Garmin, Fitbit or Apple Watch: Which smartwatch brand should you buy?

The Apple Watch is the reference standard. However, competing models from manufacturers like Garmin and Fitbit have also established themselves as interesting alternatives in the eyes of consumers. Are you interested in a smartwatch but don't know which one to buy? This article will help you in choosing a Garmin vs Fitbit vs Apple Watch, step by step. 

Why you can trust our guide 

Back Market is one of the world's leading suppliers of refurbished electronics. We have broad and deep experience in working with and evaluating all types of devices, including a full range of smartwatches from premium brands. Our expert refurbishers have a masterful grasp of what distinguishes a mediocre or average smartwatch from a top-quality one. We have all the necessary knowledge to compare the various brands and models and recommend the best ones for your personal needs. We also know the market inside out, which allows us to offer the right deals on refurbished watches to give you excellent value for money. 

The major differences between all 3 brands 

The smartwatches from the three big brands have some things in common, such as the pedometer, smartphone notification display, Bluetooth options and heart rate monitor.  

The Apple Watch has additional features when combined with an iPhone: you can make/receive phone calls without using your iPhone, for example. You also have easier access to the Apple Pay electronic payment system. 

Fitbit smartwatches are all compatible with Android. They allow you to read your messages and emails as soon as the remote connection with your phone is established. The smartwatch also has an integrated media storage, so you can take your favourite playlist with you wherever you go. In terms of the mobile payment system, the product allows you to use NFC (Near-Field Communication). 

One of the distinguishing features of Garmin's Forerunner is the black and white e-ink display, which gives the model a longer battery life. E-ink displays also offer better visibility in daylight. The Forerunner collection has physical buttons for the various settings, which are handy during physical activities. 

Why buy an Apple Watch? 

If you own an iPhone, the choice is clear. With an Apple Watch on your wrist, you can keep your iPhone safe in your pocket when you're on the go (and at home, if you want). The small colour display will show your calls, texts, emails and notifications from social networks. You can also access your music playlist, calendar, podcasts and photos, Wallet, Shazam and other apps. Depending on the model you choose, ​​you'll also have an always-on display, which has been a mainstay of Apple Watches ever since the Apple Watch Series 5. 

The Apple Watch is also a valuable companion to help you never miss an appointment, as you can connect it to your calendar app, which will notify you before your event. Speaking of notifications, users can limit the notifications they receive on their smartwatch. Simply open the Watch app on your iPhone and deactivate the sending of notifications that you consider unnecessary. 

What are popular features of the Apple Watch?  

Of course, some of the most popular features of the Apple Watch are those related to wellness and health. You can use it to create good habits, check your heart rate and monitor your ECG. Additionally, you can train your mindfulness by activating Mindfulness Messages to remind you to take a short break several times a day. Apple Watches are often the first choice for fitness and running enthusiasts of all kinds because high precision and practicality are guaranteed. 

How can you buy a cheap Apple Watch? 

If you're on a budget or want to help reduce electronic waste, the refurbished products available at Back Market offer several advantages. With similar quality, you can find prices that are up to ​​50% cheaper than the cost of a brand-new device. For example, find the latest Apple Watch Series SE 2 from as low as ​​£139. 

Since its launch, Apple has worked with athletes to perfect the features. And if the basic features aren't enough, you can expand the Apple Watch's applications with a variety of apps from the App Store.  

👉 You might also be interested in our Apple Watch SE 2 review. 

Latest product specifications  

Apple Watch Series 10: 

• Display: OLED 

• Sizes: 42mm or 46mm 

• Weight: Stainless steel: 51.5g or 53.8g/Aluminium: 33.4g or 36.5g 

• Material choices: Stainless steel/Aluminium 

• Processor: S10 SiP chip 

• Battery life: Up to 18 hours standard use, up to 36 hours in low power mode 

• Operating system: watchOS 11 

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 

• GPS: Built-in GPS + GLONASS 

• Water resistance: 50m (can swim with it) 

• Health & fitness:  

• Fitness tracking 

• Improved heart rate monitoring 

• ECG app 

• Blood oxygen sensor 

• Body temperature sensor 

• Sleep tracking 

Pros and Cons 

Why buy a Garmin smartwatch? 

