3 Popular Garmin Watch For iPhone (Guide)

Budget Pick
Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch in Slate Stainless Steel...
Editor's Choice
Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu, GPS Smartwatch with Bright...
Best for Sailors
Garmin quatix 6X Multisport Marine Smartwatch, Comprehensive...
Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch in Slate Stainless Steel...
Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu, GPS Smartwatch with Bright...
Garmin quatix 6X Multisport Marine Smartwatch, Comprehensive...
$189.95
$249.00
$682.99
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530 Reviews
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-
-
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Budget Pick
Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch in Slate Stainless Steel...
Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch in Slate Stainless Steel...
$189.95
530 Reviews
Editor's Choice
Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu, GPS Smartwatch with Bright...
Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu, GPS Smartwatch with Bright...
$249.00
-
-
Best for Sailors
Garmin quatix 6X Multisport Marine Smartwatch, Comprehensive...
Garmin quatix 6X Multisport Marine Smartwatch, Comprehensive...
$682.99
-
-
-

Last update on 2024-02-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

When considering a smartwatch for your iPhone, the first thing popping into your head may be the Apple Watch.

But thanks to Garmin’s new products, there are plenty of non-Apple smartwatches you can buy on a lower budget and even more functionalities.

In this article, we’ll present three top picks along with their pros and cons. We’ll also let you know how a Garmin watch pairs with an iPhone and whether it’s a good alternative for Apple Watch.

Does Garmin Watch Work with an iPhone?

Some Garmin watches work with iPhone, but you need to install the Garmin Connect App on your device and synchronize it with the watch. Make sure to download the newest version of Connect App and upgrade your iPhone to Bluetooth 4.0, iOS 7, or above. Once paired, it can sync your iPhone notifications.

Is Garmin Better than Apple Watch?

Garmin is better than the Apple Watch if you’re into sports like windsurfing or serious exercises like weight training.

While Apple gives you overall health and fitness stats, it offers details on your calories burnt, fluids, stress levels, sleep, and even your period cycle. It has better battery life, costs less than the Apple series, and serves you longer.

Apple Watch, on the other hand, is designed for more general use and doesn’t include as many sports plans as Garmin does. 

The Apple Watch is geared toward smart features, so it’s less accurate in GPS tracking and other activity measurements.

As a result, if your workouts aren’t limited to simple running, Garmin Wearables would be a much better alternative.

What to Look for When Buying?

When buying a Garmin for iPhone watch, looking for the following factors can help you make a wiser choice:

  • Type of activity: Most Garmin watches are packed with sports features, but each model is geared to a specific sport. So, make sure your intended device is right for your type of activity. 
  • Connectivity: An apple-friendly smartwatch needs Bluetooth connectivity to sync your iPhone data, but you may also need Wifi or treadmill-pairing technology.
  • Health metrics: While some Garmin models only measure heart rate and oxygen levels, others may go as far as measuring your menstruation, calories, fluids, anxiety, body temp, and more.
  • Activity metrics: Is screening the distance, speed, and time enough for you, or are you looking for an in-depth analysis of what each metric means for you in the long term? If so, look for options with prediction and goal-adjustment abilities. You may also need an elevation meter if you tend to climb up the hills or walk in mountainous neighborhoods.
  • Battery life: Battery life matters a lot when it comes to outdoor activities and sports tours, especially if you’re fond of climbing, boating, and fishing. So, make sure your watch can keep on its service while you’re away.

3 Best Garmin Watches for iPhone

Garmin Vivoactive 4—Budget Pick

Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch in Slate Stainless Steel...
530 Reviews
Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch in Slate Stainless Steel...
  • TRACK YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND FITNESS WITH ADVANCED HEALTH MONITORING FEATURES: Garmin vivoactive 4 tracks your energy levels, Pulse Ox, respiration, menstrual...
  • LISTEN TO MUSIC ON THE GO: Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer (may require a premium subscription),...
  • TRACK YOUR WORKOUTS WITH PRELOADED SPORTS APPS: Garmin vivoactive 4 comes with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running,...

Last update on 2024-02-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This Garmin watch packs more than 20 programmed exercises and sports, such as strength, cardio, yoga, Pilates, swimming, rowing, cycling, and running (both outdoor and treadmill).

As a smart coach on your wrist, it shows you the specific moves you need to perform, reporting your pace, duration, and distance simultaneously.

The watch monitors your health status like the oxygen level, heart and respiration rates, hydration, stress, sleep, and body battery with high accuracy. So you’ll know when to stop training, go to bed, relax, or adapt to a healthier lifestyle.

From its dedicated app store, Connect IQ, you can install numerous programs, widgets, and watch faces. Some include Amazon Music, Deezer, and Spotify.

