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Within the realm of rugged wristwear, Garmin’s Fenix collection has lengthy been the benchmark. Boosted by the solar and match for all situations, the Fenix 7 isn’t any exception. However there’s a brand new contender on the path: the Apple Watch Extremely. So which of those robust tickers takes the wearable crown?
Whereas each are constructed for the good outside, there’s loads to set the 2 timepieces aside. From styling and screens to monitoring and battery life, the Apple Watch Extremely and Garmin Fenix 7 take totally different paths in pursuit of sturdy glory.
Trying to package out your wrist? We’ve run the numbers, punched within the value choices and ranked all the key health options to evaluate which watch works finest for budding Bear Grylls.
Apple Watch Extremely vs Garmin Fenix 7: value & launch date
Open for pre-orders now, the Apple Watch Extremely ships from 23 September. In contrast to different Apple Watch fashions, it is available in only one dimension, one materials and one connectivity configuration. Which makes the pricing construction refreshingly easy: the Apple Watch Extremely will set you again a flat $799/£849. And the fee stays the identical whether or not you go for an Alpine, Ocean or Path Loop strap setup.
Issues usually are not so easy with the Garmin Fenix 7. For starters, it’s out there in three sizes: the Fenix 7S (42mm), Fenix 7 (47mm) and Fenix 7X (51mm). The Fenix 7X comes with photo voltaic charging as customary, whilst you can spec up the opposite fashions to match. Or for range-topping toughness, go for the Sapphire Photo voltaic version, which advantages from scratch-resistant sapphire glass. Costs begin at $700/£600 for the Fenix 7S and seven, rising all the best way to $1000/£1049 for the 51mm Sapphire Photo voltaic model.
Apple Watch Extremely vs Garmin Fenix 7: tech specs
| Apple Watch Professional | Garmin Fenix 7S/7/7X | |
| Display screen | 1.92in, 502×410 OLED | Fenix 7S: 1.2in, 240×240 MIP Fenix 7: 1.3in, 260×260 MIP Fenix 7X: 1.4in, 280×280 MIP |
| Sensors | GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, altimeter, depth gauge, water temperature, physique temperature, blood oxygen, coronary heart charge, compass | GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometric altimeter, thermometer, blood oxygen, coronary heart charge, compass |
| Storage | 32GB | 16GB (Commonplace/Photo voltaic), 32GB (Sapphire Photo voltaic) |
| Working system | WatchOS 9 | Proprietary |
| Battery | 36 hours (regular), 60 hours (low energy) | Photo voltaic: 14 days (regular), 87 days (low energy) Sapphire Photo voltaic: 37 days (regular), 1+ yr (low energy) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, 4G | Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, ANT+ |
| Sturdiness | 100m waterproof | 100m waterproof |
| Dimensions | 49x44x14.4mm, 61.3g | Fenix 7S: 42x42x14.1mm, 63g Fenix 7: 47x47x14.5mm, 79g Fenix 7X: 51x51x14.9mm, 96g |
Design: robust nuts
Unmistakably an Apple Watch, the Extremely takes acquainted smartwatch styling and jacks up the armour. So the face continues to be a rounded sq., nevertheless it now comes clad in aerospace-grade titanium. Its rugged credentials are mirrored within the dimensions: at 49mm, its case isn’t any shrinking violet. Whereas subtlety isn’t its sturdy level, the Extremely nonetheless retains the engaging curves of its lineage. It’s additionally lighter than all however a few the Fenix 7 variants, hitting the scales at 61.3g. Plus the pay-off is severe sturdiness: the Extremely is dive-proof all the way down to 40m, and likewise passes army temperature and shock checks.
In distinction, the Garmin Fenix 7 seems to be nearer to a traditional sports activities watch: six chunky lugs, a full-round face and a strong bezel circling it. Each the bezel and again are constructed from titanium, whereas the remainder of the case makes use of fibre-reinforced polymer. In contrast to the Extremely, it’s not rated for diving, however a water-resistance rating of 10ATM means it’s sorted for swimming. Dimensions rely on which version you choose, however the closest choices to the Extremely are the 47mm and 51mm. In Photo voltaic spec, these are beefier than the Watch at 79g and 96g respectively, though the additional grams get you photo voltaic charging. Shelling out for sapphire crystal saves you 6/7g, however has a extra vital and reverse impact in your financial institution stability.
Show: kind versus perform
Neglect apples and oranges: attempt evaluating the shows on the Apple Watch Extremely and the Garmin Fenix 7. However their variations have a sensible root. Flat-fronted and filled with pixels, the Extremely ships with a beneficiant 1.92in OLED panel that’s large on color and twice as brilliant as any Apple Watch earlier than it. At 2000 nits, it’s designed to be seen in all situations, whether or not excessive within the hills or deep beneath the ocean. That’s additionally mirrored in activity-specific screens and a brand new Wayfinder face, which put vital data entrance and centre.
In its smallest guise, the Fenix 7S has a 1.2in touchscreen with lower than half the decision of the Apple Watch Extremely. Actually, not one of the Garmin Fenix 7 fashions have a show that’s notably sharp, with the panel that fronts the most important Fenix 7X measuring in at 1.4in and 280×280 pixels. Reminiscence-in-pixel tech lags far behind the Extremely’s OLED with regards to vivid distinction, too. But it surely’s not with no objective: that show setup is vastly extra energy environment friendly, which is mirrored within the weeks-long battery lifetime of the Garmin Fenix 7. Although there’s no escaping that the Extremely does provide extra display actual property.
