Garmin vs. Polar Smartwatches Statistics – Which is Better? (2025)

Introduction

Garmin vs. Polar Smartwatches Statistics: Choosing the right smartwatch can be confusing, especially when the top two brands, Garmin and Polar, are both renowned for their excellent fitness technology. Whether you are someone who enjoys walking, runs daily or trains for races, finding the best watch for your needs is super important. These watches do more than tell time; they also help you track your health, workout and goals.

In this guide, we will compare Garmin and Polar smartwatches, focusing on fitness features, style, battery life, GPS tracking, and price. This way, you can see which one gives you more value for your money and fits your lifestyle best. In this article, we shall focus on Gramin vs Polar Smartwatches Statistics – Which is Better?

Editor’s Choice

• Garmin introduced a dual-band GPS and added support for India’s NavIC satellites in 2024, enhancing tracking capabilities in challenging environments such as forests or mountains.
• Garmin’s Relative (RS) Rate rose from 67 to 72. This means the stock was performing better than many other stocks over the past 12 months.
• Users tracked for more months. Different types of sports, including niche ones like curling, water running, and frisbee golf.
• In contrast, the Apple Watch Series 10 recorded an average heart rate of 144 bpm and a maximum of 179 bpm.

Specs Comparison Table

Garmin vs Polar Smartwatches Design Statistics

• If you want something smaller, the Polar Vantage M3 has a 44mm plastic case, while the Garmin Forerunner 965 is slightly larger with a 47mm polymer case.
• The M3 is also thinner at 12.2mm, compared to 13.2mm for the 965. Even though their sizes are different, both weigh the same—53g, so they feel about equal on your wrist.
• Both watches feature a clear, sporty look and a slim shape. The M3 has a thicker edge (bezel) around the screen, while Garmin’s bezel is made from titanium, and Polar uses stainless steel. The materials don’t change how heavy or comfortable they are for daily wear.
• It’s also nice that the watch bands are easily removable on both models. They both come with soft silicone straps, and you can switch to official metal or nylon bands if you want to change the look or feel.
• Garmin gives you a larger and sharper display. The FR965 has a 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with a 454 × 454 resolution, while the M3 has a 1.28-inch AMOLED screen with a 416 × 416 resolution.
• The M3 also features a thicker bezel, which makes the screen appear slightly smaller.
• Both watches have bright, colourful AMOLED displays that are easy to read and respond well to touch.
• We liked Garmin’s bigger screen, but the M3 is still clear and readable. Both support an always-on display option.
• When it comes to protection, both screens use Gorilla Glass, which helps prevent scratches. However, it’s not the tougher sapphire crystal glass you’ll find on more expensive models. After long-term use, we did notice a few scratches on the FR965.
• For swimming and water use, both watches are rated 5ATM, which means they can withstand water pressure up to 50 meters deep, making them safe to wear while swimming.

Garmin vs Polar Smartwatches Accuracy Statistics

#1. Garmin

• Garmin introduced a dual-band GPS and added support for India’s NavIC satellites in 2024, enhancing tracking capabilities in challenging environments such as forests or mountains.
• Newer watches, like the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, can track your position within approximately 10 feet, or 3 meters, around 95% of the time.
• In a 6,000-step walk, the Forerunner 265 was only 15 steps off the actual count.
• Compared to other major brands, Garmin achieved an average step-tracking accuracy of 82.6%, one of the best in the fitness tracker market.
• One study found that Garmin watches underestimated VO2 max by almost 5.3 mL/kg/min.
• Another study found that the Forerunner 265 overestimated it by around 13.3%.

#2. Polar smartwatch

• Distance Measurement: During a 3.03-mile run, the Vantahe M3 recorded 3.03 miles, closely aligning with the Garmin Fenix 8’s 3.01 miles
• Route Mapping: The M3’s GPS tracking was notably accurate, with minimum deviation even under light foliage.

#1. In a controlled 6,000-step walk test:

• Polar Vantage M3: Recorded 6,015 steps, overcounting by just 15 steps
• Apple Watch Series 10: Logged 5,967 steps, undercounting by 33 steps.

