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Ready to ditch your Apple smartwatch? I picked the best Garmin alternatives for each Apple Watch

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And they're on sale for up to 50% off!

Close-up of the Garmin Forerunner 165 next to the Apple Watch SE 3
(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)
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As a smartwatch expert, I meet a lot of Garmin-curious Apple Watch owners in my travels. Often, they’re tempted by the superior battery life and fitness-tracking insights of Apple’s number one smartwatch competitor.

It’s true that Garmin watches tend to offer far better battery performance compared to even the best Apple Watch models, and Garmin’s workout, recovery, and sleep insights are class-leading, especially the higher-end models.

Ready to ditch your Apple Watch for a Garmin? Here are the three Prime Day Garmin deals I recommend in lieu of the Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, or Ultra 3, including the Forerunner 165 for just $129.

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Best Garmin deals

Garmin Forerunner 165
Garmin Forerunner 165: was $249 now $129 at Amazon

Don’t get the Apple Watch SE 3, though it is on sale for $199 on Amazon right now. Instead, spring for the Garmin Forerunner 165, which not only costs less but offers loads of training tools for runners, excellent GPS performance, an AMOLED touchscreen that’s bright enough to view in direct sunlight, and up to a week of battery life, compared to just 18 hours for the SE 3.

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Garmin Instinct 3
Garmin Instinct 3: was $449 now $229 at Amazon

Forget the latest Apple Watch Series 11, the Garmin Instinct 3 is a far better option if your number one goal is logging outdoor adventures and rarely having to recharge your battery. It may lack the smart features of the Series 11, but it offers a tougher-built design with 100 meters of water resistance instead of 50mm, loads of physical controls, and a genuinely bright onboard LED flashlight.

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Garmin Epix Pro
Garmin Epix Pro: was $999 now $499 at Amazon

The Ultra 3 may be Apple’s best-performing smartwatch when it comes to battery life, maxing out at roughly 42 hours per charge, but the Garmin Epix Pro boasts up to 31 days of battery life. You read that correctly. The Epix Pro, being one of Garmin’s top-of-the-line models, also offers the brand’s best training tools for serious athletes. When it comes to health and fitness insights, you can’t compare; the Garmin has the Apple Watch beat. Here’s a closer look at a real-world performance test with the Epix Pro vs Ultra 3.

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Dan Bracaglia
Dan Bracaglia
Senior Writer, Fitness & Wearables

Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others. 

An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.

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