Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 – The Ultimate Comparison (2025)

With the world of smartwatches expanding every day, two elite watches have become the leaders as top players: the Garmin Venu X1 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both offer massive performance, beautiful screens, and plenty of fitness features. So which is best for you? (Please note we have relied more on research than actual usage of both devices so the below may not be 100% accurate and we will correct any mistakes as time passes)

Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 Design & Build Quality

Garmin Venu X1 boast a thin 51 mm AMOLED display with very thin 7.9 mm case, weighing just 41 g. They possess a titanium case back, sapphire glass, and polymer bezel—a tough-but-light appearance

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a rugged 49 mm titanium case and sapphire crystal screen, weighing around 61 g with a beefy 14 mm case thickness. It has a "tough" build with a raised Action button and high-end durability from digital crown.

Verdict: Garmin Venu X1 is thinner, lighter, and slimmer, ideal for wearing throughout the day—even in sleep. The Ultra 2 is more rugged, with its weightier construction better suited to heavy-wearing outdoor activities.

Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 Brightness and Visibility of the Display

The Venu X1 boasts a large 51 mm AMOLED always-on display with sapphire glass and sharp 448×484 resolution. Rumor from the industry suggests up to 2,000 nits brightness

The Ultra 2 also has maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, delivering excellent outdoor readability and colorful Retina display

Verdict: Both are excellent, but the Venu X1 has the edge in terms of size, being easier to read, and the Ultra 2's retina screen is colour-calibrated and optimised for iOS integration.

Battery Life & Endurance

One of the biggest battlegrounds in the Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2 fight is battery endurance:

Garmin Venu X1 boasts up to 8 days in smartwatch mode—and more than 11 days in Battery Saver mode. Initial user reports indicate remarkable real-world battery life.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 manages about 36 hours with intensive usage and 60–72 hours on low-power settings. Benchmarks show standard two‑day battery performance.

Verdict: Garmin clearly trumps battery—ideal for long flights, multi-day outings, or infrequent recharging. Apple still beats most in its class.

Fitness Tracking & Sports Features

For South African sport enthusiasts and athletes alike, both watches offer top-notch monitoring—but in degree of depth and flexibility, they divide.

Garmin Venu X1:

GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS—complete multisystem support

Features training functions: VO₂ max, lactate threshold, customizable multisport modes, recovery data, layered workout analytics

Features integrated flashlight for early morning or evening runs

Apple Watch Ultra 2:

L1/L5 dual-band GPS for urban best-in-class signal accuracy

Packed with Action button, diving apps (Oceanic Plus, Depth), water‑proof to WR100 and certified for 40 m dives with EN13319.

Huge third-party ecosystem and safety features like crash/fall detection.

Head-to-head comparisons:

Tom's Hardware Guide tests show both deliver similar accuracy in pace, distance, heart rate, and steps. Ultra 2 was slightly more accurate on step tracking and battery life, and Garmin more similarly matched on elevation gain.

Endurance athletes prefer Garmin due to customizable fields, multisport modes, and endurance data, while Apple offers simplicity, ecosystem strength, and tough dive/safety features.

Smart Features & Connectivity

Garmin Venu X1 is compatible with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC for Garmin Pay, music storage, calls, texts, and voice commands. iPhone and Android compatibility offer greater flexibility. It is also compatible with the InReach Satellite Communicators sold by Garmin.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 adds cellular LTE, on-device Siri, seamless interaction with iOS (notifications, calls, Apple Pay), and access to App Store and WatchOS ecosystem.

If you are an iPhone user seeking solid integration and apps—Ultra 2 is the winner. But Android users are left behind. Garmin offers cross-platform flexibility.

Durability & Water Resistance

Garmin Venu X1 has 5 ATM water resistance (50 m), which is ideal for swimming, but not diving operations.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers 10 ATM (100 m) EN13319 certification, depth sensor, and third-party apps to enable diving-readiness

Ultra 2 is the most suitable option for surfers and divers. Garmin is sufficient for recreational water activity (swimming, snorkeling).

Price & Value (ZA Market Perspective)

At around the same price point (~ZAR 17 000–19 000 or USD 799):

Garmin Venu X1 → large screen, battery life, flexibility of platform.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 → heavy-duty safety system, cellular, diving feature, enhanced iOS integration.

In South Africa, local support in country, warranty, accessories to purchase when making the choice.

Why South Africans Should Care

High-altitude hikes (Drakensberg), ultra-trails, surfing (Durban), scuba diving (Cape Town): Ultra 2's GPS, depth sensor, safety features stand out.

Long outback adventures and multi-day hikes: Garmin's extended battery, offline maps, cross-device synchronization bring peace of mind.

Urban workouts in Joburg/Cape Town: Both excel at activity and health monitoring.

🧭 Quick Feature Matrix

Feature	Garmin Venu X1	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Display	51 mm AMOLED (2,000 nits)	49 mm Retina (2,000+ nits)
Weight	41 g	61 g
Battery	8+ days (standard)	36 hrs (typical)
GPS	Multi-GNSS	Dual-band L1/L5
Water Rating	5 ATM	10 ATM + EN13319
Dive Support	No	Yes (Oceanic Plus)
Platform	iOS & Android	iOS only
Cellular	No	Yes (LTE)
Special Features	Flashlight, extensive training tools	Action button, siren, fall/crash detection

Which Should You Buy?

Choose Garmin Venu X1 if you want:

• Cross-platform compatibility.

• Best-in-class battery life.

• Big display with fitness-depth information.

• Flashlight for pre-dawn workouts.

Choose Apple Watch Ultra 2 if you’re:

• Deep into Apple ecosystem (iPhone, AirPods).

• Looking for rugged design, cellular LTE, diving tools.

• Prioritizing safety features (crash detection, siren).

In Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2, there is no one-size-fits-all winner. It comes down to your lifestyle and ecosystem:

Ultra 2 excels in ruggedness, safety, and diving features—with strong iOS harmony.

Venu X1 outpaces on battery, size, fitness customization, and versatility across platforms.

To South African adventurers, direct comparison shows both to be excellent global navigation tools—with Garmin offering more autonomy and Apple offering more integration. Choose based on what matters: battery + autonomy (Garmin) or rugged multi-sport integration (Apple).

Conclusion: Both Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Venu X1 are leading smartwatches in their respective markets. Your decision should be based on battery life, sensor quality, platform allegiance, and planned usage environment.