Apple Watch Series 12 edges Garmin Forerunner 570 by 50 steps in a simple walk test
The Apple Watch Series 12 (left) and Garmin Forerunner 570 (right) after a 5,000‑step test.
Apple Watch Series 12 edges Garmin Forerunner 570 by 50 steps in a simple walk test
A side‑by‑side comparison of two popular fitness watches shows the newer Apple model barely outpaces its Garmin rival.
Tom, a regular Tom’s Guide tester, strapped an Apple Watch Series 12 to his left wrist and a Garmin Forerunner 570 to his right on March 15, 2026, then walked exactly 5,000 steps while a $5 clicker counted each footfall.
Both devices claim 24‑hour wearability, sleep monitoring, and continuous heart‑rate sensing. Apple highlighted a revamped pedometer for the Series 12, while Garmin touted its mid‑tier Forerunner line as a hub for training and recovery tools.
The test method was straightforward: each watch relied on its built‑in accelerometer, which registers arm swings as steps. The clicker served as an independent tally, ensuring neither wrist bias could skew results.
The Apple Watch logged 5,050 steps; the Garmin recorded 5,000.
“Apple says it made its pedometer more accurate in the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, so I was keen to put the two watches head to head,” Tom wrote in the original article. The quote underscores why the comparison mattered to a tech‑savvy audience.
Garmin’s Forerunner 570 launched at $549, a $100 jump from its 735XT predecessor. Apple’s Series 12 started at $399, just $30 more than the Series 2 price point a decade ago. The price gap reflects broader market trends: smartwatch prices have risen modestly over ten years, with analysts forecasting a 12% increase by the end of 2026.
In the grand scheme, a 50‑step difference hardly shifts daily activity totals. Yet the test reveals how incremental hardware tweaks, like Apple’s upgraded heart‑rate sensor, can translate into marginal gains in step counting.
Both watches hide a deeper story about consumer expectations. Users often assume a higher price means flawless metrics, but real‑world tests like this remind us that “accuracy” can be a moving target.
What the numbers really mean
The 5,050‑step readout from the Apple Watch represents a 1 % increase over the Garmin’s count. In isolation, that margin is negligible. Over a month, assuming similar walking habits, the Apple could log roughly 150 extra steps, a figure that won’t affect calorie estimates or badge unlocks.
However, the test also highlights the importance of third‑party apps. Apple’s native interface doesn’t show steps per workout; Tom resorted to the Pedometer+ app to capture the walk data. Garmin, by contrast, displays step totals directly on its screen. This difference may sway users who prefer on‑watch visibility.
From a pricing perspective, the $30 price bump for the Apple Watch Series 12 brings features like background heart‑rate readings every five seconds, blood‑oxygen measurement, and fall detection. Garmin’s $100 premium adds an AMOLED display, contact‑less payments, and music playback. The step‑count edge doesn’t justify the cost gap for most casual walkers.
Who benefits most?
Fitness enthusiasts who track every metric will likely appreciate Apple’s seamless ecosystem and the ability to pin step totals to the home screen. Meanwhile, athletes training for triathlons may favor Garmin’s deeper analytics, even if the step count is a shade less precise.
Both watches serve a broader audience: anyone who wants a wearable that monitors sleep, readiness, and heart health around the clock. The test shows that, at least for basic step tracking, the two devices are virtually neck‑and‑neck.
Beyond step counting, the two watches differ in how they handle data privacy and integration. Apple continues to process health data on‑device whenever possible, limiting cloud exposure, while Garmin stores activity logs on its servers to power its advanced training plans. Users concerned about data sovereignty may therefore lean toward Apple despite the modest step‑count advantage.
Another factor influencing buyer decisions is ecosystem lock‑in. Apple users benefit from automatic syncing with iPhone, iPad, and Mac, plus third‑party health apps that read Apple Health data. Garmin owners often pair their devices with the Garmin Connect platform, which excels at detailed workout analysis but lacks the seamless cross‑device experience Apple provides.
Looking ahead, the modest step‑count gap suggests that future improvements will likely focus on battery life, sensor accuracy for non‑step activities, and deeper health insights rather than raw step numbers. Both manufacturers have hinted at next‑generation optical sensors that could better differentiate between walking, running, and other motions.
Finally, the price dynamics illustrated here reflect a broader industry shift: as entry‑level smartwatches become more capable, mid‑tier models must justify higher price points with specialized features, such as advanced training metrics, music storage, or premium materials, rather than incremental improvements in basic metrics.
Sources & Further Reading
What Happens Next
- on or before October 31, 2026 — Apple is expected to release the Series 13 with an even larger display, sparking fresh comparisons.
- on or before November 30, 2026 — Garmin may unveil a Forerunner 580, promising a lower price point while keeping advanced training metrics.
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