The most important parameters of a sports session are recorded by the smartwatch to create an effective activity monitor that is tailored to the user's needs. Heart rate, calories burnt, distance travelled, speed, altitude...everything is recorded to give you the information you need to reach your goal and know your limits. 

Thus, you have the perfect fitness tracker on your wrist. The manufacturer's products are durable and aesthetically pleasing. They are also known for their long battery life. As a partner in everyday life, you can, of course, also receive your text messages and calls inconspicuously with your smartwatch. 

A smartwatch from Garmin is more affordable than an Apple Watch, and the functions it offers are completely sufficient for the standard user. The Forerunner 45 is one of the current models, which is a GPS running watch equipped with all running functions, including heart rate measurement. The maximum battery life is estimated at around 7 days, which is an absolute advantage compared to the Apple Watch, which only lasts 18 hours. 

Latest product specifications  

Garmin Forerunner 55: 

• Display: 1.04" colour display 

• Sizes: 42mm 

• Weight: 37g 

• Material: Fibre-reinforced polymer with silicon strap 

• Processor: ARM-based 

• Battery life: Up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, up to 20 hours in GPS mode 

• Operating system: Garmin proprietary OS 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth/No Wi-Fi 

• GPS: Built-in GPS, GLONASS & Galileo support 

• Water resistance: 5 ATM (can swim with it) 

• Health & fitness:  

• Heart rate monitor 

• Sports modes: running, cycling, treadmill, elliptical, yoga 

• Running mode: pace, distance, cadence, auto-lap, VO₂ max estimate 

• Activity tracking: steps, calories, intensity minutes 

• Recovery time advisor 

• Sleep tracking 

• Stress tracking 

• Women's health tracking 

Pros and Cons 

Why buy a Fitbit smartwatch? 

Fitbit has built a good reputation with its wristbands and watches. According to statistics, the company has had almost 30 million users worldwide since it was founded in 2007. The number of devices sold has exceeded 120 million, so you can also opt for a refurbished Fitbit smartwatch.  In terms of design, a smartwatch from this American company is in no way inferior to its competitors. To expand its target group, the Fitbit brand has designed various products that are available in different price ranges. The Versa 3 is currently one of the most popular models of connected watches. It has a robust and aesthetic aluminium casing. It is equipped with sensors and is designed to track your physical activities as efficiently as possible.  To keep up with the competition, the Fitbit Versa 3 has features like:  

• Receipt of personalised notifications 

• Payment system 

• Automatic synchronisation of tracking data via Strava or similar services 

• Managing your music playlists 

These have had a welcoming reception from the market, with one Reddit reviewer remarking:   [QUOTE FORMAT] 

"I've had my Versa 3 for about a week and I'm enjoying it so far. It synced with my phone for notifications for my social media, texts and emails, which I think is great for when I'm at work and phone’s on silent in my pocket." 

-Reddit User 

Fitbit also offers the Fitbit Sense, an innovative health watch that records an ECG like the Apple Watch. On top of that, it offers its users a new analysis: a sweat analysis as a stress test and a nightly sleep analysis, including blood oxygen and temperature measurement. 

Pros and Cons 

Latest product specifications  

Fitbit Versa 3: 

• Display: 1.58” AMOLED touchscreen 

• Sizes: 40mm 

• Weight: ± 40g 

• Materials: Aluminium case with silicon band 

• Processor: Custom Fitbit chip 

• Battery life: Up to 6+ days 

• Operating system: Fitbit OS 

• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC for Fitbit Pay 

• GPS: Built-in GPS and GLONASS 

• Water resistance: 5 ATM (can swim with it) 

• Health & fitness:  

• Heart rate monitoring 

• Oxygen saturation (SpO2) 

• Exercise modes 

• Active zone minutes: time spent in fat burn, cardio, and peak zones 

• Steps & calories 

• Sleep tracking 

• Menstrual health tracking 

Shopping tips for smartwatches 

If you're in the market for a new smartwatch, there are three main ways of getting a reduced price. You can wait for one of the huge annual sales like Black Friday or just after Christmas when stores are discounting goods they didn't sell over the holiday season. 

