Complete Smartwatch Swim Tracking Comparison: Garmin vs. Apple Watch

Introduction

Smartwatches have been part of the swimming market for many years, evolving from early “pool decorations” that were merely waterproof into full-featured sports devices that automatically recognize stroke type, calculate SWOLF, and track training heart rate. The progress has been remarkable. In Taiwan, Garmin and Apple Watch are the two most widely used brands, but they take fundamentally different design philosophies when it comes to swim features. This article compares the swim-tracking capabilities of both platforms in depth, from the practical perspective of swimmers in Taiwan.

Core Feature Comparison

Stroke Recognition Accuracy

Why SWOLF Matters

SWOLF (Swim Golf) is an important efficiency metric in swim training, calculated as “stroke count + time (seconds).” For example, if you take 18 strokes to swim 25 meters in 22 seconds, SWOLF = 40. A lower SWOLF indicates higher efficiency — covering more distance per stroke, or using fewer strokes.

Garmin watches provide complete SWOLF tracking, letting athletes compare the efficiency of different stroke-rate strategies in real time during training. Apple Watch currently (as of watchOS 10) does not offer SWOLF calculation, which is a notable gap for efficiency-focused swim trainers.

In-Depth Look at Garmin Swim Watches

Garmin Swim 2 vs. the Forerunner Series

Garmin’s swim features are concentrated mainly in the Swim 2 and the higher-end Forerunner/Fenix series. The Swim 2 is purpose-built for swimming, with a moderate size and accurate lap counting, making it ideal for athletes whose primary sport is swimming. Multi-sport watches like the Forerunner 965 and Fenix 7 add running, cycling, and other triathlon-related analysis on top of swim features, making them the full-featured choice for triathletes.

Unique advantages of Garmin swim training:

• Drill Logging: Records specific technique drills
• Critical Swim Speed (CSS): Calculates anaerobic threshold swim speed, similar to running FTP
• Garmin Connect training plans: Built-in multi-week periodized swim training plans, ideal for athletes preparing for competition
• Rest countdown alerts: Set a rest countdown for interval training, with vibration alerts to signal the next set

Garmin’s Drawbacks

• The UI has a steeper learning curve; first-time users need time to get familiar with the settings
• Open water GPS occasionally shows path drift during high-frequency swim strokes (a common issue across brands, not unique to Garmin)
• The entry-level model (Swim 2) has a lower-resolution screen, and some users find it not sharp enough

Apple Watch Swim Tracking Breakdown

Advantages of Apple Watch’s Swim Features

Apple Watch’s biggest competitive strength in swimming comes from its integration — for users already in the iPhone/Apple ecosystem, Apple Watch’s health data integration (heart rate, sleep, stress, blood oxygen) offers a more complete health picture.

Practical advantages of Apple Watch for swimming:

• Excellent Water Lock design — simply raise your wrist and turn the crown after swimming to drain water and unlock
• Smoother integration with fitness app ecosystems (such as Strava and MyFitnessPal)
• The Ultra 2’s metal casing and 100m water resistance suit serious open-water swimmers
• watchOS updates continuously, with swim features improving year over year

Limitations of Apple Watch for swimming:

• Lap counting accuracy in a 25-meter pool is, in some cases, less stable than Garmin (larger errors over short distances)
• Lacks advanced swim efficiency metrics such as SWOLF
• Training analysis is shallower, better suited to logging needs than coach-driven training

Buying Recommendations for Swimmers in Taiwan

• Serious competitive swim trainers: Garmin Swim 2 or Forerunner 965 (if also training for running/triathlon) offer the most complete training data
• Casual swimmers focused on health management: Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2, with seamless integration if already in the Apple ecosystem
• Triathletes preparing for competition: Garmin Fenix 7 or Forerunner 965, with the strongest multi-sport tracking capability
• Budget-conscious buyers: The Garmin Forerunner 55/255 already includes basic swim tracking, priced around NT$5,000–8,000

Practical Tips

• Before purchasing, be sure to confirm whether the pool length settings for pools in Taiwan can be customized on the watch (some Asian pools are 25 meters and require manual setup)
• The accuracy of underwater heart rate data is affected by how snugly the watch fits; it’s recommended to wear it one notch tighter than usual while swimming
• Regardless of brand, always verify lap-counting accuracy over a short swim during initial setup, to avoid errors in important training data

Conclusion

Smartwatch swim tracking has matured considerably, but Garmin and Apple Watch clearly target different types of users. Garmin is designed for serious swim trainers, while Apple Watch places more emphasis on overall integrated health and lifestyle tracking. Understanding your own training needs and digital ecosystem preferences is the key to choosing the smartwatch that will truly improve your training quality.

Related Reading

• Swim Watch Buying Comparison: Garmin Swim 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra In-Depth Swim Feature Review
• Apple Watch vs. Garmin Running Features Head-to-Head: Which Watch Suits Taiwanese Runners Better?
• Swim Training Watch Buying Guide: Garmin vs. SUUNTO Swim Mode Comparison
• GPS Running Watch Buying Guide: Garmin vs. Apple Watch vs. COROS Feature Comparison