I tested Vivoactive 6 and Apple Watch SE, and Garmin won out

Apple Watch See is the blueprint of what most people expect from one Smartwatch: A pure design, deep smartphone integration and enough wellness tracking features to stay reasonably healthy. At a reduced price compared to the brand’s flagship position, see also available. However, with the launch of Vivoactive 6Looks like Garmin is stepping up to the plate with a potential competitor.

After testing both watches side by side, it is clear that Garmin is not trying to beat Apple on his own game. It plays another. And for anyone who looks seriously at fitness, it can be a tempting prospect.

In a moment, these watches tell different stories. Apple Watch See wears like a piece of jewelry. It is minimalist, rounded and known. Despite the robust tracking suite, I tend to put it with clock faces that emphasize aesthetics more than statistics, so the daily impression is less sporty and more hidden-tech (or as hidden as a smartwatch can be). It is also so ubiquitous that it does not say much about my fitness regime; You are equally likely to see an Apple Watch on an execut.

In other words, I am just as comfortable using see for a dinner party as I am on a treadmill. The vivoactive 6, on the other hand, feels unpapologically purposefully. Its rounded, sporty buildings and physical buttons are designed for the gym (or the trail), and although I think it’s a good watch, it’s not as exclusive as Apple’s offer. There is a Fitness Tracker Primarily.

Still, despite the SE fits several scenarios, Garmin on the wrist keeps longer thanks to the fantastic battery life. As is often the case with Garmin watches, long life is a strong point for the Vivoactive 6. Apple Watch SE requires a daily top-up, and lasts just over 24 hours between costs. The vivoactive 6 lasted easily in me five days per cost. That kind of endurance means I don’t have to think about recharging it before a trip or a morning training, and I can take it on adventure overnight without packing a cable.

Training and weekend adventures are of course where Garmin shines. The vivoactive 6 spores everything from steps and calories to training load, recovery time, heart rate variability (HRV), stress and sleep, plus Garmin-specific tools such as body battery and health care. It is an incredibly dense platform that makes statistics into action -rich insights.

Apple has made huge advances in sports tracking, but Garmin contextualizes data in a way that feels more athlete -focused. When I work out too hard, Garmin responds with recovery advice. When I underperform, it guides me exactly the same. I love Apple’s rings for basic motivation as much as the next person, but Garmin’s tools are built for more dedicated athletes and data parks.

Even on GPS accuracy, Garmin still keeps the edge. I drove identical routes with both watches and compared the maps. Garmin tracks were tighter and more consistent, especially in stretches and dense areas. You can look at the map above Set route dip in the road instead of sticking to the track I actually drove. Around the turn it even has me on the very opposite side of the street. To be fair, overall look very good, but if real precision means something, Garmin is still the scale.

Without a doubt, Apple Watch is watching the better smartwatch. It handles conversations, texts, voice commands, app support and music control with the kind of seamlessness only Apple can pull off. The haptures are sharp, the interface is smooth, and the third -party app support is unmatched. And yet, during workouts, I was constantly distracted by it. Deep iPhone integration means a flood of buzz, banners, group chats and news alerts that break my focus. The vivoactive 6, on the other hand, stayed still. It only delivered the essential: a notice here, a calendar alert there. And when I needed to check something, the interface was simple and distraction -free. I was not tempted to browse the family talk while breaking a workout or changed my music. Sometimes less really is more, especially when you are in the middle of the race looking for some excuse to quit early.

So yes, Apple Watch See is still an audience. It is the ultimate entrance point in the Apple Watch world and impressively capable of the price. It has long been my preferred alternative for everyday clothes because I love the seamless integration with the iPhone and the robust app support (outside the gym setting). But Garmin does not chase Apple’s formula. The vivoactive 6 doubles down on computer -rich fitness, week -long battery life and tools that help you train smarter. When I am in thickness of a training cycle and cares more about shared times than text answers, it makes the focus a far more useful device.