I've always been a tech enthusiast, especially when it comes to wearables. I love the idea of tracking my fitness and staying connected all in one device. Recently, I was in the market for a new smartwatch, torn between the Garmin Fenix 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra. Both are top-tier devices, but I wanted to see which one truly fit my lifestyle. I spent weeks researching and testing them both, and here's my honest take.
I had high hopes for the Garmin Fenix 8. Everyone raves about its battery life, and as someone who hates charging devices constantly, that was a major selling point. However, after using it for a while, I realized that battery life isn't everything. I found myself disappointed with the overall smartwatch experience. It felt like I was sacrificing too much in terms of smart features for the sake of longer battery life. I was expecting a more balanced experience.
One of the biggest issues for me was the user interface. It felt clunky and outdated compared to the Apple Watch. I struggled to navigate the menus and find the features I needed. I also missed the seamless integration with my iPhone and other Apple devices. Simple things like responding to texts or controlling my music were much more cumbersome on the Garmin.
After sharing my experience with a few friends, I realized that I might not be the typical Garmin user. Garmin devices are primarily sports watches with smartwatch features added on. They’re designed for serious athletes who prioritize data and performance tracking above all else. On the other hand, Apple Watches are smartwatches first, with sports features as a secondary focus. There’s definitely some overlap, but they cater to different needs.
I also realized that I rely heavily on smartwatch features like LTE connectivity, mobile payments, and seamless integration with my AirPods. These are things that the Apple Watch does exceptionally well, while the Garmin Fenix 8 feels like it's playing catch-up. I need those features to be easily accessible and reliable.
I was initially drawn to the Fenix 8 because of the promised long battery life. I thought I could get away with charging it only once a week. However, in reality, I found myself needing to charge it every other day, even with moderate use. This was a far cry from the advertised battery life, and it was quite frustrating. I started questioning if the sacrifice in smart features was worth the extended battery life that I wasn't even fully experiencing.
Someone even mentioned that they only charge their watch once a week with daily workouts, including outdoor runs with Bluetooth audio. That made me rethink my usage and whether the Fenix 8 was truly optimized for my needs.
One area where the Garmin Fenix 8 excels is in its detailed data and metrics. It provides a wealth of information about your workouts, including heart rate, pace, cadence, and more. However, I found that I wasn't really using all of this data. I prefer a simpler, more streamlined approach to fitness tracking. The Apple Watch provides enough data for my needs, and it presents it in a more user-friendly way.
I have a friend who owns both an Epix Pro 2 47mm (another Garmin watch) and an Apple Watch 8. They confirmed that there's no contest when it comes to sports and endurance tracking – Garmin is the clear winner. But for everyday use and convenience, the Apple Watch is their go-to device.
Ultimately, I decided that the Apple Watch Ultra was a better fit for my needs. While the Garmin Fenix 8 is a great device, it's designed for a specific type of user – the serious athlete who prioritizes data and battery life above all else. I'm more of a casual fitness enthusiast who wants a smartwatch that can also track my workouts. The Apple Watch Ultra offers a better balance of features, performance, and user experience for me.
However, one thing I did notice was that my eyesight wasn't always the best when trying to read the smaller text on the watch, especially during runs. I started looking for solutions and stumbled upon the IENJOY Newest Mulifocal Readers.
These auto-adjusting bifocal reading glasses have been a game-changer. The HD magnifier and semicircular frame make it so much easier to see the data on my watch, and they're comfortable to wear during workouts. You can find them at [Mozaer](<https://mozaer.com/products/ienjoy-newest-mulifocal-readers-high-quality-women-men-auto-adjusting-bifocal-reading-glasses-50-to-250-hd-magnifier?variant=d1704d2c-10ef-40e8-ba4e-09dd25a9ce2e&utm_source=notion&utm_medium=seoartcle&utm_campaign=R202602&utm_content=nf0cyjlh>). It's like having perfect vision all the time! I think for those who are getting older, and doing sports, having a clear vision is always a good idea.
Choosing the right smartwatch can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Here are a few tips to help you make the right decision: