Adam Kos There is only one Apple Watch. This is the best device you can get for your iPhone. Or not? Which alternative should I go for? There are more options, one of which is directly offered. It is a watch from the Garmin stable, when we received their June novelty in the form of the Forerunner 255 model for testing. And it is not a bad alternative at all.
Rather than the Apple Watch Series 7, it's appropriate to compare the Garmin Forerunner 255 with the Apple Watch SE, primarily because of the similar price. While the SE model starts at CZK 8, the Forerunners start at CZK 8. But is it even possible to compare these two worlds? Very difficult, but yes.
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Garmin is a stalwart of the wearables market, ranking in the top five in terms of sales. Of course, the Apple Watch reigns supreme, but Garmin watches have the advantage of communicating with both iOS and Android, so their targeting is greater after all. But their problem is that they are not that smart, and actually not that nice. As far as the specifications are concerned, they are practically completely different.
Cleverness
If we talk about watches in the sense that they are smart, this typically means that we can install applications into them and thus expand their functionality. With the Apple Watch it is without debate, with Garmin we could argue. There is a Garmin ConnectIQ store, but its options are very limited. It is also for the reason that Garmins are primarily a tracker of your activities.
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Vratislav Holub Appearance
Aluminum and durable glass on the Apple Watch (especially in the case of the Series 7) are more represented in Garmins by fiber-reinforced polymer and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. What is more premium? Definitely aluminum. Which is harder? Aluminium. Which is more susceptible to damage? The answer is the same. If we are to expect a durable or sporty Apple Watch, it should be made of a similar material. Even with a diameter of 46 mm, you don't know you have Garmins on your hands. The total weight is also responsible for more accurate measurements, because it holds better on the wrist.
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Display
The display in the Apple Watch can be considered the best thing you can have in a watch. Transflective MIP in Garmins, on the other hand, is the worst. It is very difficult to compare, because the technology used is completely different, as well as what the displays show. In addition, the one in the Forerunner 255 model is not touch-sensitive. But it works. The display is perfectly readable in any situation, it doesn't eat up the battery, the button control has been fine-tuned over the years. So while the Apple Watch clearly leads here, paradoxically, Garmin's solution can be really liked (if you can find something better than the preset watch face).
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Using
Both devices are suitable for wearing 24/7, but having Garmins with a suit is a violation of etiquette. It's a sporty-looking watch that suits what it's designed for – sports. Apple Watch, by contrast, is more versatile. But their options can soon overwhelm you. In an over-technological world, all the frills they offer can get on your nerves. Garmins are austere, direct and clearly get their way.
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Whether there is a better world than the one offered by watchOS is difficult to judge. The one with Garmins is very different. It offers only the basic and only the important. And that can really appeal to many. If you don't want to do sports, they're pointless, as the Apple Watch will do a better job in that regard. But if you go running, cycling, or anything else, and you want a really comprehensive evaluation of your efforts, Garmins are at the top. Their big advantage is that they communicate with you. They tell you what to do, how to achieve it and that you need to regenerate and not overexert yourself. But more in the upcoming review.
Comparing apples with pears.. you must have chosen the wrong Garmin for comparison, because there are many models that are much more comparable to the quality of the Apple watch. The Forerunners aren't exactly one of the best, and "apple" doesn't make that many modifications. So this comparison is not fair to Garmin.