Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Ultra 3 has the largest display Apple has ever put on a watch — a 422 x 512 wide-angle LTPO3 OLED at 3,000 nits, now with a 1Hz always-on refresh that lets the seconds tick. The flat sapphire-crystal front is tough but slightly reflective.

• The largest Apple Watch display ever — a 422 x 512 wide-angle OLED with slimmer bezels than the Ultra 2.
• 3,000-nit peak brightness — Tech It Easy notes that's a 1,000-nit jump over the Ultra 2, easily readable in any conditions.
• A new 1Hz always-on refresh lets the second hand tick while showing more data — and is more power-efficient.
• The flat sapphire-crystal front is durable but slightly reflective in some outdoor lighting.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

MIP (memory-in-pixel) transflective display with Power Glass solar charging. Exceptionally sunlight-readable and power-efficient — but not vivid or colorful like AMOLED.

• MIP transflective display — Notebookcheck: 'a more power-efficient technology that thrives in direct sunlight,' the Solar model's defining choice.
• Power Glass solar charging — the display lens harvests sunlight to extend battery, the Solar model's headline feature.
• Not as vivid as AMOLED — Wired notes MIP is 'not as stunning as an AMOLED screen'; this is the deliberate trade-off.
• Always-on by nature — MIP displays are always on with no battery penalty, ideal for glanceable data.
• Touchscreen + five-button control — the touchscreen complements physical buttons for map panning and menus.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Ultra 3 carries Apple's full health suite — ECG, blood oxygen, skin temperature, Sleep Score, sleep apnea — plus the new hypertension notifications. Independent testing rates its heart-rate and sleep tracking among the best of any wearable.

• Heart-rate tracking is excellent — The Quantified Scientist rates it 'some of the best out there' and one of his most recommended watches for HR accuracy.
• Sleep tracking is class-leading — The Quantified Scientist measured REM-sleep agreement of about 83-84%, 'by far the best out of any device I've seen.'
• New hypertension notifications join ECG, blood oxygen, skin temperature and sleep apnea detection.
• A Sleep Score condenses the night into a single number, with full stage detail underneath.
• For high-intensity weightlifting, even the Ultra 3's strong sensor sees occasional dropouts — a chest strap is still better.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Elevate Gen 5 optical HR with skin temperature, SpO2, HRV Status, Body Battery, sleep tracking, Morning Report. ECG support. Garmin's latest sensor generation.

• Elevate Gen 5 optical HR sensor — Garmin's latest HR generation with built-in skin-temperature sensing.
• ECG support — heart-rhythm checks on the wrist (region-dependent).
• HRV Status + Body Battery + sleep tracking + Morning Report — Garmin's full wellness + recovery analytics.
• SpO2 (pulse ox) — on-demand and continuous; useful for altitude acclimatization on mountain adventures.
• Optical HR is reliable for steady-state; like all wrist optical HR, less accurate than a chest strap for intervals.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The full watchOS workout app plus the new Workout Buddy AI coaching, dual-frequency GPS billed as the most accurate in a sports watch, and a customizable Action Button. It's a superb everyday fitness and running watch — though serious athletes still note Garmin's deeper analytics.

• Dual-frequency GPS — Apple bills it as the most accurate GPS in a sports watch, and reviewers found tracking reliable on runs and hikes.
• New Workout Buddy AI coaching delivers pacing and motivational feedback during workouts.
• GPS workout battery burn is light for the class — ZONEofTECH lost just 22% over a 5-hour outdoor walk without Low Power Mode.
• It's the best Apple Watch for running — but serious athletes still note Garmin's deeper training analytics and far longer endurance.
• The customizable Action Button gives quick one-press control over workouts and key functions.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Garmin's deepest training-science suite — Training Readiness, Endurance Score, Hill Score, Acute/Chronic Load, full multisport + triathlon modes. The serious-athlete benchmark.

• Garmin's deepest training-science suite — Training Readiness, Endurance Score, Hill Score, Acute/Chronic Load.
• Full multisport + triathlon modes — Digital Trends: 'a versatile multisport GPS smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts.'
• The MIP display + solar make the Fenix 8 Solar the natural pick for multi-day expeditions where recharging isn't possible.
• Advanced running metrics — running power, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, all without external sensors.
• Daily suggested workouts + race predictor + PacePro — Garmin's coaching engine, among the deepest in any smartwatch.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Ultra 3 has the longest battery of any Apple Watch — 42 hours rated (up from the Ultra 2's 36), 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Real-world results routinely beat the claim, hitting 50-72 hours. Charging is rated 0-80% in 45 minutes, though some testers couldn't quite reach that.

