Wearables · Watches
Garmin vs Apple Watch: the sports watch decision for club members, settled
Apple Watch is the best smartwatch that also tracks fitness. Garmin makes the best fitness watches that also do a bit of smartwatch. Which you want depends on how you train, what phone you own and whether a ten-day battery matters more than tapping to pay for a coffee.
Updated September 2026 · Prices are UK RRP and need verification · Some links are affiliate links
The models that matter
| Watch | Price | Battery | Best for | Weak spot | Our read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 10 | £399 to £749 | 18 to 36 hours | iPhone owners who train 3 to 5 times a week and want one watch | Battery; heavy sport metrics | The default if you own an iPhone |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | £799 | 36 to 72 hours | Endurance and outdoor with an iPhone | Size; price | The Ultra fixes battery, not depth of training metrics |
| Garmin Venu 3 | £449 | 10 to 14 days | Gym, classes and everyday, any phone | Fewer apps; dimmer AMOLED | The best Garmin for a health club member |
| Garmin Forerunner 265 / 965 | £429 / £599 | 13 to 23 days | Runners who also lift | Plastic case | Serious running data at a sane price |
| Garmin Fenix 8 | £779 to £1,119 | 16 to 29 days | Multi-sport, mapping, longevity of hardware | Weight; price | Overkill for indoor training; superb outdoors |
| Garmin Epix Pro | £749 to £999 | 11 to 31 days | Fenix features with the best screen | Price | For people who wear it to the office too |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 / Ultra | £289 to £599 | 1 to 3 days | Android owners who want the Apple experience | Fitness depth | The Android answer to Apple Watch |
| Coros Pace 3 | £219 | 17 to 24 days | Runners on a budget | Smartwatch features | Best pure value for running |
UK RRPs and battery estimates from manufacturer sites, September 2026. Verify before quoting.
If you own an iPhone
Buy the Apple Watch unless you run or ride more than five hours a week outdoors. Its heart rate accuracy is excellent, it pairs with every club’s class equipment and apps, and the Fitness+ and Health integration is the deepest available. Charge it in the shower. Series 10 is enough; the Ultra buys battery and size, not better data.
If you train seriously or own Android
Garmin. The Venu 3 is the right pick for someone whose week is a mix of strength, classes, a swim and a run: it has strength workout logging with rep counting, a training readiness score, body battery and two weeks of battery. Runners step up to a Forerunner; the Fenix and Epix are for people who spend weekends on hills.
Watch plus ring
A common premium setup is a Garmin or Apple Watch for training and an Oura or Whoop for sleep and recovery, because nobody wants to sleep in a watch. It is expensive and mostly redundant; Garmin’s and Apple’s sleep tracking are now good. See Oura vs Ultrahuman vs Whoop before buying both.
At the club
Both connect to Technogym, Life Fitness and Peloton kit over Bluetooth or via the chain’s app. Apple Watch pairs with GymKit-enabled treadmills at some clubs for two-way sync. Our wearables at the club (not yet available) guide covers what actually syncs.
FAQs
Common questions
Is the Apple Watch accurate for heart rate?
Among the best wrist-based sensors in independent tests, especially at steady state. All wrist sensors lag during intervals; a chest strap is still better for HIIT.
Does Garmin work with an iPhone?
Yes, fully, via the Garmin Connect app. You lose Apple-specific features like tap-to-pay with Apple Pay (Garmin Pay works) and iMessage replies.
Do I need the Ultra?
Only for battery and durability. Training and health data are identical to the Series 10.
Not sure a watch is even the right device? Match the wearable to the goal.
Guide not yet available