Garmin has become a significant smartwatch competitor, particularly for people interested in running, cycling, and outdoor sports, but Apple still led global smartwatch share in the latest comparison in the research. Omdia estimated Apple’s share at 46% and Garmin’s at 15% in Q2 2026, with Samsung marginally ahead of Garmin. Those are global quarterly estimates—not shares for every region or buyer group.
The difference is that Garmin is gaining ground in feature-rich sports watches, while Apple remains ahead in the broader smartwatch market. Which one suits you depends on the sports and features you need, your phone, and how much battery life matters to you.
What the latest market figures show
Omdia reported that global smartwatch shipments grew 6% year over year in Q2 2026. It described Garmin as the largest share gainer among non-Apple vendors and linked its progress to demand for running, cycling, and outdoor use cases. In the same period, Omdia estimated Apple’s global smartwatch share at 46% and Garmin’s at 15%; Samsung was marginally ahead of Garmin.
| Measure | Period and scope | Reported figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple smartwatch share | Global, Q2 2026 | 46% | Omdia |
| Garmin smartwatch share | Global, Q2 2026 | 15% | Omdia |
| Smartwatch shipment growth | Year over year, Q2 2026 | 6% | Omdia |
These are market-research estimates, not audited company sales. They describe a particular quarter and global market; they do not establish shares in a specific country, price tier, or sport. Omdia also reported that overall wearable-band shipments fell 2% year over year in Q2 2026, a broader category that should not be treated as synonymous with smartwatches.
#1 Best Overall
- Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode (5 days display always-on)
- Body Battery energy monitoring helps you understand when you’re charged up or need to rest, with even more personalized insights based on sleep, naps, stress levels, workouts and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Get a sleep score and personalized sleep coaching for how much sleep you need — and get tips on how to improve plus key metrics such as HRV status to better understand your health (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 30 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and more
- Wheelchair mode tracks pushes — rather than steps — and includes push and handcycle activities with preloaded workouts for strength, cardio, HIIT, Pilates and yoga, challenges specific to wheelchair users and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
For additional context, Counterpoint Research reported that global smartwatch shipments grew 4% in 2025 after a decline in 2024. That is a different period and market report, so it should not be combined with Omdia’s Q2 2026 figures.
Why Garmin is gaining smartwatch visibility
Garmin’s strength is its range of GPS-enabled sports watches and its focus on training and outdoor use. Omdia connects Garmin’s Q2 2026 progress to demand for advanced sports watches with training data and multi-day battery life. Garmin’s 2024 annual report lists GPS-enabled Forerunner running and multisport watches, alongside Venu, vívoactive, vívomove, Lily, vívosmart, and Bounce smartwatch lines.
Rank #2
- Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode
- Body Battery energy monitoring helps you understand when you’re charged up or need to rest, with even more personalized insights based on sleep, naps, stress levels, workouts and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Get a sleep score and personalized sleep coaching for how much sleep you need — and get tips on how to improve plus key metrics such as HRV status to better understand your health (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 30 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and more
- Wheelchair mode tracks pushes — rather than steps — and includes push and handcycle activities with preloaded workouts for strength, cardio, HIIT, Pilates and yoga, challenges specific to wheelchair users and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
That lineup is broad, but features differ by series and model. A buyer should check the specific watch for the sports functions, phone compatibility, health features, and battery expectations they care about rather than assuming every Garmin has the same capabilities.
Garmin also announced CIRQA in its Q2 2026 results release, describing it as a screenless wearable offering wellness and fitness insights without a subscription. That is Garmin’s description of its product, not a substitute for comparing the features of its GPS smartwatch models.
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- Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode
- Body Battery energy monitoring helps you understand when you’re charged up or need to rest, with even more personalized insights based on sleep, naps, stress levels, workouts and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Get a sleep score and personalized sleep coaching for how much sleep you need — and get tips on how to improve plus key metrics such as HRV status to better understand your health (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Find new ways to keep your body moving with more than 30 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, swimming, golf and more
- Wheelchair mode tracks pushes — rather than steps — and includes push and handcycle activities with preloaded workouts for strength, cardio, HIIT, Pilates and yoga, challenges specific to wheelchair users and more (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
Garmin or Apple Watch: what should you compare?
| What matters to you | What to check |
|---|---|
| Sports and training | Supported activities, training data, and whether the information suits your experience and goals. |
| Battery expectations | The stated battery performance for the exact model and the features you plan to use. |
| Phone and notifications | Compatibility with your phone and how notifications and other connected features work. |
| Health features | Which features the model offers and whether they meet your needs. |
| Ruggedness and fit | Case size, comfort, and suitability for your activities and daily wear. |
| Price | Current price and availability for the specific models you are considering. |
The research here does not establish a current model-by-model comparison, verified prices, or firsthand test results. Treat the choice as a comparison of specific watches, not just brand names.
Is Apple still the smartwatch market leader?
In Omdia’s global Q2 2026 smartwatch-share estimate, yes: Apple was at 46%, compared with Garmin at 15%, and Samsung was marginally ahead of Garmin. These figures support saying Apple led in that period; they do not show that Apple leads in every region or every type of sports watch.
Rank #4
- Make a bold statement with this rugged GPS smartwatch, featuring a 0.9” display with solar charging lens and unlimited battery life with solar charging (assumes all-day wear with 3 hours per day outside in 50,000 lux conditions)
- Engineered with a supertough 45 mm fiber-reinforced polymer case and metal-reinforced bezel
- Built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities and strobe modes gives you greater visibility in the outdoors and provides convenient illumination when you need it
- Know your body better with health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate, advanced sleep monitoring, Pulse Ox and more (this is not a medical device, and data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked; Pulse Ox not available in all countries)
- Navigate confidently with a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter and multi-band GPS with SatIQ technology, which delivers superior positioning while also optimizing battery life
FAQ
Is Garmin catching up to Apple Watch?
Garmin is gaining ground: Omdia described it as the largest share gainer among non-Apple vendors in Q2 2026. But Apple remained far ahead in global smartwatch share in that quarter, at 46% versus Garmin’s 15%.
Does Apple still dominate the smartwatch market?
Omdia’s Q2 2026 global estimate put Apple at 46% share, making it the leader in that comparison. The figure is a quarterly market estimate, not a measure of every region or customer segment.
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Best Value
- Easy-to-use running watch monitors heart rate (this is not a medical device) at the wrist and uses GPS to track how far, how fast and where you’ve run.Special Feature:Bluetooth.
- Battery life: up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode; up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- Plan your race day strategy with the PacePro feature (not compatible with on-device courses), which offers GPS-based pace guidance for a selected course or distance
- Run your best with helpful training tools, including race time predictions and finish time estimates
- Track all the ways you move with built-in activity profiles for running, cycling, track run, virtual run, pool swim, Pilates, HIIT, breathwork and more
Why are Garmin watches popular with runners?
Omdia linked Garmin’s progress to demand for advanced sports watches for running, cycling, and outdoor activities, including interest in training data and multi-day battery life. Specific functions vary by Garmin model.
Should I choose a Garmin watch or Apple Watch?
Compare the exact models against your sports and training needs, battery expectations, phone compatibility, health features, fit, and current price. The market-share figures alone cannot tell you which watch is better for your use.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
