In a head-to-head test at the rainy Frankfurt Marathon, Garmin's Fenix 9 Pro tracked distance more accurately than the Apple Watch Ultra 4, and was easier to use wet.
A Tom's Guide fitness editor ran the Frankfurt Marathon wearing two new top-end sports watches, and Garmin came out ahead. The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro handled the city's GPS trouble spots better than the Apple Watch Ultra 4. It was also easier to use in pouring rain.
The official marathon distance is 42.19 kilometers. Runners rarely cover exactly that, because they weave around other people and cannot hold the shortest line. So both watches reading a bit long is normal. The question was which one was closer.
The runner's race bib, which logged her pace at every kilometer marker, put her average at 4:52 per kilometer. The Garmin said 4:48. The Apple Watch said 4:44. The editor notes the Apple figure looks faster partly because that watch measured the longest run.
Heart rate was a tie. Both watches reported an average of 172 beats per minute. An Oura Ring 5 on her finger reported 179. She did not wear a chest strap, which is usually the more trusted way to check heart rate, so this test cannot say which number was right.
Frankfurt's business district is known for weak GPS. Tall buildings can block or bounce satellite signals, which can throw off pace readings. Add crowds and 18,000 other runners, and perfect accuracy was never likely. The editor said the Garmin was far better at keeping those dead zones from corrupting her pace data.
The Garmin also has more physical buttons. In heavy rain, she found them easier to use than a touchscreen.
This was one race, one runner and one wet Sunday morning. The editor was clear that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is not inaccurate. Both watches came out this year and cover training, recovery, sleep and daily activity well. The Apple model adds a new heart rate sensor and a daily Readiness score. The 43mm Garmin tested has long battery life, a titanium case, and LTE and satellite connections.
For anyone who runs in a dense city or in bad weather, the result is a reason to look at a watch with real buttons and steadier GPS before assuming the touchscreen option is best.
If you run among tall buildings or in rain, test a watch with physical buttons; Garmin's Fenix 9 Pro beat the Apple Watch Ultra 4 in one marathon.
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