Apple Watch Ultra 2 & Garmin fēnix 7 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the Apple Watch Ultra 2 rather than the Garmin fēnix 7.
Why Do I Recommend The Apple Watch Ultra 2?
- The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has optional LTE cellular connectivity for making calls, sending messages, and accessing data without a phone nearby, while the Garmin fēnix 7 has no cellular connectivity.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes a built-in speaker and microphone to enable direct phone calls, voice dictation, and Siri interactions from the wrist, whereas the Garmin fēnix 7 has no speaker or microphone.
- It features a 1.92-inch LTPO OLED display for significantly higher contrast, richer colors, and better text clarity, while the Garmin fēnix 7 using a lower-resolution transflective MIP display.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has up to 3000 nits peak brightness for superior visibility in direct sunlight and harsh outdoor conditions, while the Garmin fēnix 7 relies on passive sunlight reflectivity instead of high brightness output.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports ECG functionality for on-demand heart rhythm checks and atrial fibrillation detection, whereas the Garmin fēnix 7 does not include ECG capability.
- It comes with skin temperature sensing to provide overnight body temperature variation insights for wellness and cycle tracking, while the Garmin fēnix 7 does not include a skin temperature sensor.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes an Ultra Wideband chip for precise iPhone location finding and enhanced spatial interactions, whereas the Garmin fēnix 7 does not support Ultra Wideband technology.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a dedicated depth gauge and water temperature sensor for recreational diving and advanced water activity tracking, while the Garmin fēnix 7 lacks depth and water temperature sensing hardware.
Maybe the Garmin fēnix 7 can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Garmin fēnix 7 |
| Display resolution | 410 × 502 | 260 × 260 |
| Peak brightness | 3000 nits | Not specified |
| Input controls | Touch + Digital Crown + side button + Action button | Touch + 5 buttons |
| Storage | 64 GB | 16 GB/ 32 GB |
| Speaker / microphone | Yes / Yes | No / No |
| Cellular | Optional LTE | No |
| Operating system | watchOS | Garmin OS |
| Case size | 49 mm | 47 mm |
| Case dimensions | 49 × 44 × 14.4 mm | 47 × 47 × 14.5 mm |
| Case material | Titanium | Fiber-reinforced polymer + metal bezel |
| Front glass | Sapphire crystal | Gorilla Glass DX/ Sapphire |
| Display type | LTPO OLED | Transflective MIP |
| Display size | 1.92 in | 1.3 in |
| Ultra Wideband | Yes | No |
| GNSS bands | Dual-frequency | Single-band/ Dual-frequency |
| Water rating | 100 m | 10 ATM |
| Depth sensor | Yes | No |
| Water temperature sensor | Yes | No |
| ECG | Yes | No |
| Skin temperature sensor | Yes | No |
| Flashlight | Screen-based | No |
| Charging | Magnetic charger | Garmin proprietary cable |
| Price | Check Apple Ultra 2 Price | Check Garmin fēnix 7 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- GPS: Both watches include built-in GPS, allowing activities such as running, cycling, and hiking to be tracked accurately without needing a phone. This ensures reliable distance, pace, and route data during outdoor workouts.
- Multi-GNSS support: Each model can connect to multiple satellite systems, improving location accuracy in challenging environments like cities, forests, or mountains. This matters for consistent tracking during demanding outdoor activities.
- Heart rate monitoring: Both devices use optical heart rate sensors to track heart rate continuously. This supports fitness tracking, workout intensity analysis, and overall health monitoring.
- Blood oxygen tracking: Each watch supports blood oxygen measurements, providing insight into oxygen saturation levels. This can be useful for altitude awareness, sleep tracking, and general wellness trends.
- Accelerometer: Both watches include an accelerometer to detect movement and intensity. This sensor is essential for step counting, activity recognition, and calorie estimation.
- Gyroscope: The gyroscope in both models helps detect orientation and motion changes. This improves activity tracking accuracy and supports navigation and fitness metrics.
- Barometric altimeter: Each watch has a barometric altimeter for elevation tracking. This is important for hiking, climbing, and accurately measuring ascent and descent.
- Compass: Both watches feature an electronic compass. This aids navigation and orientation when following routes or exploring unfamiliar terrain.
- Outdoor activity tracking: Each device supports a wide range of outdoor sports and activities. This allows users to track performance across multiple disciplines using a single watch.
- Swimming support: Both watches are designed for swimming workouts. They can track swim sessions, strokes, and duration reliably in the water.
- Open-water swim tracking: Each model supports open-water swim tracking using GPS. This is important for triathletes and outdoor swimmers who train in lakes or oceans.
- Route navigation: Both watches allow users to follow routes directly on the watch. This helps athletes and hikers stay on course without needing a phone in hand.
- On-device maps: Each watch includes map support on the device itself. This enables navigation and location awareness even when offline.
- Music storage/playback: Both models allow music to be stored and played directly from the watch. This lets users train without carrying a phone while still listening to audio.
- Smartphone notifications: Each watch mirrors notifications from a connected smartphone. This keeps users informed of calls, messages, and alerts during workouts or daily use.
- Contactless payments: Both watches support tap-to-pay functionality. This allows quick and convenient payments without carrying a wallet or phone.
- Sapphire crystal option: Both watches use sapphire crystal for enhanced scratch resistance. This improves durability for outdoor and rugged use.
- Water resistance (10 ATM class): Each watch is rated for high water resistance suitable for swimming and water sports. This ensures durability in wet and challenging conditions.
- Customizable watch faces: Both devices support customizable watch faces. This allows users to tailor the display to show preferred data and style.
- Workout history sync: Each watch syncs workout history to its companion app. This enables long-term performance tracking, analysis, and progress review over time.
Common Features
| Feature | Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Garmin fēnix 7 |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-GNSS support | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Barometric altimeter | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor activity tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Swimming support | Yes | Yes |
| Open-water swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Route navigation | Yes | Yes |
| On-device maps | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage/playback | Yes | Yes |
| Smartphone notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Sapphire crystal option | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance (10 ATM class) | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable watch faces | Yes | Yes |
| Workout history sync | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check Apple Ultra 2 Price | Check Garmin fēnix 7 Price |
FAQ
Are Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin fēnix 7 compatible with the same smartphones? Do both watches have built-in GPS for outdoor activities? Can both watches be used for swimming and water sports? Do Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin fēnix 7 support heart rate monitoring? Is blood oxygen tracking available on both devices? Do both watches offer on-device maps and navigation? Are these watches suitable for hiking and outdoor navigation? Can music be stored and played directly from both watches? Do both watches support contactless payments? Are smartwatch notifications supported on both devices? Do Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin fēnix 7 track sleep? Are these watches built with durable materials for rugged use? Do both watches support multiple satellite systems for GPS accuracy? Can workouts and activity history be synced to companion apps? Are Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin fēnix 7 suitable for everyday wear as well as sports? |