2022 saw the release of two highly anticipated smartwatches, the Garmin Forerunner 955 and the Apple Watch Ultra. While the former is Apple’s first outdoor watch, Garmin FR 955 is the newest in the Forerunner line of smartwatches.
A comparison between these two top-of-the-line smartwatches is bound to be interesting, as it will tell us how far their parent companies have come in terms of technology and design.
Before we start comparing the differences between the Garmin Forerunner 955 and the Apple Watch Ultra, it is very important to understand their target audience. Apple Watch Ultra aims for a general outdoor-loving audience while the Forerunner 955 is designed specifically for advanced runners, and in general for athletes.
While this comparison will briefly cover all departments (from pricing to battery performance), our main goal is to find out how capable is the new Apple Watch against the industry leader in tracking runs.
General Comparison
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Apple Watch Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | June 2022 | September 2022 |
| Predecessor | Garmin Forerunner 945 | Apple Watch 7 |
| Company | Garmin | Apple Inc |
| Operating System | Garmin OS | Wear OS |
| Compatible Smartphones | Android, iOS | iOS |
| Competition | Polar Grit X Pro, Sunnto 9, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Fitbit Sense 2, Ticwatch Pro 4G, Galaxy Watch 5/5 Pro, Garmin Fenix 7 |
| Sensors | Multi-Frequency Positioning, SATIQ Technology, Garmin Elevate Optical Heart Rate, Barometric Altimeter, Gyroscope, Compass, Accelerometer, Thermometer, Blood oxygen sensor | Ambient light sensor, High dynamic range Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Emergency SOS, Third-generation optical heart sensor, Electrical heart sensor, Blood oxygen sensor, altimeter, Compass, Water temperature sensor |
Pricing:
Apple Watch Ultra is available in one size and there are no separate cellular or GPS models of the watch. You would have to pay around $800 for the watch, and that’s it.
Garmin Forerunner 955 is also available in one size, but it is categorized into a Solar and Non-Solar variant. If you want the solar model, you’ll have to pay $100 more. The base model is priced at around $500.
As expected, Apple Watch Ultra costs more. However, the pricing difference isn’t enough to make a decision yet.
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 955
Design & Display:
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Apple Watch Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 46.5 x 46.5 x 14.4 mm | 49 x 44 x 14.4 mm |
| Buttons | 5 Buttons | 1 button+ Digital Crown |
| Weight | 52 grams | 61.3 grams |
| Colors | Black, Whitestone | Natural titanium |
| Band Size | 22 mm | Not specified |
| Casing Material | fiber-reinforced polymer | Titanium |
| Strap Material | silicone | Silicone |
| Screen Size | 1.3 inches | 1.8 inches |
| Screen Type | sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | Retina LTPO OLED display |
| Screen Resolution | 260 x 260 pixels | 410 x 502 pixels |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass DX | Sapphire Crystal Glass |
| Always-on Display | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproofing | 5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming | 10 ATM (up to 100m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming |
As mentioned earlier, Apple Watch Ultra comes in only one size 49mm, the largest iWatch to date. The watch casing is made from Titanium whereas the back is of ceramic. There is only one color option available for the case, however, three new bands accompany this model. One significant addition is the ‘Action button’ that can be customized to your liking.
The display is always-on and is protected by sapphire crystal. It uses an LTPO OLED panel which is brighter than the previous models (2000 nits vs 1000 nits). The sapphire crystal screen on the watch ensures that it is scratch-resistant. The watch is also water-resistant up to 100 meters. The company has managed to get military-grade certification (MIL-STD 810G) for the watch as well. In short, Apple Watch Ultra means business when it comes to durability.
On the other hand, Garmin Forerunner 955 is also available in one size and follows a traditional circular design. The casing is made of plastic, and the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass. It has almost the same thickness as the iWatch Ultra (14.4mm) but is 10g lighter. FR 955 is available in multiple colors and its straps can be easily swapped.
The differences between the two watches are prominent in the display, where Garmin Forerunner 955 uses a transflective MIP color LCD. The resolution is also not as high as that of the iWatch, but the screen remains visible in direct sunlight. Unlike the touchscreen display of the iWatch, you would have to use the 5 physical buttons on the side for navigation.
No matter how you look at it, Apple Watch Ultra is the clear winner with its superior watch resistance (100m against 50m), rugged exterior, and lush display.
Winner: Apple Watch Ultra
Smart Features:
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Apple Watch Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Garmin OS | Watch OS |
| Connectivity Options | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Processor | Not Specified | S8 with 64-bit dual-core processor |
| RAM | Not Specified | 1GB RAM |
| Storage | 32GB | 32GB |
| Companion App | Connect IQ | Watch |
| Contactless Payment (NFC) | Garmin Pay | Apple Pay |
| Standalone Calling and Texting | No | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | No | Siri |
When it comes to smart features, Garmin watches are not as feature-rich as Apple. FR 955 can make contactless payments via Garmin Pay and can stream music via Deezer and Spotify. However, these are the only two notable features that it has to offer.
