Reaching maturity, next model expected soon
Best for: iPhone users who want the most capable smartwatch health experience available. Ideal for anyone who values medical-grade monitoring (ECG, blood pressure, SpO2), a premium always-on display, and the best Apple Watch workout tracking. If health is your priority, this is the one to get.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Multisport athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who want the most visually impressive Garmin watch without sacrificing analytics. If you want Fenix-level capability with a beautiful display and don't need maximum battery life, the Epix Pro is the answer.
Full details →| Apple Watch | Garmin Epix | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Smartwatch | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS only | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 1 days | 16 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ✅ |
| GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ✅ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, spo2, skin temp, hrv, blood pressure | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readiness |
| Released | Sep 19, 2025 | Aug 31, 2023 |
| Cycle length | 364 days | 590 days |
| Cycle advice | neutral | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | good |
| Next model | Apple Watch Series 12 (Expected fall 2026) | — |
The Series 11 is the first mainstream smartwatch to offer FDA-cleared hypertension (high blood pressure) detection — a feature that could flag silent health risks.
At 9.7mm, the Series 11 is significantly slimmer than previous models — noticeably lighter on the wrist for all-day and sleep tracking.
On-demand ECG, continuous blood oxygen monitoring, and sleep apnea detection (FDA-cleared) make this one of the most medically relevant consumer wearables available.
AMOLED always-on display with significantly higher resolution and brightness than the Fenix MIP display — a meaningful advantage for readability in all conditions.
Running dynamics, full TopoActive maps, training load, advanced sleep, race predictor — the complete Garmin suite in a less bulky package than the Fenix 8.
The Epix Pro Sapphire Solar edition achieves 31 days in smartwatch mode via solar charging — near-Fenix endurance with superior display quality.