Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 70
Size, specs & wrist fit compared
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Which one fits you
On wrists narrower than about 52mm, the Garmin Forerunner 70 is the safer pick — it stays proportionate down to roughly 45mm, where the Apple Watch Ultra 3 starts to hang over the edge. Above 52mm both sit cleanly, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 gives you more presence.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 wears larger than the Garmin Forerunner 70 (44mm vs 42.6mm case), giving it more wrist presence — and needing a wider wrist to sit cleanly.
On the wrist the Garmin Forerunner 70 feels lighter (40g vs 61.8g, case only).
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is thinner than 89% of the 44mm watches we track and the Garmin Forerunner 70 than 84% of the 43mm ones — so both wear flatter than their widths suggest.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is 1.4mm wider, 6.4mm longer, 0.1mm thicker and 21.8g heavier than the Garmin Forerunner 70.
Apple
Watch Ultra 3
Garmin
Forerunner 70
Switch or add watches
Apple
Watch Ultra 3
Garmin
Forerunner 70
Watch Fit Tool
For sports watches, lug-to-lug (L2L) is what matters most — it decides whether a watch overhangs your wrist. Bulky is fine; overhang is not.
Measure at the point where you wear your watch — typically just below the wrist bone.
Flat width — lay your arm on a table, palm facing up, and measure straight across the top of your wrist with a ruler. Bone to bone; do not follow the curve down the sides.
Around — wrap a tape measure snugly round the wrist. No tape? Wrap a strip of paper, mark the overlap and hold the strip against a ruler.
Width ≠ circumference. They are different numbers — around 170mm is about 64mm across — so set the toggle to whichever one you actually measured before you type it in.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Case 49.0mm · Lug-to-lug 49.0mm · Thickness 12.0mm · 62g
Sweet Spot
49mm on a 55mm wrist
Across the wrist it works — 3.0mm spare each side — but wide enough that the edge of the case back lifts clear of the skin.
On a 55mm wrist the sweet spot is 47–53mm lug to lug. This one is 49mm.
Measure where you wear it, just below the wrist bone. Either of these works — the tool converts between them.
- 1. Flat width — arm flat on a table, palm up. Measure straight across the top of the wrist, bone to bone, ignoring the curve down the sides.
- 2. Around — a tape, or a strip of paper marked and held against a ruler, snug the whole way round.
Leather: Attaches at the lugs, so the case back rests on your skin. Thins and softens with wear. Typical figures, not this model’s own.
Show the measurementsHide the measurements
- Across the wrist3.0mm spare each side
Fills the wrist without reaching the edge.
- Off the wrist12.0mm off the skin
Normal sports-watch height for a wrist this size. (12.0mm case, back against the skin)
- How it seats~7.3mm under the rim
Wide enough that the edge of the case back lifts clear of the skin.
- Weight on the wrist62g
Substantial without being a burden — the usual weight of a steel watch on a wrist this size. (1.1g per mm of wrist)
Garmin Forerunner 70
Case 42.6mm · Lug-to-lug 42.6mm · Thickness 11.9mm · 40g
Balanced Fit
42.6mm on a 55mm wrist
Comfortably inside the edges of your wrist, and it seats and sits low enough to wear without thinking about it.
On a 55mm wrist the sweet spot is 47–53mm lug to lug. This one is 42.6mm, so you could go bigger.
Measure where you wear it, just below the wrist bone. Either of these works — the tool converts between them.
- 1. Flat width — arm flat on a table, palm up. Measure straight across the top of the wrist, bone to bone, ignoring the curve down the sides.
- 2. Around — a tape, or a strip of paper marked and held against a ruler, snug the whole way round.
Leather: Attaches at the lugs, so the case back rests on your skin. Thins and softens with wear. Typical figures, not this model’s own.
Show the measurementsHide the measurements
- Across the wrist6.2mm spare each side
Comfortable, with visible skin either side.
- Off the wrist11.9mm off the skin
Normal sports-watch height for a wrist this size. (11.9mm case, back against the skin)
- How it seats~4.2mm under the rim
Seats well, with the case back following most of the wrist.
- Weight on the wrist40g
Light enough to forget you have it on. (0.7g per mm of wrist)
2D Dimension Schematics
Every case drawn to scale on a shared centre — from above, and in profile against the wrist.