The incident detection technology lets your family and friends know if you get hurt during the workouts. And the GPS feature even sends them your current location.

The battery retains the charge for up to eight days unless you turn on GPS music streaming, reducing it to a few hours.

The only setback is the lack of data on your recovery or training load. Besides, you can’t respond to any messages or calls from the watch.

Pros

  • Over 20 sports programs.
  • Animated instructions on the screen.
  • Activity tracker.
  • Long battery life.
  • Music streaming capabilities.
  • Built-in app store.
  • Safety and Incident detection mode.
  • Health measures.

Cons

  • No recovery or training load data.
  • Replying to messages isn’t an option.

Garmin Venu—Best Overall

Sale
Garmin 010-02173-11 Venu, GPS Smartwatch with Bright...
  • Beautiful, bright amoled display and up to five-day battery life in smartwatch mode; Up to six hours in GPS and music mode
  • The broadest range of all-day health monitoring features keeps track of your energy levels, respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, estimated heart rate...
  • Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon music or Deezer (may require a premium subscription With a third-party music...

Last update on 2024-03-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A multifunctional smartwatch, Garmin Venu monitors your activities, biometrics, and phone notifications. Plus, it lets you reply to your messages without grabbing your iPhone. 

This wearable embodies the same 20 sport plans as Garmin Vivoactive 4, but it does a better job in measuring metrics. Other than your distance and speed, it also gauges your elevation changes. And besides heart rate, stress levels, respiration, and oxygen, it gives you information about your calories, body fluids, sweating, and body temperature.

Its battery lasts up to 11 days for regular use, a week in smart mode, and 6 hours with music playing and GPS on.

But what makes the device stand out in this list is the high-resolution AMOLED touchscreen making it compete with AppleWatch in terms of design.

Garmin Venu can store up to 650 music tracks in its built-in storage. Besides, it lets you connect to online music apps such as iHeartRadio and Spotify. The USB connectivity and ANT+ technology mean you can even pair it with your treadmill and other gym gear.

Just note that a few users reported some phone-pairing issues with this equipment. Others also claimed it’s not as precise as its predecessors. 

Pros

  • A myriad of connectivity options.
  • Built-in storage for music.
  • Compatible with training equipment.
  • Several biometric measurements.
  • Multi-sport activity tracker.
  • Sharp and bright AMOLED display.
  • Long battery life.
  • Waterproof.

Cons

  • Reports of faulty releases.
  • Not always precise.

Garmin Quatix 6—Best for Sailors

Sale
Garmin quatix 6X Multisport Marine Smartwatch, Comprehensive...
  • Provides comprehensive connectivity with compatible Garmin chartplotters and other devices (compatible marine products: GPSMAP 7x2/9x2/12x2 Plus, GPSMAP...
  • Rugged, sophisticated design features an always-on 1.3” display, stainless steel bezel, buttons, rear case and QuickFit band system
  • Improved sail racing assistance includes virtual starting line, distance to start line, race countdown timer and tack assist

Last update on 2024-03-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Specialized in tracking your seafaring activities, the Quatix 6 comes with a compass, an altimeter, preloaded coastal charts, ski resort trail maps, thermometer, water depth indicator, and POV navigation. Once paired with your boat’s navigation system, it even tracks your boat RPM, weather conditions, and other needed data in marine adventures.

It not only screens fundamental activity metrics—steps, climbed floorings, calories, heart and oxygen rate, and sleep patterns—but also estimates your fitness level to set automatic goals and training options accordingly. On-screen computer animations are also on board.

Specifically, you can pair it with stationary bikes and some other training equipment.

The 32 gigs of storage means it can hold up to 2000 tunes, not to mention those you stream from your phone’s playback or online music apps.

Garmin Quatix 6 stays on for two weeks in smart mode, 1.5 days with GPS, and as much as 1.5 months in battery saver mode. So it’s your best friend during nature tours with no electricity access.

As for the downsides, though, it has a fancy price, and it’s only available in one size. Another feature that may seem restricting is its physical control buttons rather than a touch panel.

Pros

  • Displays all the sailing data.
  • Pre-installed sports programs.
  • Auto goal adjustment.
  • LCD display with animated instructions.
  • Extreme battery life with battery-saving function.
  • Health status indicators.
  • Large storage.
  • Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Cons

  • No touchscreens.
  • Single-size.

Wrapping Up

The best smartwatch is one that matches your budget, personal expectations, and needs. But considering all the factors, Garmin Venu is the best overall pick for iPhone users.

It houses multiple sports programs, a lot of measuring functions, integral storage, and good battery life, all at an affordable price.

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