Garmin Forerunner 965 vs. Apple Watch Series X vs. Whoop 5.0: Best Fitness Wearable for Athletes in 2025

June 20, 2025 Sophia Grant 0 Comments 5 min read

The fitness wearable space in 2025 is more sophisticated than ever — and if you’re serious about performance tracking, recovery, and long-term health insights, you’re likely choosing between the Garmin Forerunner 965, the Apple Watch Series X, and the Whoop 5.0.

But these devices do very different things. One is a GPS powerhouse. One is an all-in-one smartwatch. And one? It doesn’t even have a screen. Here’s a breakdown to help you pick based on how you train, recover, and live.

Design & Comfort

Garmin Forerunner 965: Lightweight titanium bezel, bright AMOLED display, and silicone band. Despite its sporty look, it feels premium and stays comfortable during long runs or workouts. Also fully button-navigable — a win in rain or gloves.
Apple Watch Series X: Apple’s most refined watch yet. With a thinner profile, longer battery life, and a microLED display, it’s elegant enough for work and tough enough for the gym. Comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes.
Whoop 5.0: No screen, no distractions. Just a smart sensor on a minimalist band. It’s the lightest of the three, and the new Whoop Body integration lets you wear it in supported clothing (boxers, bras, etc.) — an athlete favorite.

💡 Comfort Insight: If you want total invisibility and passive tracking, Whoop wins. Garmin is most ergonomic for long workouts. Apple feels like a smartwatch first, fitness device second.

Data & Tracking Depth

Garmin 965: Best-in-class for runners, triathletes, and cyclists. Offers dual-band GPS, VO2 max, training load, recovery time, HRV, and even running power natively. No subscription required.
Apple Watch X: Tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, ECG, skin temperature, and even respiratory rate. It’s fantastic for health snapshots and closes fitness rings with motivation. New AI-powered health summaries are useful — but advanced metrics need third-party apps.
Whoop 5.0: Tracks HRV, sleep performance, strain, recovery, and skin temp 24/7. You get a readiness score every morning — like a coach telling you whether to push or rest. No distractions, but requires a monthly subscription.

🧠 Insight: Garmin gives you raw data + training logic. Apple gives accessibility + general health. Whoop gives elite-level recovery intelligence and lifestyle coaching.

Battery Life

Garmin Forerunner 965: 23 days in smartwatch mode, 31 hours GPS mode.
Apple Watch X: Up to 36–48 hours (with Low Power Mode).
Whoop 5.0: 4–5 days, with on-wrist charging so you never remove it.

🔋 Reality Check: Garmin is the true endurance king. Whoop is efficient and always on. Apple has improved, but still requires frequent charging unless limited by Low Power Mode.

App Ecosystem & Platform Support

Garmin Connect is robust, highly detailed, but takes time to master.
Apple Health + Fitness+ integrates smoothly across iOS devices — perfect if you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Whoop App is focused, easy to read, and rich in coaching insights — but not for those who want graphs and charts.

📱 Ecosystem Tip: Apple is seamless for casual health tracking and coaching. Garmin gives you granular control. Whoop is laser-focused on what your body’s ready for.

Subscription Costs

Garmin: No subscription required.
Apple Watch: Fitness+ is optional. Watch fully functional without it.
Whoop: Monthly subscription required (around $30/month) — hardware is “free” with membership.

💸 Value Note: Garmin offers the most data at a flat price. Whoop is a recurring investment. Apple is in the middle, offering extras without requiring them.

🏁 So, Which One Should You Use?

Choose Garmin Forerunner 965 if you’re an endurance athlete, serious runner, or someone who trains with structure. It offers the deepest training insights without a subscription.
Choose Apple Watch Series X if you want a sleek, all-in-one device that balances smartwatch features with health and fitness tracking. It’s ideal for casual-to-moderate exercisers who love tech.
Choose Whoop 5.0 if you’re focused on recovery, sleep, and performance optimization, and don’t mind wearing a screenless sensor in exchange for elite-level insights.

No single device is “better” — but each serves a specific lifestyle. Pick based on what you’re measuring: distance, behavior, or recovery.