Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Fenix 7 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Why Do I Recommend The Apple Watch Ultra 2? 

• The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a brighter & sharper Retina OLED display, which provides up to 3000 nits brightness for better visibility than the Garmin Fenix 7’s MIP screen.
• It has a larger 1.92-inch Always-On Retina OLED Display that allows easier readability, a full-size keyboard for typing, more detailed watch faces, improved accessibility, and a better app experience compared to the Fenix 7’s 1.3-inch MIP screen.
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a built-in speaker & microphone for calls and Siri commands, whereas the Garmin Fenix 7 does not support voice communication.
• It includes dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5), which provides far more accurate location tracking, especially in challenging environments like dense forests or urban canyons, than the Garmin Fenix 7’s multi-GNSS support.
• The Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, & skin temperature tracking for health monitoring, whereas the Garmin Fenix 7 lacks ECG and skin temperature features.
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 has built-in LTE connectivity for making calls and sending messages without a phone, while Garmin Fenix 7 lacks cellular support.
• It has an Action Button, which allows quick access to specific functions like workouts, waypoints, or dive tracking, while the Garmin Fenix 7 lacks.
• The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has fast-charging capabilities via USB-C, while the Garmin Fenix 7 lacks fast-charging support.
• It also features a depth sensor and Oceanic+ app for precise measurements during diving and other water-based activities, which are absent in the Garmin Fenix 7.
• The Apple Watch Ultra 2 provides automatic Fall Detection & Crash Detection for alerting emergency contacts and services when an incident occurs, whereas the Garmin Fenix 7 only offers basic incident detection.
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports wireless charging with MagSafe and Qi compatibility for convenient and fast charging, while the Garmin Fenix 7 relies on a proprietary charging cable.
• The Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports Apple Maps with turn-by-turn navigation for walking, driving, cycling, public transit, running, and hiking, while the Garmin Fenix 7 relies on TopoActive maps, which require manual route planning.

Maybe the Garmin Fenix 7 price 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.

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What Common Both Can Do?

• Premium Build Quality & Durability: Both watches are built with high-end materials designed to withstand extreme environments. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a titanium case with sapphire crystal for added durability. The Garmin Fenix 7 also offers Sapphire models with titanium or stainless steel, ensuring similar resistance to wear and tear. Both are MIL-STD military-grade certified, with the Ultra 2 certified to MIL-STD-810H and the Fenix 7 certified to MIL-STD-810G, making them impact-resistant, rugged, and durable.

• Water Resistance for Outdoor & Water Activities: Both smartwatches offer 100m water resistance (WR100 on the Ultra 2 and 10 ATM on the Fenix 7), making them suitable for swimming, water sports, and even shallow diving. However, while both are highly water-resistant, the Ultra 2 is specifically designed for diving, whereas the Fenix 7 is optimized for surface water sports.

• Advanced Multi-Sport & Fitness Tracking: Both devices support a wide range of fitness activities, including: Running (pace, cadence, VO2 max). Cycling (power meter support, cadence tracking). Swimming (open water and pool tracking). Hiking & Trail Running (altimeter, barometer, GPS tracking). Triathlon Mode (although Ultra 2 has limited multi-sport transitions).

• Built-in GPS with High Accuracy: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Fenix 7 both feature advanced GPS systems for accurate tracking. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Dual-frequency L1 + L5 GPS, offering better accuracy in dense urban areas and canyons. Garmin Fenix 7: Multi-band GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS), making it one of the best for backcountry navigation and off-grid routes. Both deliver industry-leading GPS performance, making them excellent for hikers, runners, and adventure seekers.

• Essential Outdoor Sensors: Both watches include an altimeter, barometer, and compass (ABC sensors) for accurate elevation, pressure changes, and directional guidance. Altimeter: Tracks altitude changes (useful for climbers and hikers). Barometer: Helps predict weather changes and storm alerts.Compass: Useful for navigation in outdoor environments.

• Heart Rate & Blood Oxygen Monitoring: Both devices have optical heart rate sensors that continuously track heart rate and can measure Blood Oxygen (SpO2) for high-altitude training or wellness tracking. 24/7 heart rate tracking. High & low heart rate alerts. Blood Oxygen monitoring for altitude adaptation.

• VO2 Max & Performance Tracking: Both watches support VO2 Max, a measure of cardio fitness and endurance capacity. This is particularly useful for runners, cyclists, and high-performance athletes.

• Sleep & Recovery Tracking: Both watches offer comprehensive sleep tracking, monitoring: Sleep Stages (Deep, REM, Light sleep). Total sleep duration. Recovery insights. The Fenix 7 provides more detailed recovery insights, but Apple Health offers deep sleep metrics with temperature tracking.

• Menstrual & Wellness Tracking: Both devices allow users to track menstrual cycles and log symptoms for better health insights. This helps users monitor hormonal changes, ovulation, and cycle patterns.

• Music Storage & Playback: Both smartwatches support offline music storage and playback: Apple Watch Ultra 2: Apple Music & Spotify. Garmin Fenix 7: Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer. You can download playlists and listen offline without your phone, making them great for workouts and outdoor activities.

• Smartwatch Features & Connectivity: Both watches include Bluetooth & Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to: Receive smart notifications (texts, calls, emails, app alerts). Make contactless payments (Apple Pay vs. Garmin Pay). Download third-party apps (watchOS App Store vs. Garmin Connect IQ). However, Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers a full smartwatch experience, while Garmin Fenix 7 is more fitness-focused.
• Emergency & Safety Features: Both smartwatches provide emergency features to ensure user safety, including: Fall detection (detects hard falls and can call emergency contacts). Incident detection (alerts emergency contacts if a crash or sudden movement is detected). LiveTrack feature (Garmin Fenix 7) allows users to share their real-time location with friends & family.