#2. Heart Rate Monitoring Accuracy:

• In a walking test, the M3 reported an average heart rate of 117 bpm and a maximum of 144 bpm.
• In contrast, the Apple Watch Series 10 recorded an average heart rate of 144 bpm and a maximum of 179 bpm.

Garmin vs Polar Smartwatches Battery Life Statistics

#1. Garmin Battery Life

Factors Affecting Garmin’s Battery Life

• Screen Type: Watches with AMOLED or OLED (like Fenix 8) use more battery than MIP displays.
• How You Use It: More GPS tracking, heart rate checks, or keeping the screen always on will drain the battery faster.
• Solar Power: Models like the Enduro 3 and Instinct 2 Solar can recharge slightly in sunlight, which helps extend battery life.

#2. Polar Smartwatch

Factors Affecting the Battery Life of Polar Smartwatches

• Display Settings: Always-On Display (AOD) looks nice, but it drains more battery. For example, if AOD is turned on, the Ignite 3 battery drops from 5 days to just 2 days.
• GPS Tracking: Using GPS nonstop eats more power. The Vantage M3 lasts approximately 30 hours with full GPS, but by enabling Eco GPS mode, you can extend its battery life to 70 hours.
• Power Save Mode: Smartwatches like Pacer Pro and Grit X Pro have special settings that slow down GPS updates and heart tracking to last up to 100 hours.

Garmin vs Polar Price Statistics

#1. Garmin

Garmin had a strong year in 2024, with its stock price increasing due to solid earnings and positive investor confidence

• Price at the end of 2024: USD206.26.
• Highest Price of the Year: USD220.00
• Lowest Price of the Year: USD117.43
• Average Price in 2024: USD163.54
• Yearly Growth: The Stock rose by almost 63% as compared to the previous year.
• In the last quarter of 2024, the company’s earnings per share (EPS) jumped 40% to USD 2.41.

(Source: macrotrends.net)

• Sales also increased by 23%, reaching USD 1.82 billion. For the entire year, total revenue reached a new record of USD 6.3 billion.
• Garmin’s Rebellion. The rate rose from 67 to 72. This means the stock was performing better than many other stocks over the past 12 months.
• As of June 5, 2025, months. The stock price is around USD 204.95, showing a small increase of 0.37% from the previous close.

(Reference: statista.com)

• In Q2 2024, the revenue generated from Garmin’s fitness segment totaled around USD 430430 million, an increase compared to the previous quarter, when it was approximately USD 428.5428.5 million.

#2. Polar

(Source: macrotrends.net)

• In the above chart, we can see the Polar Power Annual Revenue statistics.

• The company generated USD 14 million in sales, representing a 6.7% decrease compared to 2023.
• Gross profit rose by 89%, reaching USD1.3 million, or 9.4% of total sales. In 2023, the gross profit was USD 695,000, or 4.5% of sales.
• Operating expenses dropped by USD1 million, going from USD6.7 million last year to USD5.7 million in 2024.
• The company reported a net loss of USD 4.6 million in 2024 or USD (1.86) per share. This is an improvement from 2023, when the net loss was USD 6.5 million, or USD (3.45) per share.
• Inventory decreased by USD 3.5 million, primarily due to the company utilising its existing stock rather than purchasing new items. A USD 900,000 adjustment was also made for products that are difficult to sell.
• The business used USD536,000 in cash for operations in 2024, a significant drop from the USD3.4 million used in 2023.
• As of December 31, 2024, the company had USD 5.0 million in net debt and USD 1.1 million in available funds, which includes both cash and credit.

Garmin vs Polar User Demographic Statistics

#1. Garmin

• Garmin’s global user base in 2024 included people of all ages, with a strong focus on health, fitness, and wellness.
• Most Garmin.com visitors were between 25 and 34 years old, accounting for 25.22% of users.

