I liked my gen 1 SE, but when I actually got into slightly regular running I realised its limitations (hopeless battery and GPS, would sometimes miss tracking 10% of a Parkrun to the point of thinking that I’d levitated across a lake), switched to a Garmin and never looked back. I’m not entirely sure what the target customer for the AW is at this point.
The SE’s GPS is worthless. It would sometimes miss tracking 10% of a Parkrun to the point of thinking that I’d levitated across a lake. I completely lost trust in it being able to track accurately even in open fields. I switched to a Garmin and it actually does the basic job it’s supposed to do.
AWU2 here from last year and same. This watch will probably last me at least 3 more years, likely between 3-5. I had a SE from 2021 until 2024 (only upgraded because battery, not because I needed the new features) so will upgrade from this watch when battery becomes unusable or Apple brings really changing tech like actual hypertension readers/glucose monitors
I use an apple watch and garmin.
Short review
Apple is a kickass smart watch and a good Fitness watch
Garmin is a kickass fitness watch but a dumb smart watch (I am in the apple ecosystem)
My apple watch is 3 or 4 years old now. SE first gen battery %67. While doing my half marathon, I was anxious the whole time I will run out of battery before I finish the race.
If you do swimming, Garmin is your choice - with apple over one year the corners get hit and that will allow water to get in.
Garmin 265 is one year old and yet to face such issues. Plus the physical buttons make it convenient to operate. And the battery life is amazing. I charge the garmin once a week vs apple watch currently at twice a day.
I’m running with the dataless SE that just came out. Not much to compare against but it hits all my requirements and easily fits into the Apple ecosystem. My requirements were working with Apple Music and allowing me to leave my phone at home. Does a great job, good battery and most importantly can play DRM Apple Music offline.
Meanwhile my SE 1 drains 40% in 6 hours without doing anything in particular. Battery health is at 85%... Cellular off, Theater mode on, no notifications.
Funnily enough, for me it's the other way around: Apple is relatively accurate and Garmin struggles. For instance, when reading in bed, Apple told me that I was awake while Garmin counts that as sleep.
Just had two walks with Pokemon Go, and I used my AGING Apple watch SE (2020) I think, and the Pixel Watch 3, mostly to see if this year I upgrade to an Apple Watch SE 3, or switch to a Pixel Watch 4 since I pre ordered the Pixel 10 Pro and want a new watch-- even setting a timer on my Apple watch 2020 SE is SLOWWWW now.
After the first walk, I laughed at how OFF the Pixel Watch was on distance and calories burned. Now I'm only going off the past 5 years of my Apple Watch SE, but the Pixel watch 3 clocked a mile 0.71 miles EARLIER than the Apple Watch SE, which if that's the baseline and assuming is correct, is laughably bad. Final metrics were:
Distance walked: 1.10 miles (AW); 1.22 miles (PW)
Calories: 104 active, 142 total (AW); 193 (PW)
Average HR: 105 (AW); 104 (PW)
Steps: Apple doesn't say; 2,535 (PW)
Average Pace: 18:49/mi (AW); 17:16/mi (PW)
Save for a couple seconds if I paused or ended the walk... Wayyyyyy OFF on calories and distance. Must be terrible GPS and overestimation on calories, I would NOT trust Fitbit/Google if you're using them to be in a deficit for weight loss.
Just did a 0.56 mile shorter walk (AW), and the Pixel said I did 0.62. 56 active and 76 total calories (AW), Pixel says 114 calories. Average Pace of19:36/mi (AW) and Pixel says 17:46.
Just two short sessions with it on a simple outdoor walk, and I'm returning this Pixel Watch 3 immediately and just waiting for the Apple Watch SE 3rd generation next month or October. 3 generations, with a 4th dropping early October and Google/Fitbit can't get the hardware right??? No shot I can ever main a Pixel again, as bad as I want to.
For the record, I LOVE Pixel and have owned EVERY Pixel except for the Pixel 7 series, and have the Pixel 10 Pro pre ordered after trading in 8 Pro, sold my 9 Pro month or so ago knowing the August 20th event will plummet value for resale. For cameras, it's NO CONTEST, Pixel is better. I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and for telephoto, no contest. It's taking rumors that the 17 Pro Max will FINALLY match all lenses to be 48MP range to maybe give them a shot to compete. So I can equally dunk on Pixel for having terrible sensors on their watch, and Apple for up until maybe this year having terrible sensors on cameras on their "pro" line.
Top Fitness Trackers on Reddit
1
Garmin
Forerunner 255 Series
86% positive of 466 users
Long battery; but wrist HR tracking is inconsistent.
9999cw
