Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 965 – Which Should You Buy?

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Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Forerunner 965 are two top smartwatches for outdoor adventurers, advanced tracking, rugged durability, and long-lasting performance in extreme environments. The Ultra 2 is Apple’s latest powerhouse, designed for advanced fitness tracking and connected experiences. The Garmin Forerunner 965 a top-tier GPS watch known for its training analytics, long battery life, and lightweight comfort. This comparison will help you decide which one fits your lifestyle best.

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Processor:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the S9 Chip for faster performance and better battery efficiency, and responsive animations.
Garmin Forerunner 965 uses Garmin’s custom chipset, which is optimized for power efficiency but less advanced.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Dual Frequency GPS:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports precision dual-frequency GPS (L1+ L5) with better location accuracy for mountain hikes and dense city streets.
Garmin 965 also features multi-band GNSS for high-accuracy tracking during runs and races.

Winner:

Tie

Display Size:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a larger 1.92-inch display with a flat edge design to provide more space for complications, text, and animations.
Garmin Forerunner 965 has smaller 1.4-inch AMOLED screen.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Display Brightness:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 provides up to 3000 nits brightness to ensure better visibility in bright environments.
Garmin Forerunner 965 reaches only 1000 nits brightness.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Dual Speaker System:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes a dual speaker setup for louder, clearer audio sound output for improving call quality and Siri interactions or alerts.
Garmin Forerunner 965 has no dedicated speaker for calls.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Internal Storage:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with 64GB of internal storage, which allows for extensive app installations, playlists, and offline data.
Garmin Forerunner 965 includes 32GB of storage.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Battery Life:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 delivers up to 36 hours of battery life and 72 hours in Low Power Mode for extended usage.
Garmin Forerunner 965 can run up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 31 hours in GPS mode.

Winner:

Garmin Forerunner 965

Microphone:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a three-microphone array with wind noise reduction for clearer voice calls in outdoor environments.
Garmin Forerunner 965 includes a microphone for voice prompts but not for calls.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Water Resistance:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has 100m water resistance with EN13319 certification for scuba diving and deep-water activities.
Garmin Forerunner 965 is water-resistant to 50 meters.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Emergency Siren:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has an 86dB emergency siren for alerting others in case of distress.
Garmin Forerunner 965 does not include an audible siren.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

LTE Connectivity:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports GPS + Cellular by default for standalone use.
Garmin Forerunner 965 lacks LTE connectivity.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Fitness Features:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports ECG, blood oxygen, heart rate, and temperature tracking to monitor detailed health metrics.
Garmin Forerunner 965 adds advanced training readiness, VO2 Max, load focus, and HRV status.

Winner:

Garmin Forerunner 965

Higher Resolution:

Apple Watch Ultra 2 delivers 502 x 410 resolution for sharper display with increased pixel density, text and graphics.
Garmin Forerunner 965 has lower 454 x 454 resolution.

Winner:

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Check Apple Watch Ultra 2 Best Price
Check Forerunner 965 Best Price

Specs at a Glance

Feature	Apple Watch Ultra 2	Garmin Forerunner 965
Display	1.92-inch Retina LTPO OLED	1.4-inch AMOLED
Resolution	502 x 410 pixels	454 x 454 pixels
Brightness	Up to 3000 nits	Up to 1000 nits
Battery Life	Up to 36 hrs (72 hrs low power)	Up to 23 days (GPS: 31 hrs)
Case Material	Titanium	Fiber-reinforced polymer
Weight	61.4g	52g
Internal Storage	64GB	32GB
Operating System	watchOS 10	Garmin proprietary OS
GPS	Dual-frequency L1+L5	Multi-band GNSS (L1+L5)
LTE Support	Yes	No
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Buttons	Digital Crown + Action Button	5-button layout
Water Resistance	100m	50m
Emergency Siren	Yes	No

Who Should Buy What?

Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 2 if you:

Want the most advanced smartwatch features and smart integrations.
Need LTE for staying connected without your phone.
Prefer a rugged titanium design with high-end materials.
Value a bright, large display with excellent visibility in sunlight.
Use a wide range of third-party apps and Apple services.

Check Apple Watch Ultra 2 Best Price

Buy the Garmin Forerunner 965 if you:

Want longer battery life for endurance training or travel.
Need in-depth training, recovery, and performance metrics.
Prefer a lightweight watch for running and all-day wear.
Don’t need LTE or third-party apps beyond fitness.
Use Android or want a device not tied to the Apple ecosystem.

Check Forerunner 965 Best Price

Winner by Category

Category	Winner
Processor	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Dual Frequency GPS	Tie
Display Size	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Higher Resolution	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Display Brightness	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Dual Speaker System	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Internal Storage	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Battery Life	Garmin Forerunner 965
Action Button	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Microphone	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Water Resistance	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Emergency Siren	Apple Watch Ultra 2
LTE Connectivity	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Rugged Titanium Case	Apple Watch Ultra 2
Third-Party Apps	Apple Watch Ultra 2

FAQ

Is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 compatible with Android phones?
No, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is only compatible with iPhones. It requires an iPhone running iOS 17 or later to set up and function fully. If you use an Android phone, the Ultra 2 will not work for you.

Can I make calls directly from the Apple Watch Ultra 2 without my phone nearby?
Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports LTE connectivity, allowing you to make calls, send messages, and stream music independently of your iPhone if you activate a cellular plan.

Does the Garmin Forerunner 965 support contactless payments?
Yes, the Garmin Forerunner 965 supports Garmin Pay, which lets you use NFC payments at compatible terminals. However, bank support varies by country and financial institution.

Can I download music to the Garmin Forerunner 965 for offline listening?
Yes, you can store music from services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer directly on the Garmin Forerunner 965 and listen offline using Bluetooth headphones during workouts.

Is the Apple Watch Ultra 2 good for diving?
Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is designed for recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters using the Oceanic+ app. It is WR100 water resistant and EN13319 certified for diving accessories.

Does the Garmin Forerunner 965 have a touchscreen?
Yes, the Garmin Forerunner 965 features a responsive AMOLED touchscreen in addition to five physical buttons, giving you flexible control during workouts or daily use.

Can I track my sleep with both watches?
Yes, both the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Forerunner 965 track sleep. However, Garmin provides more in-depth sleep stage data and recovery insights, while Apple’s sleep tracking is simpler and focuses more on trends and time asleep.

Do either of these watches support ECG or blood oxygen monitoring?
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes both ECG and blood oxygen monitoring for health tracking. The Garmin Forerunner 965 tracks blood oxygen (Pulse Ox), but does not support ECG functionality.

How accurate is the GPS on these watches for running?
Both watches feature dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5) for superior tracking accuracy, especially in areas with tall buildings or tree cover. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Forerunner 965 both perform well, though Garmin may appeal more to dedicated runners due to advanced pacing metrics.

Can I respond to messages and notifications from the Garmin Forerunner 965?
If you use an Android phone, you can send quick replies from the Garmin Forerunner 965. However, iPhone users cannot respond to messages directly from the watch due to iOS restrictions. The Apple Watch Ultra 2, on the other hand, provides full interaction with messages, calls, and apps on iPhones.

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