• Rated 42 hours of normal use — up from the Ultra 2's 36 — and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
• Real-world endurance beats the claim — ZONEofTECH averaged 50 hours over a month, with days hitting 56 hours including a workout.
• A head-to-head test had the Ultra 3 reach 55 hours before dying — about 7 hours longer than the Ultra 2 in the same test.
• Heavier use lands closer to the rating — Tech It Easy hit about 35 hours with studio work, sleep tracking and normal use.
• Charging is rated 0-80% in 45 minutes with 12 hours from a 15-minute top-up — though ZONEofTECH couldn't hit the 45-minute claim across multiple chargers.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Up to ~48 days in always-on smartwatch mode with solar — the longest battery of any Fenix 8. Solar charging extends runtime further in sunlight. Proprietary USB-C charging.

• Up to ~48 days in always-on smartwatch mode with solar — Notebookcheck cites the 48-day figure; the longest of any Fenix 8.
• Solar charging — Power Glass harvests sunlight to extend battery, most effective for sun-exposed outdoor athletes.
• Outlasts the Fenix 8 AMOLED — the MIP display + solar combination is the endurance-maximized choice.
• Multi-band GPS battery measured in days — supports ultra-endurance and multi-day expedition tracking.
• Proprietary Garmin USB-C charging cable — solar supplements but doesn't replace cable charging.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

watchOS 26 on Apple's S10 chip, with the full App Store, Apple Pay and the deepest smartwatch ecosystem there is. Reviewers consistently rate it the best smartwatch software available — the one hard limit is that it's iPhone-only.

• watchOS 26 with the full App Store and Apple Pay — reviewers consistently rate it the deepest, most polished smartwatch ecosystem.
• Powered by Apple's S10 chip — fast and fluid, a step up from the Ultra 2's S9.
• The Modular Ultra watch face and night mode are owner favorites — and a reason some prefer the Ultra over a Series 11.
• It's iPhone-only — like every Apple Watch, the Ultra 3 does not work with Android.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Garmin OS + Garmin Connect + Connect IQ store. Built-in speaker + microphone (NEW for Fenix) for voice calls + voice assistant. Garmin Pay. Works with iOS + Android.

• Built-in speaker + microphone — NEW for the Fenix line; Digital Trends confirms 'a built-in speaker and microphone for calls and voice assistance.'
• Garmin OS + Connect IQ store — apps, watch faces, data fields; a mature ecosystem.
• Voice Commands — control workouts and watch functions hands-free, with ongoing feature updates.
• Garmin Connect app — praised for analytics depth, frequently criticized for UI polish.
• Works with both iOS and Android — cross-platform; Garmin Pay for contactless payments.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

A 49mm grade-5 titanium case with a flat sapphire-crystal front and edge protection, MIL-STD-810H certified and rated to 100m water resistance. Long-term reviewers call durability one of the Ultra 3's strongest features — with the caveat that the black finish scuffs.

• Durability is one of the Ultra 3's strongest features — Tech It Easy was 'genuinely surprised' how well it holds up.
• Grade-5 titanium case with a flat sapphire-crystal front and raised edge protection — MIL-STD-810H certified.
• 100m water resistance — rugged enough for swimming, watersports and recreational diving.
• The black titanium coating scuffs more easily than the natural finish — the natural model hides wear better.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Dive-rated water resistance + MIL-STD-810 testing. Fiber-reinforced polymer or titanium, Sapphire crystal options. Leak-proof buttons. Built for serious expedition and underwater use.

• Dive-rated water resistance — the leak-proof buttons enable underwater use, a Fenix 8 hardware milestone.
• MIL-STD-810 tested — thermal, shock, and water resistance for expedition use.
• Fiber-reinforced polymer or titanium, with Sapphire crystal options — premium, scratch-resistant adventure construction.
• The MIP display + solar build is especially suited to remote, off-grid expeditions where battery is critical.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Ultra 3's headline upgrade: satellite communication — Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite, off-grid and subscription-free. It adds 5G cellular, dual-frequency GPS and precision iPhone finding.

