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Garmin Fenix 7 pro and Apple Watch Ultra
- Thread starter UKapple
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Always worn a Garmin, but swapping between different watches on my right hand.
Actually, the fact that I've worn A garmin for the last 15 years and have so much data gathered in Garmin Connect, makes it even harder to take it off. But if I should be honest with myself, if love to brake free from this "data prison".
And it kind of is a prison. You own Apple Health and can export the data. With Garmin you can sync to Apple Health, but, not everything.
This is a situation that never should have been allowed to happen. It should always have been owned by us and available to us, rather than the current situation where it gets used in ways we have no idea about. Garmin probably doesn't sell it, but all those 3rd party apps, including the one's we all buy on the app store, sure as heck do. And the security guarantees aren't great either.
Anonymized, my ass.
Yes, I use RunGap to sync all training between devices. But I kind off hate that I'm so addicted to all this. That's why I'm more tempted to wear an Apple Watch. I can turn off the step tracking and use it as a smartwatch and a safety device. I am pretty young (35), but I already have had some afib problems due to stress.
How are you enjoying your 965? Apart from the lack of a sapphire screen (and LTE, obviously) it's the best Garmin I've used.
Even sleep tracking seems better than awful 😁
Yes - you're right.
Data privacy is a huge point for me... Overall I really love the functions from the Garmin and of course the battery life, but the point that Garmin Connect doesn't fully sync all data to Apple health is a thing, which I cannot understand.
But when having everything within Garmin connect the privacy isn't that bad, or am I wrong?
Yeah, it can kind of consume you. I have some health issues too. Came, sort of, out of nowhere. Doctors don't know what it is, and I pulled the apple data, and created a blood oxygen presentation. Probably think I'm crazy, but I got the time right now.
One doctor, and he was right, told me to stop worrying about things, well, it's a lung issue, and you can see the month-over-month decline for more than a year. It's more to the point that it started with the arrival of a new manager. It's kind of amazing that I can see the decline start there. Unfortunately, it looks like at least some of this is permanent, which scares the hell out of me as I've never smoked, even pot really, and to get hit with something like this, yikes.
He did tell me his opinion of the worst sleep trackers, and dare I? It was Garmin. I pretty much have to agree in my experience, it did some crazy stuff. I think it's better now but it still doesn't pick up naps. I remember it thinking I was sleeping while on the charger, which fit right in with the 240+ bpm heart rate it recorded a few times back then.
The last thing, and back to your point, is it really even useful? I liked the running metrics, and PacePro was awesome for the trail run I did weekly, but none of the rest of it mattered. Maps, maybe twice /year? It's just not a big difference maker to me.
Ok... So you're not convinced concerning hearth rate measure and sleep tracking with Garmin watches?
But with an Apple Watch you‘re in full data prison with Apple. Without an Apple phone the watch is near useless. With Garmin watches you need a phone at all (Apple, Android,…) and you do not need an eco-system like Apple.
That‘s the other side of the story isn‘t it?
My point here is how easily we become slaves of data, whatever the device is. And the more it tracks, the more addicted we get.
All devices should give you the option to turn off those functions you don't need.
If my Garmin had fully operational LTE and I could turn off activity tracking and just use it as a multi tool for navigating outdoors and as a smartwatch, I'd love to use it as a single device. Or, if AW had at least the double of battery life and a button or two more.
I exercise everyday and walk around 40k steps each day, but I don't care about the data.
both
You do need an iPhone to AW. They’re going to roll Apple Health to the iPad, which helps, but Garmin is more open. The data inside that world isn’t. Apple also has HIPAA issues as you can get medical data, lab results and more, sent to it. I’ll take Apple’s security over Garmin any day.
Can RunGap pull Pulse Ox data? I’ve never tried and would love the detail.
Both are better today, the F6/Marq G1, were awful. Although I got crazy O2 numbers last night off my Epix Pro. I’m pretty sure the Epix is in the wrong but O2 at night is hard to do. My Wellue will trigger low reads if I misplace my hand.
You do need an iPhone to AW. They’re going to roll Apple Health to the iPad, which helps, but Garmin is more open. The data inside that world isn’t. Apple also has HIPAA issues as you can get medical data, lab results and more, sent to it. I’ll take Apple’s security over Garmin any day.
Can RunGap pull Pulse Ox data? I’ve never tried and would love the detail.
Sorry, poor choice of words. It just means that they have to think about it more because of the larger scope of their product, which includes lab results, etc. I don't think your RHR falls under HIPAA or your recent 5K so other platforms can be more open. Apple is also a safer eco-system because it's more closed.
People forget that Garmin was hacked. I believe they paid the ransomware fee, but we don't really know what happened there or if any data was compromised, although I don't think it was. Besides, Anthem Blue Cross has been hacked 3 times, my data is out there.
Garmin sleep tracking has generally been not very good in my experience. I think the AW better tracks mine, at least the awake time.
That being said, if I edit the beginning sleep time the 965 is not terrible.
Thanks.
I should post images of last night’s tracks but I’m lazy and it was a bad night of sleep. The Epix got that part right.
- Epix Pro had 1-1/2 hours in mid to low 80%. Mostly one long stretch. I think it tries to read every minute. Overall 92%, low of 82%.
- Ultra didn’t record the early part but had a 94 near the end of it. Tries to read every 30 minutes. Overall 94%, low of 91%. Only 10 reads or so.
- Wellue ring had it at 95 to 96%, and only 3 drops during the night, one a false positive because I was awake when it happened. It’s sensitive to arm positioning. Reads every 4 seconds. Overall 95%, low of 89%.
Just found a good article concerning Garmin and security… https://the5krunner.com/2023/05/08/...-vulnerabilities-affecting-100-garmin-models/
I'm not sure exactly what you are saying. 82% is bad news, if it was correct. I have pretty good reasons, however, to think there's an issue with the reads last night, including 2 other pulse oximeters.
I am really enjoying it. I find a sleep tracking to be not bad. The screen is unbelievably crisp.
Than just take off the watch and just walk and workout without the data. Pretty simple fix.
To follow up on my O2, last night was a terrible night of sleep. I have to sleep on my side or I reflux, the wedge pillow was hurting (back and shoulder), so during the night I tossed it, and look out, sort of.
This time the ring sensor picked up a bunch of reads in the low 90’s, still averaged 94%. This matches my memory of the experience, the wedge pillow is what stops it, so I rolled around and it’s an instant O2 drop when that happens.
The AW didn’t have enough reads to matter.
The Epix didn’t record for an hour, but was much more variable, showing a low of 86% and a high of 99%. However, it also averaged 94% for the night.
I also just did an AW read (97%), finger sensor (95%) and Epix 51mm (90%). So, I did it again, AW(97%), finger tip (95%), O2 Ring(97%) and Garmin (97%).
Weird, I think the Garmin just has more variability in the algorithm and O2 is really hard to get right at night, or during the day, or one-off reads, for a ton of reasons.
My point is that it would be better if we could choose what data should be recorded...