Is the Apple Watch Finally a Legit Outdoors Smartwatch?
America’s most popular smartwatch gets a little smarter today. The Apple Watch Series 3 hits stores and major upgrades like the built-in LTE band will probably keep it the king of digital timepieces. For the everyday user, especially one living in Apple’s ecosystem, the Series 3 is a no-brainer. But for outdoors athletes and enthusiasts, there is a smartwatch that leaves Apple in its dust — the Garmin Fenix 5.
You won’t see a ultrarunner or a pro mountain climber wearing the new Apple Watch, but the 9-to-5 hikers out there might finally have something in the Series 3. After two generation that just fell short, has Apple finally created a smartwatch deserving of the outdoors?
Barometric Altimeter
The Apple Watch featured GPS since Series 1 but only now has the one thing a hiker needs in a smartwatch — elevation tracking. The barometric altimeter in the Series 3 will finally track elevation gain and loss, making it a competent device for road runners, trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers, and more.
