Garmin Forerunner 70 Beats Apple Watch SE 3 in 5,500-Step Test as Both Start at $249
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · May 22
Garmin Forerunner 70 Beats Apple Watch SE 3 in 5,500-Step Test as Both Start at $249
3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · May 22
A 5,500-step walk test found Garmin’s Forerunner 70 closest to the manual count, over by 28 steps, while Apple’s Watch SE 3 undercounted by 66.
Both watches were broadly accurate on basic fitness tracking, with distance also close to Strava’s 2.83-mile control at 2.76 miles for Garmin and 2.80 miles for Apple.
Apple pulled ahead on hill data: the SE 3 logged 457 feet of elevation versus Strava’s 437 feet, while Garmin recorded 381 feet, likely hurt by its lack of a barometric altimeter.
Pace and heart-rate readings were similar overall, though Apple showed a slower 18:24 per mile pace and a slightly higher 129 bpm average heart rate than Garmin’s 18:09 and 125 bpm.
The result leaves the $249 devices effectively even for basic tracking, with Garmin favored on step accuracy and Apple better suited to runners and hikers in hilly terrain.
Is Garmin sacrificing its famous GPS accuracy on budget watches to better compete with Apple's all-around smart features?
When identically priced watches give different results, how can you trust the fitness data that guides your health decisions?
Your smartwatch health data isn't protected by medical privacy laws. Who is buying this information without your knowledge?