It seems like Garmin hardware flies closer to the edge of their hardware’s performance. When they add features we see problems. Like they introduced the 520 plus on the 520 hardware and it was super slow and frustrating at doing routing which was the main new feature. The 530 cured all that with faster hardware.
Similarly, the 830 has software features that could easily run on the 530 but Gamin removes features to differentiate products.
Honestly, I’d be happy if Garmin products were as glitch free as Apple products.
I updated my watch to watchOS 9 and went out for a run to try out the new features, and gotta say, I liked it enough I went ahead and canceled my Stryd membership. Very nice, clean UI, and running power seems to track very closely to Stryd’s, my only real complaint is that setting up interval workouts is all done directly in the watch; I’d prefer some way to do it on the phone or even better, bring them over from TrainingPeaks. If they add support for bike power meters I could see myself using an Apple Watch for tris, but for now I think my Wahoo Rival will get relegated to race day use only.
I left it automatic for now to see how it works, I have some runs with hard efforts coming up. I’m not clear if only max HR during running workouts are taken into account or if I can seed it with a TR ramp test, but I’ll give that a shot too.
I wonder if they will bring support later but just for the ultra.
In any case it seems they are heading the right way, but they are not there in term of in the space to compete with a Fenix series of Garmin when it comes to sports… For everything else, the apple watch seems to be the best choice
I guess that was my point earlier on the thread… Apple Watch is the best, bar none, smart watch… I mean, If i didnt had an andriod i would consider getting one (the Ultra) for day to day use, and keep my 935 JUST to race and bike wo (because of PM).
But as a device to track sports, there are better options right now (better support for this I care). Maybe next gen they will close the gap even more.
I’m trying to think of a use case for this. I think it’d be great if it connected to a PM, but it’d be annoying to have to look at my wrist for everything while on a ride. Even if AW connected to PM I would still want a head unit.
Some mountain bikers like using a watch because it’s kind of hard to watch power numbers as you mountain bike. A watch is probably more durable less likely damaged in a crash.
Personally, I don’t see Apple supporting cycling power meters. It’s just too niche of a market for them. Apple will also never go after Garmin’s most technical products but they will make something that grabs a lot of their marketshare and pleases 90% of users. The cyclists that need a 20 hour bike computers, racers that need extensive power support and fields, or the ultra runners are super niche market segments that Apple won’t even look at.
In theory, I‘d also want nativ powermetersupport for my Apple Watch (third party apps do support powermeters).
But to replace my wahoo head unit, this is more complex than just something like running power.
There are almost endless kinds of data fields related to cycling power (1, 3, 5, X sec power, if, tss, l/r ballance, etc). For Apple that’s probably too complex.
Then it would be nice to be able to zero the PM, see the battery status, crank length, etc. Apple would probably have to work with every PM manifacturer.
Of course I‘d also want to see Komoot routes and directions on my display (at least when I‘m traveling).
…and structured workouts from TrainingPeaks/TrainerRoad…
So that’s so much more than just power, to make it really useful, I‘d suppose it‘s easier to stick with a device, made just for this usecase.
(Although I have to confess: during a triathlon, I‘d be happy with something comparable to running power for the bike powermeter).
Edit: during all my triathlons (including Ironman), it was totally sufficient for me to use the Apple Watch during the swim and the run legs.
I get that. However, I guess I would still want a head unit on a bike for ease of looking at a screen instead of trying to see my watch. Thinking you have to remove hands/arm from aero bars to even see the AW screen while riding?
That is just me though and understand that different folks want different things.
Granted…its a pain in the ass… I dont like it…some people can look at the watch and see their thing… I cant… So I ask for a Garmin 135 to use on my bike. Small and easy to read. Perfect for just using in while on the road or racing.
People like us that care about that stuff represent a tiny market. Apple goes after big markets. Cycling is already smallish and the segment that cares about power meters is like 1% of that market. The average bike sale is $800-1000. Those people are not buying $300 bike computers or $1000 power meters. If their Apple watch records their ride, they will be happy.
If Apple can toss in free features for runners and fake power metrics that actually work, they’ll make a lot of runners that already own an Apple Watch happy. They might skip on buying that next Garmin “running” watch because their Apple Watch does 95% of it.
The Rival is pretty good for tracking a workout or a race, the Apple Watch is better at being a smartwatch.