(Reference: coolest-gadgets.com)

Other age groups:

1. 35–44: 21%
2. 45–54: 20.52%
3. 55–64: 14.21%
4. 18–24: 10.54%
5. 65+: 8.51%

• Coolest Gadgets reported, based on Garmin vs Polar Smartwatches – Which is Better?, that 68.7% of Garmin’s visitors were men in 2024.
• In 2024, 31.3% of Garmin’s visitors were women.
• Most users came from the United States, followed by Germany, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
• The average Body Battery score was 71, meaning moderate energy.
• Garmin users had the most energy on Tuesdays and the least on Saturdays.
• The average sleep score of Garmin also hit 71.
• The Netherlands had the best sleep scores, while Indonesia had the lowest. The average stress level was 30.
• Monday was the calmest day, while Saturday was the most stressful, according to the user survey.
• Malaysia exhibited the highest stress levels, while South Korea had the lowest.
• The average training readiness score was 60.
• People in New Zealand were the readiest to train, and South Korea was the least.
• On average, users’ “fitness age” was 2.48 years younger than their actual age.
• Users took an average of 8,317 steps daily.
• Hong Kong had the highest daily steps (10,340), while Indonesia had the fewest (5,375).

(Reference: coolest-gadgets.com)

• As of 2023, 78% of Baby Boomers in the U.S. had heard of Garmin. In comparison, 64% of Millennials, 62% of Gen X, and just 35% of Gen Z knew the brand.

Garmin’s share of popularity across generations was:

• 32% of Baby Boomers
• 19% of Gen X
• 16% from Millennials
• 11% of Gen Z

Looking at actual product use:

• 18% of Garmin users were Baby Boomers
• 13% were from Gen X
• 10% were Millennials
• 7% were Gen Z

When it came to customer loyalty:

• 15% of Garmin’s loyal users were Baby Boomers
• 11% were Gen X
• 6% were Millennials
• 5% were Gen Z

In terms of who talks about Garmin the most

• 17% of the buzz came from Baby Boomers
• 16% of Gen X
• 10% from Millennials
• 7% of Gen Z

Most Popular Workout Activities (2024 Growth)

• Track running: up 65%
• HIIT workouts: up 56%
• Pilates: up 42%
• E-biking: up 38%
• Indoor climbing: up 31%

Biking Trends

• Total cycling activities rose by 7%
• Indoor biking went up 12%
• Female cyclists were the fastest-growing group, increasing by 9%.

#2. Polar

In 2024, people from all over the world visited Polar’s website. The top 5 countries with the most visitors were:

• Finland – 11.5%
• Germany – 10.6%
• Spain – 7.8%
• United States – 7.5%
• France – 7.2%

Age and Gender Breakdown

1. Most users were between 35 and 44 years old
2. 4% of visitors were men, and 35.6% were women

• On average, users exercised 317 minutes per week, more than double the 150-minute weekly recommendation from the World Health Organisation.
• The most popular day for workouts was Tuesday. The day with the most logged activities was May 14.
• Running was the most popular activity, accounting for 19% of all workouts in Polar.
• Based on Garmin vs. Polar Smartwatches – Which is Better?, News. Cision revealed that walking came next with 16% in Polar.
• Users tracked more than 150 different types of sports, including niche ones like curling, water running, and frisbee golf.
• Users slept around 7 hours and 29 minutes each night on average.
• The typical sleep score was 73 out of 100, showing overall good rest quality.
• Most people went to bed at 11:32 PM and woke up at 7:03 AM.

Conclusion

In short, both Garmin and Polar smartwatches offer a range of features and are widely used. Garmin has about 35% of the worldwide GPS smartwatch market. Their watches are durable and can last up to 14 days on a single charge in normal use. They offer more than 30 sports modes and strong navigation tools. Polar is used by over 10 million people globally and is known for its very accurate heart rate sensors, which achieve 99% accuracy, as well as detailed sleep tracking.

Polar watches can run up to 7 days on a single charge and support more than 150 sports in their app. If you’re looking for a reliable watch with extended battery life and numerous outdoor features, Garmin might be a better option. But if you want precise health tracking and recovery features at a lower cost, Polar could be the right choice. The best option depends on which features align with your fitness goals and budget. We have provided a clear overview of Garmin vs. Polar Smartwatches Statistics – Which is Better?