- Apple Watch Ultra 344mm × 49mm · 12mm thick
- Garmin Forerunner 7042.6mm · 11.9mm thick
3D preview
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 70 on a wrist
Sized to your own wrist, turned any way you like.
Shapes are built from published measurements, not manufacturer 3D models — accurate proportions, generic dial.
Battery life compared
Furthest apart in Smartwatch mode, where the Garmin Forerunner 70 lasts 7.4× as long as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (13 days against 42 hours).
Apple Watch Ultra 3Garmin Forerunner 70
Smartwatch
1.75 days13 daysBattery Saver
72 hours—
Specifications
The short version
7 key specs| Spec | AppleWatch Ultra 3 | GarminForerunner 70 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 44mm | 42.6mm |
| Lug-to-Lug | 49mm | 42.6mm |
| Thickness | 12mm | 11.9mm |
| Weight | 61.8g | 40g |
| Shape | Rectangle | Circular |
| Display type | OLED/AMOLED | AMOLED (optional always-on mode) |
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
Every specification
329 specs| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Garmin Forerunner 70 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| width | 44 | — |
| height | 49 | — |
| volume | 25.87 cm³ | — |
| weight | 61.8 g | — |
| thickness | 12 | — |
| ATM rating | 10 ATM | — |
| resolution | 422 x 514 px | — |
| screen size | 1.98 inches | — |
| Display type | OLED/AMOLED | — |
| Has a display | Yes | — |
| pixel density | 326 ppi | — |
| water resistance | Waterproof | — |
| Always-On Display | Yes | — |
| has a touch screen | Yes | — |
| is designed for kids | No | — |
| waterproof depth rating | 100 m | — |
| Watch band is replaceable | Yes | — |
| Has sapphire glass display | Yes | — |
| maximum operating temperature | 55 °C | — |
| Ingress Protection (IP) rating | IPX6 | — |
| has branded damage-resistant glass | No | — |
| lowest potential operating temperature | -20 °C | — |
| Battery | ||
| charge time | 1.5 hours | — |
| battery life | 1.75 days | — |
| has wireless charging | Yes | — |
| has a removable battery | No | — |
| Has a solar power battery | No | — |
| has a rechargeable battery | Yes | — |
| battery life in power save mode | 72 hours | — |
| Sensors | ||
| has GPS | Yes | — |
| has a compass | Yes | — |
| Has a barometer | Yes | — |
| has a gyroscope | Yes | — |
| Has a cadence sensor | No | — |
| has an accelerometer | Yes | — |
| Monitors perspiration | No | — |
| Has a heart rate monitor | Yes | — |
| Has a temperature sensor | Yes | — |
| Monitors blood oxygenation levels | Yes | — |
| Stocks | — | Yes |
| Calendar | — | Yes |
| Passcode | — | Yes |
| Calculator | — | Yes |
| Color shift | — | Yes |
| Connectivity | — | Bluetooth®, ANT+® |
| Garmin Share | — | Yes |
| Hourly alert | — | Yes |
| Color filters | — | Yes |
| Find My Phone | — | Yes |
| Evening report | — | Yes |
| Morning report | — | Yes |
| Red shift mode | — | Yes |
| Weather forecasts | — | Yes |
| Smart Notifications | — | Yes |
| Smartphone compatibility | — | iPhone®, Android™ |
| Controls smartphone music | — | Yes |
| On-device Connect IQ™ Store | — | Yes |
| Find My Phone during GPS activity | — | Yes |
| Pairs with Garmin Connect™ Mobile | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Garmin Messenger app | — | Yes |
| Find My Garmin (helps locate lost device) | — | Yes |
| Battery saver (customizable low power watch) | — | Yes |
| Realtime settings sync with Garmin Connect™ mobile | — | Yes |
| View images from notifications on watch (Android™ only) | — | Yes |
| Text response/reject phone call with text (Android™ only) | — | Yes |
| Connect IQ™ (downloadable watch faces, data fields and apps) | — | Yes |
| Features | ||
| RAM | 2GB | — |
| release date | 2025-09-09 | — |
| Has a stopwatch | Yes | — |
| Has smart alarm | No | — |
| warranty period | 1 years | — |
| Has call control | Yes | — |
| Has silent alarm | Yes | — |
| has HRV tracking | Yes | — |
| internal storage | 64GB | — |
| measures VO2 max | Yes | — |
| Has notifications | Yes | — |
| Has ECG technology | Yes | — |
| Locates your phone | Yes | — |
| has a front camera | No | — |
| has fall detection | Yes | — |
| has voice commands | Yes | — |
