Apple - Watch Series 9

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?

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.

If you have an Apple Watch 9, you’re happy with it and it fits you’re lifestyle then why look for hype. If you want hype, buy hype but it should be about what you think is right for your needs. The Apple Watch is a smartwatch + fitness device. The whoop is a fitness device only. I had an Apple Watch for years and I liked it at the start but over time it became less suitable for me. I often work or study in environments where I must take off anything worn on the wrist. The whoop costs me more but I can wear it on the bicep and the battery is significantly longer. I personally prefer the whoop because it is more suitable for me. You have to decide what is right for you based on what you want from your wearable.

Upgrading my Series 5 which I've worn almost 24/7 since I bought it in Nov 2021. Looking to get either a Series 10 or Series 9. Looking at a secondhand AW from Cex, they have the S9 for £160 and S10 for £205. Is the extra £45 worth it for a Series 10? The battery will be 1 year older on the S9, so there's that. And I guess you get at least an extra year of updates. But main thing I want are the temperature and oxygen sensors, more responsiveness, and just getting updates since the S5 is no longer supported. So an S9 would already be a big upgrade.

Garmin users are built different. Apple Watch users just try to fit into society, and the watch itself isn’t great. I owned a Series 9: it basically only checks your oxygen level (always 98%, so the feature is useless), the heart-rate tracking is nice, and a few sports features are okay but most of the other features are disappointing Apart from providing the distance metrics, that's all.. The Apple Watch is mostly a style accessory to say “I have an Apple product.” I also don’t like the watchOS UI. Garmin keep skeuomorphism and love it Garmin have a lot of features and capacity and look nicer

Apple is lacking coming from someone who uses apple products. I’d take a look at Fitbit or Garmin products, emphasis on the Garmin. They can get quite expensive but I think it would be worth it if you’re using it consistently. If you want an apple watch that’s good for working out, i’d look at the apple watch ultra 2, which is pricey but it’s more equipped for that kind of thing. The biggest issue i have with apple watches is the battery life, they die so fast. the ultra 2 i think has a better battery life but i have the 8 and i know people with the 9 and you can’t really track say a marathon on those because they just die (i’m not sure if you’re gonna run a marathon but im just saying, the battery life isn’t there).

I have an Apple Watch 9, but I picked up a Garmin Forerunner recently with the recent sales (still contemplating sending it back to get the Vivoactive 6 now that it has also dropped in price, but maybe will wait until we get close to Black Friday). Anyways, thus far I am kinda digging Garmin more (yes of course it's a honeymoon phase). I love Glances - why the hell did Apple not implement something like this ? I can see everything on my wrist without going to my iPhone all the time. The Garmin challenges are so much fun and motivating: Apple feels so clinically boring (as expected, I love Apple, but they truly are the people who like the smell of their own farts company). I mean here is shiny award for closing your ring - Jesus the rings are so fucking horrible. I love navigating with buttons: I could never operate my AW in a pool swimming laps or outside in the rain. The metrics seems solid, sleep tracking seems fine so far (with so much more detail, I love seeing my restless moments having sleep apnea). Love the battery life, and love having watch faces I can pick from and customize with real time complications ! I am still learning this watch, but I feel this might be a better tool for my fitness and health journey, as much as Apple Watch does, it just doesn't do health and fitness enough for me personally to really guide me.

Yeah I use AutoSleep, Bevel, Athlytic, Sleep Cycle - you name it I have it. I do like the apps, they are fun, full of metrics, but for me personally I don't find them accurate. The core issue is Apple doesn't take enough samples overnight to provide any good metrics. My Apple Watch takes anywhere from 3-5 HRV samples during sleep. Apple makes a good watch, but due to battery issues it takes less samples. If Apple was smart, they would split AW into two divisions: One focused solely on Health and Fitness with real time metrics, and one for folks who want to text and play with the smart watch stuff. Apple will never be able to do both cause of how heavy Watch OS is.

Went from a Series 9 to a Forerunner 255. * Like you my biggest complaint was the lack of physical buttons. I was doing a lot of paced club runs and some of our routes are along pretty dense streets with traffic lights. If you get stuck at the light you pause your watch, otherwise you're going to push way harder the next couple blocks just to make up time. (And to think all Apple has to do to fix this is bring some version of the AW Ultra control scheme to the normal AW.) * Garmin's notification system (trying to hook into your actual phone notifications) kind of sucks and I would rather it not even be there. (Yes, I turned it "off" but they still show up in the actual menu.) * I realize that I'm not the biggest fan of the memory-in-pixel screen. The available colors if you stick to the more default watch faces feel like going from a modern display back to one of the old 16- or 64-bit color ones from the old Windows 95/98 era. But for the battery life trade off where I can use this for almost two weeks without charging I will gladly take it. (Comparing it to Apple, there are still some vitals I never got a good baseline reading on cause I always charged the watch at night.) Given the spat these companies recently had/are having/could have again in the future, it might also be worthwhile if you don't need a new watch right this minute to just wait and see what changes.

Hi! I have an Apple Watch that I swim with 3x a week. It works great, no concerns on my end.

Mine is the 9 series

I just upgraded from the S9 to a U2. Bought it used and very happy with my purchase! I found myself running out of battery mid day with hours of workouts and frequent use. The thing was always on the charger, that changed completely with the U2.