• Satellite communication is the marquee feature — Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite work off-grid, with no subscription.
• DC Rainmaker found Apple's satellite messaging faster than Garmin or Google, and its non-geostationary approach can wait for a satellite to come into view.
• 5G cellular is built in — the Ultra is always a cellular model, so it works fully standalone without an iPhone nearby.
• Dual-frequency GPS plus precision iPhone finding and the full Apple Pay / NFC set round out connectivity.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS, full-color TopoActive maps, NFC for Garmin Pay, Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi. No LTE (that's the Fenix 8 Pro's domain).

• Multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS — accurate tracking in urban canyons, dense forest, and deep valleys.
• Full-color TopoActive maps — on-watch turn-by-turn navigation, a core Fenix capability.
• ANT+ + Bluetooth — pair chest straps, footpods, power meters, and cycling sensors.
• NFC for Garmin Pay + Wi-Fi for sync.
• No LTE on the standard Fenix 8 Solar — satellite + LTE are reserved for the Fenix 8 Pro.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Ultra 3 carries a depth gauge and full recreational dive capability — a WR100 rating plus EN13319 dive certification let it work as a dive computer to 40m, alongside its satellite safety features for off-grid adventures.

• A WR100 rating plus EN13319 dive certification lets the Ultra 3 work as a recreational dive computer down to 40m.
• A built-in depth gauge and water-temperature sensor support diving, snorkeling and watersports.
• Satellite Emergency SOS pairs with the outdoor focus — genuine off-grid safety for hikers and adventurers.
• For genuine multi-day expeditions, reviewers still point to Garmin or Coros — the Ultra 3's battery lasts days, not weeks.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

Built-in recreational dive computer — leak-proof metal buttons let the Fenix 8 Solar descend underwater. Single-gas + multi-gas dive modes, plus altimeter, barometer, and compass.

• Built-in recreational dive computer — the leak-proof metal buttons enable underwater use, descended from the Garmin Descent line.
• Dive activity profiles — single-gas, multi-gas, gauge, and apnea (freediving) modes built into the watch.
• Altimeter + barometer + compass — the full ABC outdoor-navigation sensor suite for hiking and mountaineering.
• The Fenix 8 Solar is a genuine do-everything expedition tool — combining a dive computer, maps, a flashlight, solar charging, and multi-week battery.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

At $799 — unchanged from the Ultra 2 — the Ultra 3 is the most expensive Apple Watch and an undeniable luxury. For most people a Series 11 covers the essentials at half the price; the Ultra earns its premium only if you genuinely want the biggest screen, longest battery, satellite safety and diving.

• $799 — unchanged from the Ultra 2, which reviewers credit Apple for holding steady.
• AppleInsider's review roundup: the Ultra 3 is an 'excellent and much-needed upgrade,' universally praised for battery and screen.
• For most people, TechRadar argues a Series 11 makes more sense — it covers the essentials for a fraction of the cost.
• vs Garmin: as a smartwatch the Ultra 3 wins on ecosystem, apps and ease of use; Garmin still wins on battery and deep training analytics.
• Best for: iPhone owners who want the ultimate Apple Watch — the biggest screen, longest battery, satellite safety and diving — and aren't fazed by the price.

Garmin Fenix 8 Solar

$1,099-$1,199+ launch. The endurance-maximized adventure flagship. Competes with the Fenix 8 AMOLED, the Apple Watch Ultra, and the Coros Vertix. Ages well and holds value.

• $1,099-$1,199+ launch — a genuine four-figure watch, especially in Sapphire Solar trims.
• vs Fenix 8 AMOLED: longer battery + better sunlight readability vs a vivid, colorful screen. A genuine preference split.
• Wired's framing: the Fenix series is 'the best sports watch period' — the Solar is the endurance-focused variant.
• vs Apple Watch Ultra: Garmin wins on battery + training depth + dive computer + cross-platform support; Apple wins on smart features + LTE + ecosystem for iPhone owners.
• Best for: serious adventurers and expedition athletes who prioritize the longest possible battery and sunlight readability above screen vibrancy — and can justify the four-figure price.