| Acquires GPS faster | Yes | — |
| Has vibrating alerts | Yes | — |
| number of microphones | 1 | — |
| Can be used to answer calls | Yes | — |
| measures resting heart rate | Yes | — |
| has irregular heart rate warnings | Yes | — |
| has fast/slow heart rate notifications | Yes | — |
| Has a built-in camera remote control function | Yes | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| has NFC | Yes | — |
| SIM cards | 1 eSIM | — |
| Wi-Fi version | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) | — |
| supports ANT+ | No | — |
| supports Wi-Fi | Yes | — |
| supports Galileo | Yes | — |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | — |
| has a cellular module | Yes | — |
| Is compatible with iOS | Yes | — |
| Is compatible with Android | No | — |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| has aptX | No | — |
| Has passcode | Yes | — |
| Has auto pause | Yes | — |
| has crash detection | Yes | — |
| Is compatible with Windows | No | — |
| Is compatible with Mac OS X | No | — |
| has an external memory slot | No | — |
| Compatible with smart scales | Yes | — |
| has a battery level indicator | Yes | — |
| has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack | No | — |
| Compatible with external heart rate monitors | Yes | — |
| App & Software | ||
| Ad-free | Yes | — |
| Free app | Yes | — |
| Has coaching | No | — |
| Includes maps | Yes | — |
| Supports routes | Yes | — |
| Has achievements | Yes | — |
| Has goal setting | Yes | — |
| Has exercise diary | Yes | — |
| Predicts ovulation | Yes | — |
| Can be personalised | Yes | — |
| Has weight tracking | Yes | — |
| Predicts start date | Yes | — |
| Tracks water intake | Yes | — |
| Has inactivity alerts | Yes | — |
| Has period notifications | Yes | — |
| Has temperature tracking | Yes | — |
| Provides activity reports | Yes | — |
| Displays fertile window notifications | Yes | — |
| Counts how many calories you've burned | Yes | — |
| Activity tracking | ||
| Measures pace | Yes | — |
| Tracks distance | Yes | — |
| Tracks elevation | Yes | — |
| Designed for golf | No | — |
| Tracks your sleep | Yes | — |
| Tracks steps taken | Yes | — |
| Designed for diving | Yes | — |
| Has a route tracker | Yes | — |
| Has exercise tagging | Yes | — |
| Has multi-sport mode | Yes | — |
| Tracks calorie intake | No | — |
| Provides sleep reports | Yes | — |
| Detects activities automatically | Yes | — |
| Has a stroke counter for swimming | Yes | — |
| Overview | ||
| Family | — | Garmin |
| General | ||
| Weight | — | 40 g |
| Battery life | — | Smartwatch mode: Up to 13 days (5 days display always-on) Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 28 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 23 hours All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 16 hours See Details |
| Battery type | — | Lithium ion |
| Display Size | — | 1.2" (30.4 mm) diameter |
| Color display | — | Yes |
| Lens material | — | chemically strengthened glass |
| Physical size | — | 42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9 mm Fits wrists with a circumference of 126-203 mm |
| Bezel material | — | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Memory/History | — | 512 MB |
| Strap material | — | silicone |
| Charging method | — | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
| Large font option | — | Yes |
| Display resolution | — | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Quick Release bands | — | yes (20 mm, Industry standard) |
| Variant | ||
| Color | — | Black |
| Available Colors | — | Citron; Whitestone; Black; Tidal Blue; Soft Pink; Cool Lavender |
| Clock Features | ||
| Sleep | — | yes (advanced) |
| Hydration | — | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) |
| Breathwork | — | Yes |
| Fitness age | — | Yes |
| Sleep coach | — | Yes |
| Health status | — | Yes |
| Nap detection | — | Yes |
| All-day stress | — | Yes |
| Women's health | — | yes (in Garmin Connect™ and optional Connect IQ™ widget) |
| Health snapshot | — | Yes |
| Respiration rate | — | Yes |
| Lifestyle logging | — | Yes |
| Resting heart rate | — | Yes |
| Breathing variations | — | Yes |
| Relaxation reminders | — | Yes |
