration, ability to download apps, LTE connectivity, and a brighter screen, the Apple Watch Ultra is a great choice, especially at $799.
- If you’re looking for a watch with a much longer battery life with more fitness focused customizations, and are OK to sacrifice or do not want many of the smart features of the Apple Watch Ultra, the Garmin Fenix 8 is a clear winner. This assumes you are willing to spend over $1000.
