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For athletes and thrill-seekers, smartwatches have become an indispensable tool, offering a wealth of valuable features such as performance tracking, navigation, and vital health monitoring. The best two smartwatches for extreme sports are the Apple Watch Ultra and the Garmin Fenix 8 series. Both are high-end smartwatches but cater to different needs. Let's have a look at the comparison of them and determine which is better.
For sporting activities, a watch must be durable. The Apple Watch Ultra has a titanium case of 49mm and a sapphire crystal screen. It is WR100 (water-resistant up to 100 meters) and MIL-STD-810H military standard certified, which ensures that it can withstand harsh conditions. The Apple Watch Ultra is $999.99.
The Garmin Fenix 8 is available in case sizes 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm with AMOLED or memory-in-pixel displays. It is available with either a steel or titanium bezel and is water-resistant to 10 ATM, perfect for extreme diving and rugged environments. The Garmin Fenix 8 starts at $999.99.
Battery life is crucial for outdoor adventures. Apple Watch Ultra lasts between 36 hours in standard mode and 60 hours in low-power mode, sufficient for short adventures.
Garmin Fenix 8 offers longer battery life, especially with solar charging. Certain lifetimes are subject to usage and model, but generally, it has a longer lifetime than the Apple Watch Ultra and is ideal for extended expeditions.
Both of the watches have the latest tracking functionality. Apple Watch Ultra includes dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5) to track accurately and is also compatible with workouts like running, cycling, swimming, hiking, and diving. Apple Watch Ultra offers divers the Depth app and Oceanic+ app.
The Garmin Fenix 8 boasts multi-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS) for improved satellite tracking. It supports topographical maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and ski maps, which are beneficial for mountaineers, ultra-runners, and skiers.
Both watches support heart rate tracking, SpO2 tracking, sleep tracking, and ECG. The Apple Watch Ultra supports fall detection, crash detection, and emergency SOS over LTE, which are especially beneficial for lone adventurers.
The Garmin Fenix 8 features real-time endurance tracking, a ClimbPro climb planner, and training readiness scores.
If you need a smartwatch with long battery life, offline mapping, and extended endurance tracking, the Garmin Fenix 8 is better. It's ideal for mountaineers, ultra-runners, and adventurers.
If you prefer an easy-to-wear smartwatch with a robust app store, smooth iPhone integration, and cellular functionality, go with the Apple Watch Ultra. It's best for short-duration high-endurance exercise and daily use.
The best watch depends on the type of extreme sports you engage in. Garmin Fenix is best for long outdoor adventures, while the Apple Watch Ultra is better for those who want a balance between fitness tracking and smart features.
