Does anyone have experience with both the Apple Watch and the Garmin Vivomove Sport or Trend (or similar models)? I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts on why you preferred one over the other. I understand that these watches are in slightly different price ranges, but for example, the Apple Watch SE is closer to the price point of the Garmin models.
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Apple Watch vs Garmin Vivomove Trend/Sport
- Thread starter Sami13496
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IMO, it really comes down to what's most important to you? I have a Garmin and an Apple Watch Ultra. I prefer the Garmin just because(to me) it feels more like a sports watch than a smartwatch. With that being said the AW software is much more polished and makes for a superior smartwatch experience. I've been preferring the fitness features on the Garmin (Body Battery, Training Readiness, etc.), but the AW has excellent fitness features as well.
Sorry, that this isn't a one over the other opinion, both are very good. I guess Garmin makes an excellent sports watch with limited smartwatch features, while the Apple Watch is a superior smartwatch with good fitness features. It all comes down to what features matter most to you. There's no wrong or right answer.
Sorry, that this isn't a one over the other opinion, both are very good. I guess Garmin makes an excellent sports watch with limited smartwatch features, while the Apple Watch is a superior smartwatch with good fitness features. It all comes down to what features matter most to you. There's no wrong or right answer.
Funny enough, sports features are not my top priority, but smartwatch features are, and yet I’m seriously considering a Garmin (Garmin Vivomove Trend). The reason is that at first, I was completely sure that my first smartwatch would be an Apple Watch because I’m all in in Apple ecosystem. Then I started thinking that I like traditional watches with hands and a round design. However, I still want notifications on my watch. And I don’t necessarily want to charge the watch every day. This is a tough choice.
It is a tough choice! It sounds like you're leaning more toward the features offered by the Apple Watch. If you don't want to change it daily, you might want to look in to the Ultra. I'm all in the Apple ecosystem, too! FWIW, I wear both a Garmin and Apple Watch when I exercise, and have found that they're pretty close in their measurements. Of course, YMMV, but in my experience they are very close. If anything, I've found the AW to be a little more generous in how it measures calorie burn over the Garmin.
The Garmin Watch you mention is quite a unique watch and really looks more like a model someone would use to hide they have any sort of sport or smart watch. It basically looks like a very traditional analog watch with a "hidden" display that basically remains off most of the time except for when you are using the smart of sport features.
If you are looking at that because you really want a very traditional looking watch that doesn't actually make people think you have any sort of smart or sport watch then that is a good choice but it also has me wondering why you'd be considering an Apple Watch at all since of course it doesn't look anything like a traditional analog watch.
If you want a bit more smart and a bit less sport on the Garmin range I'd treat yourself to the Venu 3.
Garmin Venu® 3 | Fitness and Health Smartwatch
Venu 3 is a smartwatch with advanced health and fitness insights, 14 days of battery life, GPS, texting, and the ability to make and take calls from your wrist.
www.garmin.com
As you can see you can take calls on your wrist and get all of Garmin's traditional sport features with a pretty touch heavy interface and a bright OLED display. The larger watch has up to 14 days battery life and the smaller claims up to 10 days. Reviews mention that with a decent amount of sports (GPS) usage that goes down to about a week.
I’m an Apple fanboy and I know that Apple Watch user experience will be on another level. It will be on par with my iPhone, iPad and Mac. It will be part of the ecosystem. But I don’t like the square design and it is indeed like a miniature iPhone on a wrist. So in this case, I’m drawn to Garmin. Like you said I want traditional watch but I want to get notifications on my wrist. To be completely honest I couldn’t care less about the sports and health features neither on AW or on Garmin. I will try them of course.
You said it best:
But I know that Garmin user experience won’t be on AW level…
I can’t assume gender from your name but if you are a girl you might consider the Lily 2 Active.
Garmin unveils Lily 2 Active – small, stylish smartwatches
Garmin today announced the Lily® 2 Active – its latest in the lineup of fashion-forward smartwatches that include popular health & wellness features.
www.garmin.com
My wife’s friend has one and uses it to run 5ks, do Pilates and basically wears it to work and thinks it looks classy.
I’m a guySo I’m looking at black Trend/Sport specifically.
Got it. Have you considered the Garmin Instinct Crossover?
Garmin Instinct® Crossover | Rugged Hybrid Smartwatch
Instinct Crossover is a rugged hybrid GPS smartwatch featuring luminescent analog hands & digital display, Apple & Android compatible & battery life for months.
www.garmin.com
It's only $300 more and had a round face, hands and while it is a chunky casio looking watch, it is much more capable.