Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 970
Few matchups in the rugged & outdoor watch class come up as often as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 against the Garmin Forerunner 970. Of the 4 areas we compared, the Garmin Forerunner 970 wins 1. If one area explains the result, it’s battery life.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Health & Fitness Sensors Tie
- Battery Life Garmin Forerunner 970 wins
- Smart Features & Connectivity Apple Watch Ultra 3 wins
- Price Garmin Forerunner 970 wins
- Health & Fitness Sensors10.0
- Smart Features & Connectivity10.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors10.0
- Smart Features & Connectivity3.3
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Garmin Forerunner 970 has 757% more rated battery life
Here the Garmin Forerunner 970 pulls well ahead of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, with 15 days compared to 42 h. The Garmin Forerunner 970 is rated to last longer between charges, a big deal on trips and long weekends.
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The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has water resistance to 100 m
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 doesn’t just edge this one; 100 m against 50 m is a lead you’ll feel. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rated for deeper water, which matters if you swim often.
-
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a cellular option
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has it; the Garmin Forerunner 970 doesn’t. No percentages needed. With the Apple Watch Ultra 3, you can leave your phone at home on a run; the Garmin Forerunner 970 depends on it for connectivity.
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The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has 32 GB more storage
Big gap, real consequences. The Apple Watch Ultra 3’s 64 GB versus the Garmin Forerunner 970’s 32 GB changes how the two compare in daily use. For notifications and fitness tracking alone, storage rarely matters.
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The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a 0.04 in slimmer case
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is slightly stronger on thickness. The gap, 0.47 in versus 0.51 in, won’t change your life, but it isn’t nothing. A slimmer case sits closer to the wrist, slides under shirt cuffs and feels better during sleep.
Design & Size
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 49 mm × 0.47 in
- Garmin Forerunner 970 47 mm × 0.51 in
Going by the official dimensions, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the larger of the two. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 trims 0.04 in off the thickness of the Garmin Forerunner 970.
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 49 mm | 47 mm |
| Available sizes | 49 mm | 47 mm |
| Water resistance | 100 m (winner) | 50 m |
| Case material | Titanium | Titanium bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case, sapphire lens |
| Thickness | 0.47 in (winner) | 0.51 in Thickest in class |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 2.17 oz Heaviest in class | N/A (not specified) |
Display
Too close to call
Neither the Apple Watch Ultra 3 nor the Garmin Forerunner 970 has a real advantage in the display category. On display alone, you can’t go far wrong with either.
Health & Fitness Sensors
Too close to call
Neither pulls ahead on health & fitness sensors; the numbers are close throughout. Treat health & fitness sensors as common ground and look elsewhere for the deciding factor.
Battery Life
Garmin Forerunner 970 leads
In this area the Garmin Forerunner 970 has a lead the Apple Watch Ultra 3 can’t close. The Garmin Forerunner 970 pulls ahead with 757% more rated battery life. Ratings assume typical use; GPS workouts and always-on screens will shorten both. The battery life verdict goes to the Garmin Forerunner 970.
Rated battery life
Apple Watch Ultra 3: 42 h Garmin Forerunner 970: 15 days Longer battery life means fewer nights on the charger, which also makes sleep tracking easier.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Apple Watch Ultra 3 leads
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 dominates the smart features & connectivity section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 takes this one with a cellular option. Cellular models usually cost more and need a plan, so it’s only worth it if you’ll use the freedom. Anyone shopping mainly on smart features & connectivity should start with the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Cellular option
Apple Watch Ultra 3: yes Garmin Forerunner 970: no A cellular option lets the watch take calls, receive messages and stream music without your phone nearby.
Storage
Apple Watch Ultra 3: 64 GB Garmin Forerunner 970: 32 GB More storage leaves room for offline music, podcasts and maps on your wrist.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | Always-On wide-angle LTPO3 OLED, flat sapphire | AMOLED |
| Resolution (largest) | 422 x 514 | 454 x 454 |
| Peak brightness | 3,000 nits | N/A (not specified) |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Health & Fitness Sensors
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Optical heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | L1 + L5 dual-frequency GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ |
| Dual-frequency GPS | Yes | Yes |
Battery Life
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating, typical use | 42 h | 15 days (winner) Longest battery life in class |
| Rated life in low-power modeManufacturer rating | 3 days | N/A (not specified) |
| Charging | Fast charging, 0 to 80% in about 45 min | N/A (not specified) |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S10 | N/A (not specified) |
| Storage | 64 GB (winner) | 32 GB |
| Cellular option | Yes (winner) | No |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone only | iPhone and Android |
| Software | watchOS | Garmin proprietary |
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 49 mm | 47 mm |
| Available sizes | 49 mm | 47 mm |
| Water resistance | 100 m (winner) | 50 m |
| Case material | Titanium | Titanium bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case, sapphire lens |
| Thickness | 0.47 in (winner) | 0.51 in Thickest in class |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 2.17 oz Heaviest in class | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 | $750 (winner) Lowest price in class |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
At launch, the difference was a modest $49, with the Garmin Forerunner 970 slightly more affordable. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 costs $49 more yet trails the Garmin Forerunner 970 in more areas than it leads.
These are US launch prices, recorded September 2025; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Apple Watch Ultra 3 if…
- you swim or spend a lot of time around water (100 m vs 50 m)
- you want a cellular option
- you want more room for music and maps (64 GB vs 32 GB)
- you want something that slides under a shirt cuff more easily (0.47 in vs 0.51 in)
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 970 if…
- you hate charging your watch every day (15 days vs 42 h)
- you’d rather keep $49 in your pocket
- you like a watch that takes up less room
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Garmin Forerunner 970?
We’d point most buyers to the Garmin Forerunner 970. The main exception is if you care more about water resistance to 100 m than anything else.
Does the Apple Watch Ultra 3 last longer on a charge than the Garmin Forerunner 970?
On paper, the Garmin Forerunner 970 has the edge: 15 days of rated battery life against 42 h for the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Real-world results also depend on how you use it.
Which is larger, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Garmin Forerunner 970?
The larger model here is the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (0.47 in); the Garmin Forerunner 970 is more compact at 0.51 in.
Which costs less, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Garmin Forerunner 970?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched at $49 more than the Garmin Forerunner 970, based on prices as of September 2025.
Which has more storage, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Garmin Forerunner 970?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers more, with 64 GB against 32 GB.
Executive Summary
Whenever Apple and Garmin go head to head, I learn something about what each one cares about, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 970 are no exception. The Garmin Forerunner 970 wins me over with 757% more rated battery life. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a trump card of its own in water resistance to 100 m.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is built for people who weigh smart features & connectivity heavily, and the Garmin Forerunner 970 for people who weigh battery life.
My pick: if it were my money, the Garmin Forerunner 970, unless your top priority is water resistance to 100 m.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.