In Tom’s Guide’s single-walk comparison, the Apple Watch Series 12 came closer to the tester’s manual tally: it recorded 5,490 steps against 5,440 counted by hand. The Garmin Forerunner 570 recorded 5,512. That means Apple was 50 steps high and Garmin was 72 steps high—but one walk is not enough to establish which watch is generally more accurate. The comparison’s “5,000 steps” headline is approximate; the reported manual tally was 5,440.
What the step-count test found
Tom’s Guide reported these totals for one walk:
| Count method or watch | Steps recorded | Difference from manual tally |
|---|---|---|
| Manual tally | 5,440 | Reference count |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | 5,490 | 50 steps high |
| Garmin Forerunner 570 | 5,512 | 72 steps high |
The Apple reading was 22 steps closer to the manual count than Garmin’s reading. Both watches overcounted in this test.
How much can one walk tell you?
Not much about typical accuracy. The published comparison describes one reporter’s walk; it does not provide repeated trials, a participant sample, or independent validation. Differences in other walks could change the result. Treat this as a snapshot, not proof that Series 12 will consistently count steps better.
Battery life: Garmin lists longer runtimes
Battery specifications may matter more to everyday use than the small gap between the two readings. Apple lists up to 24 hours of normal use for Series 12. Garmin lists up to 10 days in smartwatch mode for the 42 mm Forerunner 570 and up to 11 days for the 47 mm model. These are manufacturer figures, and actual battery life depends on how each watch is used; they are not results from the step-count test.
#1 Best Overall
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- 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 battery figure | Mode or qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 12 | Up to 24 hours | Normal use, per Apple |
| 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 |
Choose based on how you use a watch
Apple Watch Series 12: an iPhone-centered smartwatch
Tom’s Guide frames the Series 12 as an extension of the iPhone. If you want a general-purpose smartwatch experience closely tied to Apple’s phone ecosystem, that role may be more important than a 22-step difference in this one walk. The comparison reported a $399 starting price for Series 12, but that is the article’s figure from September 29, 2026, not a live-verified price.
Garmin Forerunner 570: running and training tools
The Forerunner 570 is positioned as a running watch. Garmin lists training readiness and multisport and GPS features, making those tools more relevant to runners than the result of one step-count comparison. Tom’s Guide reported a $549 price on September 29, 2026; this is not a live-verified price.
Rank #2
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- 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.
Why a watch can count incidental movement as steps
A daily step total is not necessarily a count of walking alone. Garmin’s Forerunner 570 owner’s manual cautions: “The watch may interpret some repetitive motions, such as washing dishes, folding laundry, or clapping your hands, as steps.” This explains a possible source of incidental counts; Garmin does not give an error rate for those activities in the cited manual.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verdict: a narrow win for Apple in this test
For the specific walk Tom’s Guide reported, Apple Watch Series 12 was closer to the manual tally. That result is too limited to settle which watch counts steps better overall. For a buying decision, weigh the Apple watch’s iPhone-centered role against Garmin’s running and training features, as well as their manufacturer-stated battery runtimes.
Quick Recap
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.*
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- 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.
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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.
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