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In Tom’s Guide’s single reported walk, the Apple Watch Series 12 came closer to the tester’s manual step tally: it recorded 5,490 steps against 5,440 counted by hand. The Garmin Forerunner 570 recorded 5,512. That is a result from one walk, not proof that Apple is generally more accurate.
What the one-walk step test found
Tom’s Guide reported a 5,440-step manual tally, compared with 5,490 on Apple Watch Series 12 and 5,512 on Garmin Forerunner 570. The Apple reading was 50 steps high; the Garmin reading was 72 steps high. Apple was therefore 22 steps closer to the manual count in this walk.
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The comparison’s headline describes a 5,000-step walk, but the reported hand tally was 5,440—not exactly 5,000. The headline is an approximation, and the result should be read against the specific 5,440-step tally. Tom’s Guide published the comparison on September 29, 2026.
How much does this settle step-count accuracy?
Not much beyond this particular walk. The report describes one reporter’s walk; it does not provide repeated trials, a larger participant sample, or independent validation. A 22-step difference between the two watch readings is a small gap in this test, but it cannot establish which model will be more accurate for another person or across different activities.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Daily step totals can also include motion that is not walking. Garmin cautions in the Forerunner 570 owner’s manual that “The watch may interpret some repetitive motions, such as washing dishes, folding laundry, or clapping your hands, as steps.” That is a warning about possible misclassification, not a measured error rate for this model.
Battery life: Garmin’s published figures are longer
The manufacturers’ published battery estimates show a substantial practical difference, although they are not results from the step-count test and should not be treated as directly comparable laboratory measurements.
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
| Watch | Manufacturer-stated battery life | Mode or qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 | Up to 24 hours | Normal use, per Apple’s specifications |
| Garmin Forerunner 570, 42 mm | Up to 10 days | Smartwatch mode, per Garmin |
| Garmin Forerunner 570, 47 mm | Up to 11 days | Smartwatch mode, per Garmin |
These are manufacturer claims, and actual battery life varies with use. Garmin’s figure also differs by watch size. See Apple’s Series 12 technical specifications and Garmin’s Forerunner 570 comparison for the published figures.
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Pick the watch that fits how you use it
Apple Watch Series 12: an iPhone-oriented smartwatch
Tom’s Guide frames the Apple Watch as the stronger fit for someone who wants a smartwatch that extends the iPhone experience. The one-walk result gives it a narrow edge against the manual tally, but that should be a secondary consideration rather than a general accuracy guarantee. Apple’s September 2026 announcement includes a company claim about comparative heart-rate accuracy; heart-rate sensing is a different measure and does not establish better step counting.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Garmin Forerunner 570: running and training features
Garmin positions the Forerunner 570 as a running watch, and its listed capabilities include training readiness and multisport/GPS features. Those tools may matter more to runners than the small difference between the watch readings in this one walk. The longer manufacturer-stated smartwatch-mode battery estimates may also suit people who prioritize fewer charges.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Price context from the comparison
Tom’s Guide reported a starting price of $399 for Apple Watch Series 12 and $549 for Garmin Forerunner 570 in its September 29, 2026 comparison. These are the prices reported in that article, not live-verified prices; current prices may differ.
Rank #4
![Apple Watch Ultra 3 [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Running & Multisport Smartwatch w/Rugged Titanium Case w/Blue/Bright Blue Trail Loop - M/L. Satellite Communications, Advanced Health & Fitness Tracking](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SKumOyv8L._SL160_.jpg)
- RUGGED AND READY TO GO—The ultimate sports and adventure smartwatch is built to last with an extremely tough titanium case and a strong sapphire crystal display. Water resistant up to 100m—it’s great for swimmers, divers, and fans of high-speed water sports.*
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Ultra 3 can take an ECG* and check your heart rhythm for signs of AFib—right from your wrist. The smartwatch sends alerts for possible hypertension,* an irregular heart rhythm,* or an unusually high or low heart rate. You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and take readings of your blood oxygen.*
- ULTIMATE RUNNING AND WORKOUT COMPANION—A superior fitness tracker for marathoners, triathletes, mountain bikers, backcountry hikers, and mountain climbers, Ultra 3 provides precision dual-frequency GPS, Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, Custom Workouts, running power, Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* training load, and more.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash* and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts. Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- MULTIDAY BATTERY LIFE—Ultra 3 is a smartwatch that’s engineered to give you even longer battery life. It’s perfect for trail runners—with up to 42 hours of normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode.* Track a workout with full GPS and heart rate monitoring for up to 20 hours in Low Power Mode.*
Which watch came out on top?
For step counting in this reported walk, Apple Watch Series 12 came out ahead by 22 steps relative to the hand tally. For a buying decision, the result is too limited to prove broad superiority: consider the phone ecosystem and smartwatch experience you want, whether you need Garmin’s running and training tools, and the manufacturers’ different battery estimates.
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