Apple Watch series 4

So I want to first say I’m not a fanboy of any product.
I’ve been getting frustrated with how bad my 5+ titanium has been on GPS accuracy among other things. So I when out an bought a series 4 Apple Watch (GPS and LTE) and went for a run today. My 5+ was connected to GPS + GLONAS and I had a external heart rate monitor on. I used the default running app on Apple Watch. I went for a little speed run 3.5 miles and I have to say that heart accuracy has fantastic on the AW( it was always within 2 bpm ) and the pace seemed more on par of what I was thinking. When I got home, I looked at the GPS trace route for both and between the two the Apple Watch was more correct, then 5+. The 5+ had me running through houses, cars and about 40 feet away from where I was on some spots. Now they both had their “drunken” moments , but between them both at least on this run the AW was more accurate. This kinda confuses me Garmin is a GPS company and the cost is about $400 more.
One of the only drawbacks so far other than the 2 day battery life is that there isn’t as many metrics ( )as Garmin has, but I don’t really think I need them.
Has anyone here had similar experiences with other devices? I’m just getting tired of how Garmin is handling things. It seems like every time they say “fixed” it reminds me of when Jr developers say “ it works on my computer “
I do have to say that I really like the AW , but find myself still wanting to use the 5+. At least as of now.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Hello everybody,

I have Garmin devices for 10 years more or less since my first FR 305, and now than I only practice road cycling I use my Edge 1030, my FR 230 as my smartwatch and I even have my Garmin Scale...so Garmin Connect is more or lees the main app I use to have everything under control related to my trainng and so on....

This Christmas my girlfriend made an effort and gave an Iwatch 4 for Christmas (in she just booked one because here in Spain they don´t have units). The case is that I wasn´t too happy when I opened my gift because I though this will change how I have been working in the past and worried about the difficuity of syncronize everything. I hope somebody from this forums could help me with this and give me advices of how I could enjoy my new Iwatch as a cycling entusiastic while using my Edge 1030 and the Garmin Scale

Kind regards from Spain

0 OEAGLEO over 6 years ago

Hello everybody,

I have Garmin devices for 10 years more or less since my first FR 305, and now than I only practice road cycling I use my Edge 1030, my FR 230 as my smartwatch and I even have my Garmin Scale...so Garmin Connect is more or lees the main app I use to have everything under control related to my trainng and so on....

This Christmas my girlfriend made an effort and gave an Iwatch 4 for Christmas (in she just booked one because here in Spain they don´t have units). The case is that I wasn´t too happy when I opened my gift because I though this will change how I have been working in the past and worried about the difficuity of syncronize everything. I hope somebody from this forums could help me with this and give me advices of how I could enjoy my new Iwatch as a cycling entusiastic while using my Edge 1030 and the Garmin Scale

Kind regards from Spain

I too use both an Apple Watch 4, and a Garmin Fenix 5+. My decision is still up in the air about which is the best, as using the Apple Watch, the Heart rate, and gps is spot on, where the Garmin tends to wander. However, like you, I've used Garmin Connect forever, and really do like having everything on one page. The solution that I've come up with is a couple of ways. I use RunGap to synchronize activities from Apple Watch to Garmin, or Garmin to Apple watch. The app allows many other platforms also, like Movescount, Training Peaks, Strava, etc. Another app that will "sort of" put everything in one place is "Gyroscope", however it isn't the complete answer, and will require a subscription to work the way it was designed. As far as metrics, the Fenix far outweighs the Apple Watch, but the Apple Watch metrics are there mostly if you export to Garmin Connect, but sleep, intensity minutes, stress, don't come across.
I hope that helps in your decision, I'm still making mine, I guess it's going to come down to what of the "extra" smart watch features I use most on both. Activity/Metrics are virtually the same on both
:-)

0 Gr4z over 6 years ago

I would be really interested in your views moving forwards. Even though I splashed out on a 5+, I can't help but keep looking at the AW4. The Fenix6 and/or AW5 will be an interesting fight.

