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.
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.
Please share by clicking this button!
Visit our site and see all other available articles!