Apple - Watch Series 9

The only consumer health tracker on the planet that is reasonably accurate enough to even think about maybe, maybe, maybe, deigning it as something which could monitor abnormal cardiovascular medical conditions, is the Apple Watch. Maybe. Even that's a stretch. Most trackers are very clear about how their features are only validated for otherwise healthy individuals. And the Whoop's EKG, as one example, barely even works for healthy individuals, let alone unhealthy ones.

Bevel (and Athlytic) are mostly pretty pseudoscience. The issue the Apple Watch has is that third party apps do not get access to low level AW sensor data; they only get high level summaries of the data, so they get "average heart rate over the last minute" instead of each intra-beat timing. This, combined with how the AW only takes sensor readings every five minutes, severely & negatively impacts the accuracy of Whoop-like statistics on that platform.

I use it for my workout. Its great, it has also greatly improved over new versions for tracking the meters better. I would never consider switching, most likely will get a new one in a year or 2. I also use it in open sea training.

I just switched from an Apple Watch (3.5 years) to a 255. I run and was mostly using my aw as a running watch. As a running watch it was fine, but the battery life sucked and my gps/distance was always a bit off from my friends. I’d much rather a slightly better gps than a slightly better hr sensor. Also, big, physical buttons are also great when doing things when you are sweaty. I didn’t even bother getting a touch screen. From my perspective, I couldn’t find a good reason to buy another apple.

I found I couldn’t use my AW for sleep because the battery was forever needing to be charged

I use both. I feel my Apple Watch is more accurate with HR, steps, workouts. My ring is for sleep and stress.

yea i wear both aw on the left whoop on the right. they are both good for different things and having the whoop gives me some peace of mind about my apple watch charge like i don’t stress about if it dies cause ik the whoop is running

I have Apple Watch Series 9 right now but previously had a Garmin. Yeah, you can set target heart rate and target pace in the run settings. They can be used for all run types. For example, you can set a target pace or hr (instant value or range) on a distance goal run. Then there is a completely separate pace goal run type that has a special data screen that shows if you’re ahead or behind target pace. Here’s what sucks about pace on Apple Watch: instantaneous pace estimate is a lot worse and more delayed than Garmin. There’s also no pace gauge like Garmin has which I always found a nice screen to use. No, there is NO dynamic run coaching or daily suggested workout like Garmin has. There is a “Workout Buddy” feature that interjects little pep talk blurbs at the start of your run, during various run events like finishing a mile split, and at the end of your run. This feature requires the paired phone to be nearby, at least for my Series 9. Overall a very lame “feature” There are apps on the App Store that try to offer what Garmin has for training and recovery, but I don’t trust them to be as accurate and don’t really find them to offer anything insightful. I tried a trial for all the ones that are frequently recommended on Reddit. Meh. Otherwise, I love having Apple Music on my wrist and no phone needed to be called or texted by wife and kids. I like Garmin and Apple both, and I’m considering buying an Ultra 3 myself in spite of Apple Watch downsides. Just being objective about the downsides of AW compared to Garmin for running.

I love Apple and Garmin products, and I’ve been waiting for the Ultra 3 release to replace my Apple Watch Series 9. Here’s where my AWS9 falls short for me: camping and hiking because of battery, maps and navigation while biking and hiking, and the dynamic running workout suggestions that Garmin has. I can get Fenix 8 Solar for $880 through a discount with my health insurance which makes it comparable to AWU3. Things I like about Fenix 8 Solar: maps, battery, daily suggested workout, Garmin coach, MIP screen doesn’t look like a mini phone on my wrist. Things I like about AWU3: being reachable by my wife and kids while running and cycling, running errands sans phone, love the design, my watch bands will fit, my Apple Music subscription works, etc. I feel like the AWU3 fits my actual day to day better than the Fenix; although, when I do make it out for that couple times a year backpacking trip, Fenix is the clear winner. But on the day to day I mostly am tracking running and weightlifting. And a weekend gravel bike ride. Anybody have both?

Yeah I have taken fitness pretty seriously over the last 1.5 years. Have done 6 triathlons and feel that the Apple Watch is severely lacking. But I feel there would be too many trade offs to go to garmin

Just picked up a stainless steel series 9 for $200 from Wal Mart, and it looks brand new. Not a single scratch or mark. No idea why anyone would be stumping for this or a series 11!

Refurbs usually have a scratch or two, no matter how minor. This thing looks brand new. It was $219.

Ridiculous right? Snapped it up and expected something awful, but there’s not a single minor scratch on it. Absolute steal.

The expensive ones aren't any more accurate than the cheap ones, but they do last longer. I'm on my third Apple Watch and likely will never switch to anything else, so take my advice with all the weight of a single grain of salt.