From what I can tell, Garmin include almost everything for free when buying the watch and using Garmin Connect. Apple give you the watch and to get the most out of it, you need to buy the apps (unless you use the lightweight Apple ones). I can only imagine the apps would cost at most $50. However, what I really dislike is having to pay a subscription fee for this stuff. A lot of Apple apps are moving towards this model, a move I can understand to get some consistent cash through the door but one I personally don't like as a consumer.

0 OEAGLEO over 6 years ago

I would be really interested in your views moving forwards. Even though I splashed out on a 5+, I can't help but keep looking at the AW4. The Fenix6 and/or AW5 will be an interesting fight.

From what I can tell, Garmin include almost everything for free when buying the watch and using Garmin Connect. Apple give you the watch and to get the most out of it, you need to buy the apps (unless you use the lightweight Apple ones). I can only imagine the apps would cost at most $50. However, what I really dislike is having to pay a subscription fee for this stuff. A lot of Apple apps are moving towards this model, a move I can understand to get some consistent cash through the door but one I personally don't like as a consumer.

True, currently for the AW I have a bunch of apps for sleep, heart rate (AW heart graphs suck canal water), WorkOutdoors, Gyroscope, Carrot Weather, and that's just to begin to approach what the Garmin can do natively. Plus, there's a subscription to RunGap that will take the AW data and export/import it into Garmin Connect, but without the Firstbeat metrics, (ie. Training effect, etc). I don't really use the other features of the AW all that much, as I usually have my phone with me, but in the gym, I can still listen to music or podcasts on the watch. If I want to hook into the TV's at the gym, I need the phone to connect to the audio network for the stream from the TV's, so in essence, the only thing I get out of the AW is the ECG, (used it a couple times, otherwise, I'm pretty sure I'm already alive with a heartbeat) and the automagic fall detection, so if I fall down, and knock myself out, the watch will call 911 automatically. Other than that, they're essentially the same on my wrist.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I also got lost between AW 4 and Garmin fenix and didn't know what I wanted to buy.
I'm not a professional athlete. I like running, cycling and strength training.
It is interesting to see how many hours the AW battery will hold in cycling, running, or walking with Watch GPS, and how long using Iphone GPS too...

0 kaz911 over 6 years ago

I have the AW3 - and I have to say that in the beginning the Optical HR was terrible (so just about equal to Garmin Optical). So I left it and only used it occasionally.

But then I picked it up for a few tests recently and the new firmware has improved the optical HR a lot. Before on the older version - and running - it would be all over the place. But with the latest firmware it is so much better. I have not "deep tested" but it was very close all the time to my 5x+ with HRM-Run.

So Apple is getting very competitive. But I am certain that if Garmin does not "buckle up" they will loose out to Apple.

My AW3 has about 2 1/2 day battery life. So I do like the 5x+ about 10-14 days battery life.

0 boholden over 6 years ago

Check the Workoutdoors app - http://www.workoutdoors.net/ - it gives you the possibility to configure the activity screens like you want and makes it a closer match to Garmin.

I have both Garmin and Apple watch and have very hard time to chose between them. Apple watch is a better smartwatch but i don’t like the limited battery life and lack of buttons. I also want a screen that is always on - especially when doing laps in the pool.

i guess i will continue to swap between the Fenix and the apple watch.....

Can you export your activities into Garmin Connect easily from AW4 with this app ?

0 Gr4z over 6 years ago

Can you export your activities into Garmin Connect easily from AW4 with this app ?

I would like to know this as well, I don't think WorkOutdors offers this service just logs its data into Apple Health. RunGap can move data back and forth but this is extra and is subscription based. What I would like to know is can you compete in Garmin Challenges using a AW and RunGap?

0 taddec over 6 years ago

Dear Oeagleo,
Could you share the steps you’ve done to export the activity from AW4 to Gamin Connect?
Thank you!

0 jsanneblad over 6 years ago

I have both Apple Watch 4 and Fenix 5 Plus Ti, but have recently only bothered to bring the AW4 along. I export all my activities recorded with Stryd, Workoutdoors, Intervals Pro, Gymaholic etc to Garmin Connect, Strava, TrainingPeaks and more using Rungap. Works perfectly.