Do you have $400 to spend on a new smartwatch? If so, I’d gladly recommend either the Apple Watch Series 11 or Garmin Instinct 3, two new releases for 2025 aimed at very different users.

So, how do you decide which one, the Apple Watch 11 or Garmin Instinct 3, is right for you? I’ve compared the two across seven categories: price, design and durability, display, wellness tools, fitness features, smartwatch features, and battery life.

Short on time? Jump to my ‘Which one should you buy?’ section for the TLDR.

Apple Watch 11 vs Garmin Instinct 3: Price

Both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Garmin Instinct 3 start at $399. With the Series 11, that gets you the smaller 42mm model without cellular (add $100 for 5G capability). The larger 46mm Series 11, meanwhile, starts at $429 or $529 for 5G

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