Okay, so I’ve been messing around with smartwatches lately, specifically the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Garmin Fenix 7. I wanted to see which one was better for my kinda active, kinda lazy lifestyle. Here’s how it went down.
First Impressions
I unboxed both of them. The Apple Watch Ultra 2, man, it just looks fancy. That titanium case, the big bright screen… it’s a looker. The Fenix 7, on the other hand, is more, uh, rugged. It looks like it could survive a bear attack, which, you know, is not something I usually worry about, but hey, good to know.
Setting Them Up
Setting up the Apple Watch was a breeze. I just held it near my iPhone, and poof, it was practically done. The Fenix 7 took a bit more fiddling. I had to download an app, create an account, mess with some settings… It wasn’t hard, just not as ridiculously easy as the Apple Watch.
Daily Use – Just Chillin’
For everyday stuff, like checking notifications, tracking my steps (which, let’s be honest, aren’t that many some days), and seeing the weather, both watches are pretty great. The Apple Watch’s screen is definitely nicer to look at. It’s brighter, more colorful, and things just pop. The Fenix 7’s screen is more, well, functional. It’s not as pretty, but it’s always on, and I could see it clearly even in bright sunlight, which is a big plus.
One thing I noticed is that the Apple Watch feels more like a tiny phone on my wrist. I could answer calls, send texts, even use Siri to do random stuff. The Fenix 7 is more focused on the fitness side of things. It has all sorts of metrics and data, which, honestly, I barely understood half of at first.
Workout Time! (Sometimes…)
When I actually did get off the couch and do something, this is where things got interesting. I went for a few runs, did some hikes, and even tried some swimming (okay, more like splashing around).
The Apple Watch was good. It tracked my heart rate, distance, pace, all the usual stuff. The GPS seemed accurate, and the activity rings were a nice little motivator (even if I felt a little judged when they weren’t closed at the end of the day).
But the Fenix 7, wow. This thing is a beast. It has maps built-in, which was super helpful on hikes. It tracked everything: my elevation, my cadence, my blood oxygen levels, even how well I was sleeping the night before (apparently, not very well). It felt like it was giving me way more information than I actually needed, but in a good way. Like having a tiny coach on my wrist.
Battery test
- Turn on both watches to start timing.
- Put them to work.
- Check when they were dead.
The biggest difference, though, was the battery life. The Apple Watch Ultra 2, I had to charge it every other day, maybe every two days if I was lucky. The Fenix 7? I went for almost a week without charging it, and that was with using the GPS for several hours. It’s insane. It is the most important thing that I am care about.
The Verdict?
So, which one is better? Honestly, it depends. If you want a smartwatch that’s basically an extension of your iPhone, looks great, and is good for basic fitness tracking, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the way to go. But if you’re serious about outdoor activities, want a ton of data, and need a battery that lasts forever, the Fenix 7 is the clear winner. For me, I’m leaning towards the Fenix 7 because of that battery life and all the fitness features. Plus, I kinda like looking like I might climb a mountain someday, even if I probably won’t.