| Abnormal heart rate alerts | — | yes (high and low) |
| Relaxation breathing timer | — | Yes |
| Body Battery™ energy monitor | — | Yes |
| Heart rate (constant, every second) | — | Yes |
| Cycling Features | ||
| Pool swim workouts | — | Yes |
| Time and distance alerts | — | Yes |
| Auto rest (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Drill logging (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Countdown start (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Underwater wrist-based heart rate | — | Yes |
| "Repeat on" rest timer (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Basic rest timer (up from 0) (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) (pool swim only) | — | Yes |
| Pool swim metrics (lengths, distance, pace, stroke count, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) | — | Yes |
| Heart rate from external HRM (real-time during rests, interval and session stats during rests, and automatic heart rate download post-swim) | — | Yes |
| Running Features | ||
| Auto rest | — | Yes |
| UltraTrac mode | — | Yes |
| Future elevation plot | — | Yes |
| Distance to destination | — | Yes |
| Sun and moon information | — | Yes |
| Rest Timer (Ultra Run only) | — | Yes |
| What You'll Love | ||
| Timer | — | Yes |
| Stopwatch | — | Yes |
| Time/date | — | Yes |
| Alarm clock | — | Yes |
| Touchscreen | — | Yes |
| Display type | — | AMOLED (optional always-on mode) |
| Water rating | — | 5 ATM |
| GPS Time Sync | — | Yes |
| Training status | — | Yes |
| Smart wake alarm | — | Yes |
| Training readiness | — | Yes |
| Sunrise/sunset times | — | Yes |
| Pulse Ox blood oxygen | — | yes (spot-check, and optional all-day and in sleep) |
| Sleep score and insights | — | Yes |
| Automatic daylight saving time | — | Yes |
| Battery life (smartwatch mode) | — | Up to 13 days |
| Activity Profiles | ||
| Assistance | — | Yes |
| Live Event Sharing | — | Android™ Only |
| Incident Detection during select activities | — | Yes |
| Incident detection alert on phone for wearables | — | Yes |
| Outdoor Recreation | ||
| Up Ahead | — | Yes |
| TracBack® | — | Yes |
| Back to start | — | Yes |
| Point-to-point navigation | — | Yes |
| Bread crumb trail in real time | — | Yes |
| Daily Smart Features | ||
| HIIT workouts | — | Yes |
| Yoga workouts | — | Yes |
| Cardio workouts | — | Yes |
| Pilates workouts | — | Yes |
| Strength workouts | — | Yes |
| Garmin Running Coach | — | Yes |
| Garmin fitness coach | — | Yes |
| Garmin Coach - Strength | — | Yes |
| Garmin Running Coach Experts | — | Yes |
| On-screen workout muscle maps | — | Yes |
| Garmin Coach - Prebuilt Cycling Plans | — | Yes |
| Daily Suggested Workout - Running (Pace and Heart Rate Based) | — | Yes |
| Mapping & Navigation | ||
| Courses | — | Yes |
| Race an activity | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ lights | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia headlight camera | — | Yes |
| Speed and cadence sensor support (w/sensor) | — | Yes |
| Compatible with Varia™ radar (rear-facing radar) | — | Yes |
| Alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goals including time, distance, heart rate or calories) | — | Yes |
| Activity Tracking Features | ||
| % HRR | — | Yes |
| % HR max | — | Yes |
| HR zones | — | Yes |
| HR alerts | — | Yes |
| Shortcuts | — | Yes |
| HRV status | — | Yes |
| Load ratio | — | Yes |
| Manual lap | — | Yes |
| Rest timer | — | Yes |
| Auto max HR | — | Yes |
| Finish time | — | Yes |
| HR calories | — | Yes |
| Voice alerts | — | Yes |
| Custom alerts | — | Yes |
| Physio TrueUp | — | Yes |
| Recovery time | — | Yes |
| Training load | — | Yes |
| VO2 Max (Run) | — | Yes |
| Course guidance | — | Yes |
| Training effect | — | Yes |
| Race an Activity | — | Yes |
| Advanced workouts | — | Yes |
| Interval training | — | Yes |
| Race glance/widget | — | Yes |
| Training load focus | — | Yes |
| VO2 Max (Trail Run) | — | Yes |
| GPS speed and distance | — | Yes |
| Configurable lap alerts | — | Yes |
| Customizable data pages | — | Yes |
| Unified training status | — | Yes |
| Touch and/or button lock | — | Yes |
| Activity history on watch | — | Yes |
