Video summary

Garmin vs Apple vs Amazfit (Which Wins in 2026)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product reviewed

Amazfit (Amazefit) T-Rex 3 Pro — positioned as a challenger to Garmin Fenix 7/8, with comparisons to the Apple Watch and related wearable ecosystems.

Key features mentioned

  • Price point: ~$399 (explicitly stated)
  • Battery life: Just over 2 weeks
  • Charging: “A few hours” to charge
  • GPS performance: Syncs up in about a second during a run. The reviewer contrasts this with Garmin’s slower (and occasionally failing) syncing.
  • Display preference: User can dim the screen significantly and prefers not having a very bright display; they note a red night mode.
  • Lighting: Includes a flashlight, highlighted as genuinely useful.
  • Red night mode: Red background plus a red flashlight option.
  • Sauna / cold-plunge suitability: Valued for not overheating in hot saunas and not freezing in cold sessions.
  • No subscription for data: Claimed explicitly.
  • Strap / Helio ecosystem:
    • Mentions a Helio strap for sleep or alternate wear.
    • ~$99 for the band.
    • Data works without a separate subscription and without needing multiple apps.
  • Multi-device ecosystem:
    • Mentions wearing watch + strap simultaneously or using the strap for sleep.
    • Also references an Amazfit ring that can provide sleep data.
  • Workout/activity library:
    • Supports 180+ activities, though the reviewer’s specific activity types are missing.

User experience (what worked well / usability)

  • Companion app experience (Zep app): Easier to navigate than Garmin’s—less clutter and quicker access to key info.
  • Data availability: After syncing, sleep data arrives within a night (sometimes immediately, rather than waiting a week).
  • On-watch navigation: Touch screen + side buttons; described as easy to navigate.
  • Notification annoyance addressed: The reviewer wants minimal notifications on-wrist, contrasting with Apple Watch behavior.

Pros (as stated)

  • Much cheaper than Garmin, delivering “90%+” of what Garmin provides
  • No subscription for data (and hardware ownership emphasized)
  • Very good battery life (~2+ weeks)
  • Strong sauna / cold usage performance: doesn’t overheat or malfunction
  • Fast GPS sync (based on reviewer testing)
  • Simpler app/UI than Garmin (less confusing)
  • Red night mode + flashlight as standout features
  • Flexible sleep/wear ecosystem (watch can be paired with strap/ring instead of always wearing the watch)

Cons / limitations mentioned

Workout tracking gaps for the reviewer’s needs

  • The reviewer says yoga, sauna, contrast therapy, and cold plunge aren’t available as specific activities.
  • They mention custom workout building is possible, but not “perfectly”—and that Garmin still has the advantage for custom workouts (the reviewer’s routines).

Ongoing comparison friction (Garmin-adjacent)

The reviewer frames remaining Garmin disadvantages as continuing themes like paywall-like behavior and clunky app issues. However, the main Amazfit weaknesses are specifically activity types/customization.

Comparisons made

Amazfit vs Garmin (Fenix 7 / Fenix 8)

Garmin strengths (acknowledged)

  • Reliable GPS in general
  • Better for workout/custom-workout building

Garmin weaknesses (stated)

  • High pricing: Fenix 8 mentioned reaching ~$2,000
  • Paywalls for some data/info (with the reviewer noting “paywalls are included now”)
  • Clunky app / technical friction:
    • Must keep the app open to track
    • Issues connecting to Strava
    • Losing outside temperature/time data
  • Personal anecdote: Garmin failed to sync GPS for about a quarter mile, and required a ~5-minute software update

Amazfit vs Apple Watch

Apple Watch negatives (repeated experience)

  • Turns off notifications to avoid wrist alerts
  • Tracking workouts/steps caused the watch to pause, and it didn’t work reliably for him
  • Owns multiple Apple Watches (including newer ones) but says they sit unused
  • Describes Apple Watch as overrated, with fitness tracking value “below mid”

Apple Watch positives (limited)

  • RFID fast pass use at Disney
  • Travel convenience (cellular + transit)

Overall stance

Amazfit is framed as the better fitness/wellness alternative.

Unique points mentioned (deduplicated)

  1. Reviewer wore Garmin Fenix 7 for 3 straight years without replacement until CES.
  2. Apple Watch issues: notifications on-wrist and workout tracking pausing.
  3. Garmin appeal to the reviewer: customizable watch face showing date, temperature, high/low, sunset, heart rate, V̇O₂ max, steps.
  4. Steps are treated as a “guide” (baseline ~10k), not a strict goal.
  5. Strong Garmin use benefits included flashlight, sauna compatibility (no overheating), cold plunge compatibility (won’t freeze), and fast GPS vs Apple Watch.
  6. Garmin frustrations: operating system/app clunkiness and the need to keep the app open.
  7. Garmin frustrations: Strava connection problems and losing outside temperature/time data.
  8. Pricing escalated: Fenix 8 up to ~$2,000 (plus mention of another Garmin purchase not being adopted).
  9. Amazfit entry story: a youth pastor friend bought an Amazfit due to price.
  10. CES encounter: reviewer met an Amazfit team member formerly at Garmin; asked what you’d lose moving from Garmin.
  11. Garmin described as “GPS company first”; other sensors/OS are “at par” with others.
  12. At CES, Amazfit was handed to the reviewer with no obligation.
  13. Reviewer wore Amazfit for a month straight.
  14. Recommendation if considering: buy it; price $399.
  15. Pros included easier app navigation, quick syncing, sleep data after one night, and less clutter.
  16. User dislikes bright screens; the display can be dimmed.
  17. Red feature details: red background plus a red flashlight.
  18. Workout tracking cons: missing yoga, sauna, contrast therapy, cold plunge as activities.
  19. Custom workout building: possible but “not perfect” compared with Garmin.
  20. Onboarding reduces overwhelm (“too much info”) for new users.
  21. Battery: ~2+ weeks, charges in a few hours.
  22. No subscription for data.
  23. Helio strap: ~$99, syncs to the app, no subscription; can be worn with the watch or separately for sleep.
  24. Ring mentioned as an optional sleep-tracking component.
  25. Ecosystem described as fluid and app-based rather than many separate random apps.
  26. GPS anecdote: Amazfit synced GPS in a second; Garmin lagged/fail and needed a software update.
  27. Verdict vs Apple Watch: overrated, with limited benefits (Disney RFID and subway/cellular travel).
  28. Suggestion: watch Chase the Summit’s full review for deeper technical details.

Speaker / role separation

  • Main speaker/reviewer: David Moss Jr.
    • Uses Garmin, reports negative experiences with Apple Watch, and shared month-long experience with Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro.
    • Provides most of the performance anecdotes (sauna/GPS sync), app/UI opinions, and ecosystem commentary.
  • CES staff / former Garmin employee (mentioned)
    • Explains conceptual differences: Garmin is GPS-first; other sensors/OS are broadly comparable.
    • Provides the watch to the reviewer without stated obligation.

Concise verdict / recommendation

If you want a fitness/training-focused watch with long battery life, easy app navigation, sauna/cold-plunge comfort, and no subscription, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro is strongly recommended over Garmin for this reviewer—mainly due to lower cost (~$399) and a smoother experience.

Main caveat: If you rely on specific activity types (e.g., yoga/sauna/contrast therapy/cold plunge) or need highly custom workout building, Garmin still appears to have the advantage.

Original video