Garmin Beats Apple to Market with Satellite-Connected Smartwatch

[justanotherdave]

They did not beat them to market yet, just beat them to announcement. Rumors are that Apple will ship one week after announcement, while Garmin ships in October.

I thought Garmin was available to order on Sep 8th. If they’re not shipping until October then this is just vaporware, and not really first.

 

[Sovrynx]

Apple Watch = Nerd Watch // Garmin Watch = Adventure Watch

… Simple as that.

 

[AdamLangePL]

Apple Watch (any) - toy
Garmin - Tool

That is the real difference

 

[Hank001]

and still round

Why do they keep making watches round?

So people can work round the clock.

 

[Grayburn]

Apple Watch (any) - toy
Garmin - Tool

That is the real difference

Toy..bit harsh

Apple Watch - Smart watch first, fitness watch second
Garmin - Fitness watch first, smart watch second

 

[Valve1138]

Only Garmin fanboys care.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Only Garmin fanboys care.

I'm a garmin fan and I don't care. It's just a spec race, and one I'm not interested in playing.

So when you are off grid, you do not bring a phone at all, and just use your in Reach?

How long are your GPS recorded runs? You run without Music or you carry your phone with you all the time? You do not use the Always on Display?

Well, prior to my 16, I would pull my SIM and put it in a flip-phone and carry that, turned off, in my backpack. Now I carry my phone, but also leave it off.

My runs are about an hour/day, and sometimes two on Saturday. I don't generally listen to music.

AOD is turned off. I kept it off on my Apple Watch when I had it, and it's off on my iPhone. I never saw that point of it.

 

[I7guy]

- announcing <> shipping (as was noted)
- battery life is meaningless as my watch lasts me two days with my usage
- garmin is too niche and doesn’t support the full spectrum of functionality an Apple Watch supports. And that’s why it has more battery life in part.

 

[Sovrynx]

Smartwatch… what does that even mean? You guys carry your phones in your pockets anyway… no need for something like a smartwatch.

„Apple any watch = toy“ is pretty accurate… because it is.

 

[TTTedP]

Putting aside the fact these really aren't AW competitors:




They also aren't even mass market devices. These are luxury fitness trackers catering to the rich. That's fine, but it'd be like if the only Apple Watch was the Hermes model - it's not really a product for everyone.

You don't need to spend $1200 to get 10 day battery life. You can get that on the $500 Fenix 7 as well. The Hermes version in your analogy would be the Marq version of the Fenix.

As far as mass market, my walking around observations (highly subjective ofc) - I see a lot more people wearing Garmin's / Samsungs and other round smart watches. Apple Watches used to be everywhere but that seems to be shifting.

 

[WilliApple]

Apple has supported L5 since the Apple Watch Ultra.

The Apple Watch Series 10 doesnt have L5 GPS, the Garmin Forerunner 165 has it.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Smartwatch… what does that even mean?

A watch that is able to run apps, display data, and be used in addition or in place of a smartphone.

You guys carry your phones in your pockets anyway…

Nope. Not when I am running, swimming, or doing many other workouts. Even when I have my phone in my pocket, getting directions unobtrusively on my watch rather than having to pull out my phone and stare at it so letting everyone know what I am doing is very nice.

no need for something like a smartwatch.

No one “needs” a smartwatch, nor does anyone need a smartphone. For that matter, one needs a fitness tracker even less. They are all just wants.

„Apple any watch = toy“ is pretty accurate… because it is.

To you, maybe that is true. For me, it is very valuable as it allows me to walk, jog, run and swim (pool and open water), without a phone. I can use it to board my flight, pay for transit (and most everything else), get into most stadium and concert events, all without ever needing to pull out my phone. Just as much of a tool as any solely fitness tracker.

 

[I7guy]

The Apple Watch Series 10 doesnt have L5 GPS, the Garmin Forerunner 165 has it.

But my iphone has l5 gps.

 

[Alan Wynn]

The Apple Watch Series 10 doesnt have L5 GPS, the Garmin Forerunner 165 has it.

Really? Would you show me where it says that in the specs for a Forerunner 165? The 165 does not even support WiFi unless one gets the “music” edition (useful for uploading data without needing a phone in one’s hands).

 

[theinstructor]

They are two completely different products...inReach hangs on my backpack and works for 20 days without me touching it and it's $14.99/month, and I don't need a phone. I don't even have to look at it after turning it on until after I'm back in civilization.

I don't use mine as a communicator as I like being disconnected when backpacking, but it still transits my location every 30 (or 10, or 5, but I usually use 30) mins in case something happens. I also have the emergency button if need be. I take it on long weekend trail runs too, as the area I go doesn't have any cell service and it's a closed forest canopy.

How is Starlink working when your down in a deep valley and can't even see the sky?

It works at one of the slot canyons in Arizona just fine. InReach didn’t. I also have a charger for my phone and a backup unit just in case.