| Downloadable training plans | — | Yes |
| Training effect (anaerobic) | — | Yes |
| HRM running pace and distance | — | Yes |
| Customizable activity profiles | — | Yes |
| Auto Pause® automatic timer halt | — | Yes |
| Respiration rate (during exercise) | — | yes (with compatible accessory) |
| Auto Lap® interval tracking feature | — | Yes |
| Primary benefit (Training Effect labels) | — | Yes |
| HR broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+® to paired devices) | — | Yes |
| Improved interval (includes open repeats, intervals data page, rest screen and auto detection) | — | Yes |
| Workout and Training Plans | ||
| Gym | — | Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Indoor Rowing, Jump Roping |
| Swim | — | Pool Swimming |
| Cycling | — | Biking, Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross |
| Wellness | — | Walking, Pilates, Yoga , Indoor Walking, Mobility, Breathwork |
| In the ring | — | Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Team sports | — | Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball |
| Motor sports | — | Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling |
| On the water | — | Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Snorkeling |
| Racket sports | — | Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball |
| Indoor running | — | Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running |
| Outdoor running | — | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Obstacle Racing |
| Snow and winter | — | Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing |
| Outdoor recreation | — | Hiking, Rucking, Mountaineering, Horseback Riding, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Other activity profiles | — | Inline Skating |
| Health & Wellness Monitoring | ||
| GPS | — | Yes |
| GLONASS | — | Yes |
| Galileo | — | Yes |
| Accelerometer | — | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | — | Yes |
| Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor | — | Yes |
| Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate monitor | — | Yes |
| Safety and Tracking Features | ||
| TrueUp™ | — | Yes |
| Move IQ™ | — | Yes |
| Step counter | — | Yes |
| Calories burned | — | Yes |
| Distance traveled | — | Yes |
| Intensity minutes | — | Yes |
| Automatic rep counting | — | Yes |
| Move Alert movement options | — | Yes |
| Garmin Connect™ Challenges app | — | yes (optional Connect IQ app) |
| Move alerts (displays on device after a period of inactivity) | — | Yes |
| Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal) | — | Yes |
| Training, Planning and Analysis Features | ||
| Run workouts | — | Yes |
| Quick workout | — | Yes |
| Running power | — | Yes |
| Race predictor | — | Yes |
| Foot pod capable | — | Yes |
| Running dynamics | — | Yes |
| Run/Walk/Stand detection | — | Yes |
| Stride length (real time) | — | Yes |
| PacePro™ Pacing Strategies | — | Yes |
| Vertical oscillation and ratio | — | Yes |
| Ground contact time and balance | — | yes (GCT balance with accessory) |
| GPS-based distance, time and pace | — | Yes |
| Course- and weather-specific race predictor | — | Yes |
| Cadence (provides real-time number of steps per minute) | — | Yes |
Wrist Fit
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Sits best on wrists ~52–70mm wide (≈ 13.9–18.7cm circumference).
Garmin Forerunner 70
Sits best on wrists ~45–61mm wide (≈ 12.0–16.3cm circumference).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apple Watch Ultra 3 bigger than the Garmin Forerunner 70?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is bigger — 44mm vs 42.6mm case width.
Which fits a smaller wrist better, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Garmin Forerunner 70?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 suits wrists around 52–70mm wide, and the Garmin Forerunner 70 around 45–61mm. The one with the smaller lower bound is the safer pick for a small wrist.
Can I see the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Garmin Forerunner 70 side by side at true scale?
Yes — the schematics and photos above show both watches at matched scale, and our fit tool overlays each on your wrist width.