I really want to like Apple Watch. Apple end-to-end encrypts your health data, so I trust their stewardship more than most other companies (including Garmin, who recently fell victim to a ransomware attack). And IMO Apple does a superior job supporting their previous-generation devices: They'll replace an old Watch battery for a low, fixed fee, and to my knowledge they generally make new watchOS features available to older devices.
But I've worn my Garmin Fenix 5 Plus for the last couple years, and there's no way any existing version of the Apple Watch could replace it for me:
- It has a transflective LCD display that, while not as pretty as Apple Watch's, is brilliantly visible in the brightest of daylight.
- The battery lasts more than a week when not using GPS.
- It communicates with all my bicycle accessories over ANT+, so I don't need to take my bike computer with me to record a short ride.
- It has a button-operated user interface, so it's still perfectly usable when I'm sweaty and in the middle of an activity.
- It has a nearly indestructible sapphire crystal.
I was eagerly following Apple Watch Series 6's release. But given that they still haven't fixed their battery life, it's very likely my next watch will be a newer Garmin.
But I've worn my Garmin Fenix 5 Plus for the last couple years, and there's no way any existing version of the Apple Watch could replace it for me:
- It has a transflective LCD display that, while not as pretty as Apple Watch's, is brilliantly visible in the brightest of daylight.
- The battery lasts more than a week when not using GPS.
- It communicates with all my bicycle accessories over ANT+, so I don't need to take my bike computer with me to record a short ride.
- It has a button-operated user interface, so it's still perfectly usable when I'm sweaty and in the middle of an activity.
- It has a nearly indestructible sapphire crystal.
I was eagerly following Apple Watch Series 6's release. But given that they still haven't fixed their battery life, it's very likely my next watch will be a newer Garmin.