You can also time your purchase for when a brand-new model comes out and score a discount on the previous generation. Shops will typically want to clear their shelves to make way for the new arrivals and often offer promotions on the older models. You can look for spot sales, too, when a particular outlet offers a temporary discount. 

A more reliable way to get a good deal is to buy a refurbished smartwatch on Back Market. Here, you'll find discounts every day. Our certified refurbishers ensure that each watch we sell performs to the same standard as the original specifications.

Why buy a refurbished smartwatch? 

There's a very simple reason for buying a refurbished smartwatch: you'll get a virtually new watch at a bargain price. We offer up to 50% off the original new retail price on all our electronics. You can completely trust our products. Each one has been restored from top to bottom by certified refurbishers. Initial testing reveals any issues, and then the watch is disassembled and cleaned, with any worn or damaged parts replaced with brand-new components. After this, the watches are put through their paces to make sure that they perform up to the original benchmarks in all specified functionality. A final polish gives it a glossy new look. In the words of one of our latest customers:  

 "Watch came quickly, was in great condition and has been performing flawlessly. I’m very pleased with it." 

 - John M. - Purchased on the 1 March 2025 

Buying a refurbished smartwatch is also the environmentally sensible way to go. This kind of recycling reduces the amount of electronic waste, which is one of our top priorities. We have attained B Corp status as an eco-friendly company, so you can rely on our credentials. 

Here's more info on why you can trust our refurbished smartwatches. 

Trade in your old devices for cash

If you have unused tech, you can trade it in on Back Market and pocket some extra cash. It's a quick and easy process. All you have to do is complete a basic form giving the specifications of your device, and within minutes, you'll get an offer from one of our certified refurbishers. Then, simply ship it to us at no cost, and within five business days, your money will arrive in your account. 

Refurbished smartwatch prices on Back Market 

*Back Market prices taken at the date of publication – these are subject to change. 

Final thoughts on the Garmin vs Fitbit vs Apple Watch comparison 

Apple Watch 

Anyone who wants an extension of their iPhone to make their life easier will naturally look to the Apple Watch. Do you want more motivation for sporting activities? The brand with the apple logo can provide you with the best smartwatch. However, depending on the model and usage, you can expect to charge the smartwatch frequently. The battery life of most models is quite short, around 18 hours. 

Garmin watch 

Garmin smartwatches are recommended for athletes who do not necessarily own an iPhone and have a smaller budget but still want to have all the functions on board. With its 7-day battery life, the Garmin smartwatch is a real competitor to the Apple Watch. Those who find bulky sports watches too big will also find what they are looking for at Garmin: the dial of the Vivomove HR model looks like a "normal" watch, so you can discreetly track your fitness goals. 

Fitbit watch 

Finally, if you're looking for a versatile device that's compatible with iOS and Android, a refurbished Fitbit smartwatch is the right accessory for your needs. You can set the display to always be on, so you can use the watch normally in everyday life. I also like the fact that the design of the Fitbit Cardio model is extremely similar to the Apple Watch.  

Summing up 

Finding the best smartwatch model is not only a question of brand. To not be deceived, you should closely observe some relevant criteria: 

• Battery life 

• GPS 

• 4G or LTE 

• Water resistance 

• Wireless charging 

• Build quality 

• Colours 

• Various health functions (heart rate monitor, heart sensor, ECG, sleep tracking, etc) 

• Connectivity (WLAN, Bluetooth connection) 

Back Market, the marketplace for refurbished equipment, offers various types of products at affordable prices. This is possible thanks to the work of our experienced refurbished partners. When you buy from Back Market, you also benefit from a guarantee of at least, 12 months Back Market warranty and a 30-day right of withdrawal.   Would you rather buy a Samsung Smartwatch? Don't worry, we have those on offer too!