I walked exactly 6,025 steps (manually counted) with the Apple Watch Series 12 on my left wrist and the Garmin Venu X1 on my right wrist to find out which is the more accurate fitness tracker.
I also logged my walk using the Strava app on my iPhone 16 Plus as a control for pace, distance, and climb. Read on to find out which of these two top-tier smartwatches came out on top, along with five takeaways from the workout data.
Apple Watch 12 vs Garmin Venu X1
But first, how does the Apple Watch Series 12 stack up against the Garmin Venu X1 in terms of specs, features, and price? Apple's latest flagship starts at $399 for the small (42mm) non-cellular model.
The Garmin Venu X1 is a more premium device, with a starting price of $699, which technically makes it more of a direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra 4 than the Series 12.
Even so, both models sport bright, well-saturated displays, slim, sleek all-metal cases, and state-of-the-art heart rate trackers, multi-band GPS antennas, and barometric altimeters.
This is to say, when it comes to logging a basic walking workout, both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Garmin Venu X1 should be more than well-equipped to record my efforts with best-in-class precision. But is that actually the case? Check out the data for yourself below.
I walked 6,025 steps with the Apple Watch 12 vs Garmin Venu X1
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Apple Watch 12 |
Garmin Venu X1 |
Control |
|---|---|---|---|
Steps |
6,416 steps |
6,076 steps |
6,025 steps (manual count) |
Distance |
3.19 miles |
3.21 miles |
3.30 miles (Strava) |
Climb |
241 feet |
246 feet |
215 feet (Strava) |
Average elapsed pace |
17 mins 08 secs per mile |
17 mins 24 secs per mile |
16 mins 24 secs per mile (Strava) |
Average heart rate |
124 bpm |
124 bpm |
n/a |
Max heart rate |
151 bpm |
151 bpm |
n/a |
Calories burned |
396 calories |
346 calories |
n/a |
Battery usage |
4% |
5% |
n/a |
1. Garmin's step count is closer
With step count being our primary grading metric, the Garmin Venu X1 decisively beats the Apple Watch Series 12. For any walk tests of this distance, I consider a step count tally within 100 steps of the actual count to be excellent and within a reasonable margin for error.
The Garmin Venu X1 meets the mark, overcounting by a forgivable 51 steps. The Apple Watch 12, on the other hand, overcounted by a much more notable 391 steps, a result that ultimately surprised me.
After all, in recent walk tests with the Apple Watch 12 vs. the Fitbit Edge and again vs. the Garmin Forerunner 170, the Series 12's step count total was pretty much right on the money.
For what it's worth, Strava's step count total of 6,032 was the closest of the bunch.
2. Both watches noted more elevation gain than the control
Apple and Garmin noted similar uphill effort, within five feet of each other, during my ~55-minute walk. However, these tallies appear to be somewhat inflated, assuming, of course, Strava's elevation data is correct, which seems likely, though not certain.
I say this because in past testing, the Garmin Venu X1 has proven time and again to be an incredibly reliable elevation tracker. The Apple Watch 12, on the flip side, does occasionally exaggerate uphill efforts.
3. Strava logged more distance and a faster pace
Strava logged a little more distance than both the Apple Watch and Garmin — by about a tenth of a mile — and a quicker elapsed pace. And while Garmin's average elapsed pace is the slowest of the bunch, the Venu X1's moving pace metric is nearly identical to Strava's.
Garmin logged an average moving pace of 16 mins 18 secs per mile, not too far off from Strava's 16 mins 11 secs pace. Note: Apple doesn't log moving pace.
4. Heart rate data is a perfect match
Despite some notable discrepancies in step count, climb, and pace, both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Garmin Venu X1 logged the exact same average and maximum heart rate for my walk.
I can't help but wonder if the outcome has anything to do with both watches being worn on stretchy, nylon straps secured with Velcro. I find this strap style fits more securely and comfortably than the dreadful silicone pin-and-buckle alternatives. Better fit = better heart rate data.
5. Apple used less battery, but Garmin wins overall
Finally, the Venu X1 used 1% more battery than the Series 12 to log my nearly one-hour walk. And even though Apple's climb and elapsed-pace metrics are a little closer to the control, the Garmin Venu X1 wins this head-to-head comparison with a closer total step count, distance, and moving-pace metrics.
Up next, I plan to test the Garmin Venu X1 against the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to see if it can pull off a repeat win. Until then, which smartwatches would you like me to test head-to-head next? And between the Garmin Venu X1 and Apple Watch 12, which do you prefer? Let me know below.
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