Short answer: Garmin wins on data depth and battery. Apple Watch wins on convenience and ecosystem. Which matters more depends on how you swim.
What They Both Do Well
Both Apple Watch (Series 4+) and Garmin (Forerunner, Fenix, Swim 2) offer:
- Automatic stroke detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly)
- Lap counting in pool swims
- Pace per 100m
- SWOLF score
- Heart rate monitoring
For most lap swimmers, either device will give you the core data you need.
Where They Differ
Accuracy
Garmin’s dedicated swim watches (Swim 2, Forerunner 965) are generally more consistent in lap counting, particularly for short pools (25 yards vs 25 meters). Some Apple Watch users report occasional missed laps or double-counts, especially during breaststroke or butterfly.
Apple Watch Ultra has improved significantly and is competitive in open water tracking.
Battery Life
This is where Garmin dominates. The Garmin Swim 2 lasts up to 7 days in regular mode, 13 hours in swim mode. Apple Watch typically gives you 18–24 hours total, with swim workouts consuming battery faster.
If you swim twice a day or do long open water swims, Garmin is the safer choice.
Data and Analytics
Garmin provides more raw data: stroke length, stroke efficiency scores, vertical oscillation, and more. If you want to geek out on metrics, Garmin gives you more to work with.
Apple Watch integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, which makes it easy to see trends over time and share data with third-party apps.
Ease of Use
Apple Watch is simpler to set up and easier to use mid-swim. The interface is intuitive, and the Workout app starts automatically when it detects swimming.
Garmin watches have more configuration options — which is great if you want to customize, but can feel overwhelming for casual swimmers.
What About Third-Party Apps?
Both devices can connect to apps like SwimBeat, which adds workout menu management and better session organization on top of the raw device tracking. If you use a training app alongside your watch, either platform works.
The Bottom Line
| Apple Watch | Garmin | |
|---|---|---|
| Lap accuracy | Good | Better |
| Battery life | 18–24h | Up to 7 days |
| Open water | Good (Ultra) | Great |
| Data depth | Moderate | Deep |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good |
| Price | $399–$799 | $250–$800 |
Choose Apple Watch if: you’re already in the Apple ecosystem and want a daily smartwatch that also tracks your swims.
Choose Garmin if: you’re a serious swimmer who cares about accuracy, battery life, and detailed metrics above everything else.