The list of features on the Apple Watch Ultra is much longer. In addition to contactless payments and music streaming, you also get standalone cellular connectivity for calling & texting a dependable voice assistant in Siri, and tons of third-party apps via the App Store.
This is a clear victory for the Apple Watch Ultra, but as far as practical features for runners are concerned, both are equally capable.
Winner: Apple Watch Ultra
Fitness Tracking:
We have further divided the fitness tracking features into two parts – Running Features and Overall Health Tracking.
Health Monitoring:
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Apple Watch Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Monitoring | Yes | Yes (Advanced) |
| Stress Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| ECG Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch Ultra comes equipped with a range of biosensors to track your health. It has an ECG sensor to track your heart rate and rhythm. There is a blood oxygen sensor as well to monitor the oxygen saturation in your blood. Regular features such as sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and calorie counting are also present.
Take aside the ECG and the FR 955 has all the health monitoring features that Apple offers. Its new Elevate V4 sensor and first beat analytics have a proven track record in delivering accurate fitness and health data.
Running Features:
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Apple Watch Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Workouts | 50+ | 30+ |
| Automatic Workout Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Running Metrics | Vertical Oscillations, Ground Contact time, Stride Length, Running Power | Running Dynamics & Running Power with Foodpod |
| Compatible Running Apps | Nike Run Club, Strava, Runkeeper, MapMyRun, Watchto5K | Strava Routes, RunSafe+, Trail Run/Running |
| GPS Tracking | Dual Band GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | L1+L5 GPS Band, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou |
Multi-band GPS is one of the headline features on the FR 955. This ensures that you get accurate tracking even in challenging environments. Interestingly, Apple Watch Ultra has also moved to a multi-band GPS system this year. We are expecting to get a similar level of accuracy in terms of position tracking.
Garmin FR 255 has almost 7 different running profiles with a ton of metrics in each workout mode. Basics like duration, time, distance, pace, and calories are all there. In addition, you also get advanced features such as VO2 Max, Training Status, Lactate Threshold, Race predictor, and more. When linked with a foot pod, the watch can track jump height, contact time, and vertical oscillation.
Before WatchOS9, Apple Watch didn’t have as many running features as the FR 955. However, with the latest OS, it has become a lot more capable. The watch can now track metrics Heart Rate Zone, Stride Length, Ground Contact Time, Vertical Oscillation, Average Power, and more without having to rely on any external sensor. Plus there is a triathlon mode for tracking your progress in multi-sport events.
It looks like Apple just copied all the features from FR 955 to offset its inferiority, but we would still give a slight edge to Garmin as it has more comprehensive data analysis and its history of being a go-to device for runners. Apple Watch Ultra has yet to prove its mettle in the world of running.
Winner: Garmin FR 955
Battery Performance:
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Apple Watch Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Type | lithium-ion | lithium-ion |
| Expected Battery Performance | 8.5 hours + Up to 15 days in smartwatch Mode | Up to 36 hours, Up to 18 hours LTE |
| Fast Charging Support | No | Yes |
Apple Watch Ultra has doubled down on its battery performance as the company claims that the new watch will offer 36 hours of juice on a single charge.
This is a significant improvement over the 18 hours of battery life offered by the Apple Watch 8. The bigger size and bulky design of the iWatch Ultra allow it to add a 76% larger battery than the regular watch.
The company has also added a new low-power setting which will allow users to get an additional 24 hours of battery life by disabling all power-hungry features. Apple Watch Ultra delivers 60 hours in the battery-saver mode.
Despite these improvements, Apple’s battery performance pales in comparison to Garmin which recently mocked the Cupertino company by claiming “We measure battery life in months. Not hours“.
The solar edition of Garmin Forerunner 955 can certainly back this claim as it offers up to 20 days of battery life on a single charge with the help of its solar panel. The base model will last you 10-12 days at least in the smartwatch mode.
Winner: Garmin Forerunner 955
Garmin Forerunner 955 vs Apple Watch Ultra Comparison: Final Verdict
Apple Watch Ultra comes at the top in every department except for the battery life and the running features. We will update this comparison, as soon as the watch hits the markets later this month.
If you are looking for a smartwatch primarily for running, then go for Garmin Forerunner 955. Even if the Apple Watch Ultra is capable of what it claims, Garmin has had these features for years now. Plus the extra battery life provided by the solar panel is simply unmatched.
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