Smartwatches are in trend for a long time now. People use them to track their notifications, messages, and much more. There are a lot of big brands which have smartwatches, for instance, Apple and Samsung.
However, when it comes to fitness and running there is not a much better option than Garmin. Garmin watches are the best option in the market for multiple reasons.
They can provide you with very rich and diverse data. This can help you get in shape and improve your running. Track pace, track elevation, and tracking BMI are just a few of the many features provided in these watches.
The feature that Garmin watches are most renowned for is their GPS. Their GPS is highly accurate and powerful. Even if you go off track and lose direction, you can comfortably find your way back. So, if you are planning to buy a Garmin watch, you might be wondering if it is compatible with an iPhone. Stick with me till the end to find out!
Since Apple itself has a smartwatch most people get confused and think no other smartwatch is compatible with it. However, that is not the case. Almost all popular smartwatch brands are compatible with an iPhone.
Garmin is no exception, so to clear the confusion, Garmin watches are compatible with an iPhone if its IOS version is 7 and above.
Almost every apple device in use today has IOS 7 or above which is all you need to connect your Garmin smartwatch to an iPhone. Connecting both devices is fairly easy. All you need to do is follow some simple steps mentioned below.
How to connect Garmin watch to an iPhone?
If your iPhone’s IOS version is 7 or higher then you can connect your Garmin watch to your iPhone. You can connect both devices using 2 different methods. Here are the methods:
Connecting Via Garmin connect :
Charging the watch: The very first thing you need to do is to charge your smartwatch fully. Do that before you connect to the phone as then your watch shuts down and disconnects from the iPhone.
Downloading Garmin Connect: To connect the watch to the iPhone need to download Garmin Connect from the app store. Simply search Garmin click and press on get to download it. This step is mandatory as if you do not download the app your watch won’t be able to connect to the iPhone.
Turning on Bluetooth: Next, you need to turn on the Bluetooth on your iPhone. Go to settings, there you will see a Bluetooth option press on that and turn it on. They also enable Bluetooth on your smartwatch by heading over to the menu and then settings where you will find the Bluetooth option.
Connecting Garmin watch to iPhone: After doing that both devices should be able to connect. To connect the devices head on over to the Garmin connect app. Sign up and make an account or if you already have a simple login.
Now tap on More in the app. Then select Garmin devices and press on Add Garmin device. After some time both of the devices will be paired. If the app is unable to find your device then you will have to manually find your watch’s model or series from the options provided and connect it.
Connecting Via Garmin Explore:
Follow the first and third steps from above, then follow the steps below.
- Download Garmin Explore: Go apple app store and search Garmin explore. An app called will pop up named Garmin explore. Press on get to download the app. Without the app, your watch won’t connect to the iPhone.
- Logging in with account: Then sign in using an account if you already have one or make a new one. Then head to the devices open and choose it. Then select Pair devices and select your watch to connect. Give it some time to pair. Once paired you will be able to view all the data gathered by the smartwatch on your iPhone.
Does Garmin work better with iPhone or Android?
Even though both iPhone and android have the same Garmin apps there might be a little difference in connectivity quality. Most people who have used Garmin watches with both android and Apple believe that android is a bit superior.
Why Garmin works better with Android?
The main reason for that is, with android sync is better than on iPhone. It takes less time to sync the smartwatch with an android phone which is a plus point.
Also, Bluetooth connectivity is better than on android. Apple tries to save up battery when the app is not running in the foreground thus there can be some connectivity issues but nothing major.
The performance quality also heavily weighs upon the watch’s model. Let’s take a look at a few of best performing Garmin watches
Garmin Venu 2
The Garmin venu 2 is one the best performing Garmin watches. It has a battery life of 12 days in smartwatch mode and can last up to 22 hours in GPS mode. Its GPS is really accurate and has a 1.3-inch screen to display that. It has some great features such as heart monitoring and has over 25 sports modes. The design of this smartwatch is streamlined and modern which looks very nice.
Garmin forerunner 955 solar
The forerunner 955 solar is another addition to the forerunner series. This watch is perfect if you like to run. It has some unique features which will assist with that. GPS track pace, distance intervals, and much more. It also has a great battery life which can last for 20 days when in smartwatch mode. In GPS the battery still performs great as it can last for 49 hours with the help of solar charging.
