Did you already know there are smartwatches on the market at present that blow the Apple Watch Ultra out of the water? Take the Garmin Fenix 7X Solar Sapphire Edition.
I’ve owned an Apple Watch Ultra since its launch again in September 2022, and it has been on my wrist virtually regularly over the previous eight months, excluding when it is charging, the few instances its presence on my wrist has been annoying, and after I swing my kettlebells about just a few instances per week. (Because regardless of how robust it’s, it isn’t going to take repeated kettlebell smashes to the watch face.)
And it has been with me on many an journey. Walking, climbing, or on images or drone flying journeys, the Apple Watch Ultra has been a relentless companion. It’s been out in rain, snow, ice, and warmth waves. I’ve worn it whereas sweating up steep hills, and whereas stress-free in a scorching tub.
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Sure, I’ve not taken it up Everest, or on ultramarathons, however there have been instances when it has been my solely supply of sunshine, and even my solely hyperlink with the world at massive.
But it is positive had fairly a tricky life up to now, and it is given me a extremely good thought of the machine’s strengths and weaknesses.
I’ve been testing different outside smartwatches alongside the Apple Watch Ultra. (Yes, I’ve been sporting two watches, so what? All the cool children are sporting two smartwatches.) All that testing has given me a very good understanding of what the competitors has to supply.
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OK, let’s begin with the Apple Watch Ultra. Over eight months of close-to-continual sporting (I put on it on my left wrist, crown down, as a result of this fashion the crown does not get bumped when placing arms into pockets or gloves) and the Ultra’s situation stays a lot nearer to immaculate than I’d anticipate it to be.
The sapphire crystal is ideal, whereas the titanium shell has just a few very gentle scratches and abrasion marks.
It’s one robust watch.
The battery life has additionally been good (for an Apple Watch). I can anticipate about three days of battery life out of it earlier than I begin getting apprehensive, however heavy use of maps or health options can scale back that to a few days.
Not unhealthy for an Apple Watch, however there are smartwatches on the market that blow this efficiency out of the water.
Take the Garmin Fenix 7X Solar Sapphire Edition that I’ve been sporting alongside the Apple Watch Ultra. This Garmin has been charged as soon as and has run for nearly two weeks with out cost, and it nonetheless says it has six days of standard use left (or 90 days if I put it into battery saver mode).
It’s lasted for thus lengthy now that I’m unsure the place I’ve put the charging cable. (Yes, the Fenix 7 line wants a proprietary charging cable.) The photo voltaic cell embedded into the face collects daylight, giving the battery a little bit increase whereas I’m exploring the outdoor.
On the toughness entrance, the Fenix 7X is holding up effectively. However, I’m already discovering that the black DLC (diamond-like coating) end is sporting off. A small beauty factor, however for those who’re into small beauty things, this might very effectively hassle you.
The battery life and coating apart, there are just a few different methods the Garmin smartwatch beats Apple’s providing when outdoor.
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First, the Apple Watch Ultra depends closely on that touchscreen show. This is nice for day-to-day use, however if you’re sporting gloves, or your arms are chilly, or the show will get moist, that touchscreen turns into a large ache to make use of. Get water on it, and the contact enter turns into tremendous unreliable.
While the Fenix 7X has a touchscreen show, it additionally options buttons, and people buttons make working the watch when moist or when sporting gloves loads simpler.
I’m additionally a giant fan of that massive show. Those massive, chunky letters and numbers are simple on my growing older eyes. And Garmin has crammed a number of info onto that 1.4-inch show.
It’s very simple on the eyes it doesn’t matter what the situations.
The Fenix 7X has an precise LED flashlight constructed into the aspect of the watch that may be switched from white to crimson. This is a good contact as a result of it frees up the show to nonetheless be a show; the flashlight is ideal for small duties like map studying and lighting the manner in an emergency.
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Finally, the Garmin comes with topographical maps loaded onto the smartwatch (and there are additionally third-party maps you should buy, comparable to these by the wonderful Talkytoaster), eradicating the want for a mobile connection when exploring.
The Apple Watch Ultra has Apple Maps, and entry to these depends on having an web connection. I’m not conscious of a third-party providing that fills the hole.
This appears like an enormous oversight on a watch that is billed as being designed for explorers.
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The Apple Watch Ultra suffers from another weaknesses as effectively. For instance, the coordinates on the most important entrance display can take ages to replace — minutes, tens of minutes, typically extra — making this characteristic really feel extra like a gimmick than a great tool. Similarly, right here in the UK, our maps use a coordinate system known as British National Grid. Apple does not assist this (though there are apps that may convert the present place to the system), whereas the Garmin smartwatch has no downside with this.
All these little things add up.
One factor I’m requested very often is how totally different smartwatches examine relating to the accuracy of distance walked, and step depend. All the items I’ve tried alongside the Apple Watch Ultra have agreed to inside 5%. Which one is the extra correct? I can’t say.
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When it involves the app ecosystem, nonetheless, Apple’s obtained the competitors beat. Pretty a lot any app you may consider already exists for the Apple Watch. By comparability, the choices for Garmin smartwatches are a bit restricted.
There’s little question that the Apple Watch Ultra is a good smartwatch. But pitting it in opposition to a tool like the Garmin Fenix 7X Solar Sapphire highlights not just some Apple Watch weaknesses but in addition demonstrates the distinction between an organization that makes a mass-market machine versus one that actually understands what’s essential to individuals who spend a number of time outdoor.
…. to be continued
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