Which Will Save Your Life: Apple Watch or Garmin Fenix? TheHikingGuy picks Garmin

Which Will Save Your Life: Apple Watch or Garmin Fenix?

TheHikingGuy YouTube channel produced an interesting opinion piece and test pitting Apple Watch Ultra 2 against Garmin Fenix 8. To summarise, here is what he said the results are surprising:

When venturing into the wilderness, safety is paramount, and wearable technology like the Apple Watch or Garmin Fenix could make a life-or-death difference. Here’s a breakdown of their emergency features and how they perform in critical situations.

Apple Watch: Comprehensive Emergency Support

The Apple Watch offers 24/7 fall detection, which can be enabled for workouts or continuously. Using its accelerometer and gyroscope, the device detects falls and alerts emergency services if the user remains immobile for a minute. Features include:

• Emergency SOS Calls: Directly dials services via cellular or a paired iPhone, even utilizing satellite SOS in areas without cell coverage.
• Medical ID Sharing: Sends health details like medication and conditions to responders.
• Car Crash Detection: A related feature that auto-dials emergency services during accidents.
• Check-in Feature: Ensures user safety during activities by triggering location updates if predetermined conditions aren’t met.

The Apple Watch also includes basic navigational aids, such as a Compass app for returning to a start point, and a siren on the Ultra model for signaling.

source YouTube @Thehikingguy

Garmin Fenix: Adventure-Ready with Limitations

Garmin’s Incident Detection functions during activity tracking and alerts emergency contacts if an incident occurs. Key points include:

• Activity-Based Detection: Works only when recording activities like hiking or running.
• Connectivity Dependency: Requires a Bluetooth connection to a phone with cellular service.
• Garmin Response with LTE: For LTE-enabled models, Garmin’s emergency response team contacts services when an incident is detected.
• Live Tracking: Allows shared tracking during activities via cellular service or Garmin InReach for satellite-enabled breadcrumb trails.

Garmin excels with practical outdoor features such as TrackBack navigation, which retraces paths accurately, and an LED flashlight with strobe capabilities.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Apple Watch: Offers superior automation, medical data transmission, and satellite fallback, making it a leader in comprehensive emergency response. Its siren and health-monitoring features add extra value. However, its outdoor navigation tools are less precise.
• Garmin Fenix: While built for rugged adventures, its emergency capabilities rely on cellular connectivity or LTE subscriptions. The flashlight and accurate navigation tools are standout features but lack seamless integration with satellite SOS.

Verdict

For those prioritizing all-around safety, particularly in emergencies, the Apple Watch stands out with its automated features and fallback options. On the other hand, the Garmin Fenix is ideal for serious adventurers who value robust navigation and durability, provided connectivity limitations are addressed.