Apple Watch Series 11 vs Garmin Forerunner 965
The Verdict
The Apple Watch Series 11 and Garmin Forerunner 965 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple Watch Series 11 is the cheaper of the two at $399 versus $599, a difference of about $200. The Apple Watch Series 11 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple Watch Series 11 stands out for hypertension detection for chronic high blood pressure, while Garmin Forerunner 965 is praised for 23-day battery life in smartwatch mode for serious endurance athletes. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple Watch Series 11 if…
- →Hypertension detection for chronic high blood pressure
- →Sleep score for sleep quality insights
- →24-hour battery life (up from 18h on Series 10)
Buy the Garmin Forerunner 965 if…
- →23-day battery life in smartwatch mode for serious endurance athletes
- →First Forerunner with AMOLED display — bright and easy to read
- →Multi-band GPS with SatIQ for highly accurate outdoor tracking
Pros & Cons
Apple Watch Series 11
Pros
- Hypertension detection for chronic high blood pressure
- Sleep score for sleep quality insights
- 24-hour battery life (up from 18h on Series 10)
- 5G connectivity on cellular models
- 2x more scratch-resistant Ion-X glass
Cons
- Same S10 chip as Series 10
- Starting price increased to $399
- Still limited to one-day battery life
Garmin Forerunner 965
Pros
- 23-day battery life in smartwatch mode for serious endurance athletes
- First Forerunner with AMOLED display — bright and easy to read
- Multi-band GPS with SatIQ for highly accurate outdoor tracking
- Advanced running metrics: running power, VO2 max, race predictor
- Garmin Pay NFC and music storage for offline playback
Cons
- No ECG sensor
- No cellular connectivity
- Garmin OS app ecosystem is very limited compared to Wear OS or watchOS
- Expensive at $599 for a running-focused device
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 11 | Garmin Forerunner 965 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | watchOS 26 | Garmin OS |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 34.6 g (42mm) / 43.1 g (46mm) | 53 g |
| Case material | Aluminum or Titanium (Grade 5) | Fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium bezel |
| Water resistance | IP6X, 50m WR | 10 ATM |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 24 hours | Up to 23 days smartwatch mode, 31 hrs GPS |
| Display | ||
| Size | 42mm / 46mm | 1.4 inch |
| Type | Retina LTPO3 OLED | AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 496 x 416 (46mm) | 454 x 454 |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Apple S10 | Garmin proprietary |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Apple products or all Garmin products. View full details for the Apple Watch Series 11 or the Garmin Forerunner 965.