Well being & health monitoring: full home
As you’d anticipate from journey watches, each the Apple Watch Extremely and the Garmin Fenix 7 provide a full suite of sensors. And so they transcend the sleep, step and exercise monitoring options of your customary smartwatch – though they’ll deal with these, too.
With the Apple Watch Extremely, you get the complete health basis laid down by earlier editions. Meaning ECG readings, blood oxygen monitoring and a complete Exercise app. Just like the Apple Watch Collection 8, the Extremely can be geared up with a pores and skin temperature sensor to enhance the accuracy of cycle predictions, plus further movement sensors that may detect crashes and alert emergency providers in case you’re unresponsive. However the Extremely goes even additional: it deploys dual-frequency GPS and up to date positioning algorithms to ship Apple’s most correct wrist-based location monitoring but. It additionally includes a depth gauge which, working along with the Oceanic+ app, can robotically rework the Extremely right into a dive watch whenever you go beneath the waves.
Garmin’s Fenix 7 doesn’t have the identical dive credentials, nor can it learn your pores and skin temperature. But it surely does provide a beneficiant set of monitoring instruments, together with pulse and blood oxygen sensors. From browsing to snowboarding to sprints, it additionally comes geared up with a list of sport profiles, every with readouts particular to the exercise. In addition to getting severe about stats, its expertise go deep for every self-discipline, starting from gradient-adjusted pacing for runners, to ascent planning for mountain climbers. Help for a number of satellite tv for pc methods improves navigation accuracy too, whether or not you’re following path routes or golf maps. And that’s all along with day by day wellness steerage and long-term coaching metrics that will help you enhance your efficiency.
Software program and options: smartwatch vs good watch
With watchOS 9 put in, the Apple Watch Extremely is each bit the outside smartwatch. In addition to the Exercise, Apple Well being and Oceanic+ apps put in as customary, you get entry to the numerous third-party choices out there on the App Retailer. You too can save PB playlists to your wrist, use Apple Pay to settle up for restoration shakes and ask Siri to remind you to run. And whereas the icon-based interface is conscious of faucet, the Extremely additionally includes a customisable button for sporty shortcuts – whether or not you’re marking waypoints or intervals.
Garmin makes use of proprietary software program for the Fenix 7. Whereas it’s not as slick as watchOS 9, it nonetheless includes a wholesome dose of smarts. The Join IQ retailer is house to a number of mainstream apps – together with Spotify, which you should utilize to obtain exercise bangers. You too can obtain notifications from related smartphones and use Garmin Pay for contactless transactions. And although there’s no voice assistant help, the Garmin Join app is among the finest for diving into information. Whereas the touchscreen can be a welcome addition for a lot of, the Fenix 7 arguably has the superior setup for many who favor the knowledge of bodily buttons when out within the wild.
Battery life: poles aside
On paper, the Extremely gives a significant battery improve over different Apple Watch fashions. Its cell is rated for as much as 36 hours of regular use, which in Apple’s world means checking the time, responding to notifications and getting in a 60-minute exercise whereas taking part in music from the Watch. Heading on an extended jaunt? As soon as the low-power function is enabled, you’ll be capable of eke the battery life out for as much as 60 hours, by lowering the frequency of coronary heart charge and GPS readings.
As first rate as that’s for a watch as good because the Extremely, it’s roundly overwhelmed by the Fenix 7. Thanks largely to its less complicated show setup, the usual Fenix 7 can final for as much as 18 days as a smartwatch, or 57 days within the battery saver setting. These numbers will naturally cut back in case you go on a GPS binge, as they might for the Apple Watch Extremely. However the severe numbers include assist from the solar: the Photo voltaic model embarrasses the Extremely with a most span of 173 days, relying on photo voltaic publicity. Keen to splash the money for final longevity? The Photo voltaic Sapphire can run for greater than a yr.
Apple Watch Extremely vs Garmin Fenix 7: preliminary verdict
From the mountains to the ocean, each of those wearables are sorted for monitoring adventures. Every is constructed to outlive in robust situations and every comes geared up with an arsenal of sensors to trace your stats as you sort out them. But even after inspecting their specs, it’s difficult to select a winner. Not as a result of they’re so related, however as a result of they’re so totally different.
Regardless of its styling, the Extremely is greater than a beefed up Apple Watch. Positive, it’s simply the smarter of the 2 units in competitors right here. But it surely’s additionally extra sturdy than the usual Fenix 7 and cheaper than the Sapphire Photo voltaic version, which is the one possibility with equal crystal. The Extremely also can function a dive watch, full with depth gauge. And it packs a show that’s greater, brighter and extra vibrant. If you need a correct smartwatch to take into the wild, the Extremely is the one.
That mentioned, the Garmin Fenix 7 is a stellar technical device. Its devoted exercise profiles measure sufficient metrics to please a sports activities scientist, whereas its pared-back interface is all about effectivity. Its good options is perhaps fewer, nevertheless it’s each bit the succesful companion on land. And for a lot of, the dealbreaker can be that battery life. For followers of prolonged expeditions, the Apple Watch has no reply to the Fenix 7’s longevity.
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