Autonomy & charge: the gauge doesn’t lie
Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple announces up to 42 hours normal use and 72 hours in low power mode. In terms of sport, we have a day of mixed GPS + cardio hiking if we manage lighting, local music, and avoid full AOD. Useful fast charging (15–30 min which saves a city break). But don’t confuse eco fashion with full potatoes: a crucial nuance.
Garmin Forerunner 970. Up to 15 days on show, 26 hours in GPS alone, ~9 p.m. in All-Systems + Multi-Band, ~2 p.m. GPS + music. Quiet endurance, except… when we push itAlways-On Display too high: several serious tests fall at ~2.5 days with high AOD (brightness adjustment vital). Honestly, low AOD + SatIQ = sweet spot.
Le October 29, 2025DOA off and 1 hour 15 minutes of trail running (All-Systems + Multi-Band), the 970 lost ~5%, Ultra 3 ~8% (brighter screen, active notifications) — mild weather, clear skies. It depends, obviously.
Are you preparing for the Nordic season? Consult our selection of 2025 cross-country ski watches.
GNSS, maps & navigation: precision vs workflow
Signal & precision. Ultra 3 runs in L1/L5 (dual frequency) and behaves very well in open water (in some tests, the trace is even cleaner than the 970 — yes, surprise). The FR 970 stacks multi-band + SatIQ (auto precision/energy switch) and remains a safe bet in dense forests, tight urban areas, and mountains. Both deliver. Difference ? The ecosystem and workflow ground.
Map & guidance. Garmin keeps the “pro” advantage: integrated topo maps, turn-by-turn guidance, recalculation if you cut, multisport profiles which connect cleanly, and LED lamp for extra night time. The Ultra 3 now offers offline maps And creating routes (on iPhone), with wrist guidance. This will be enough for 90% of iPhone hikers/trailers, but Garmin’s “all-in-watch” logic remains more robust for ultras, exploration, and heavy mapping.
October 28, 2025, Belcastel (Aveyron)loop 10.2 km under cover: FR 970 more “full” trace in tight hairpins (SatIQ useful), Ultra 3 consistent, slight smoothing on single slope. Open water (Lac de la Ramée), swimming start: small lag initial side 970, similar adjustment after ~2 min.
Do you want Apple specs without spending too much time? Go to the detailed information sheet for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
