Garmin is extraordinarily prolific in relation to smartwatches, continuously churning out new fashions and updates. With the arrival of the Vivoactive 5, we see a really completely different watch to a line that hadn’t been up to date since 2019, one far more akin to the Venu 3.
In case you’re out there for a brand new Garmin watch, you may need a troublesome time making a choice between these two. So which must you purchase? Let’s have a look on this Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3 comparability.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3: Specs
| Garmin Venu 3 | Garmin Venu 3S | Garmin Vivoactive 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Show | Garmin Venu 3 1.4-inch AMOLED, non-obligatory always-on 454 x 454 decision Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Garmin Venu 3S 1.2-inch AMOLED, non-obligatory always-on 390 x 390 decision Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 1.2 inch AMOLED, non-obligatory always-on 390 x 390 decision Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Dimensions and weight | Garmin Venu 3 45 x 45 x 12mm | Garmin Venu 3S 41 x 41 x 12mm 22mm band 40g | Garmin Vivoactive 5 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1mm |
Construct supplies | Garmin Venu 3 Stainless-steel bezel | Garmin Venu 3S Stainless-steel bezel | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Anodized aluminum bezel |
Battery | Garmin Venu 3 As much as 14 days in smartwatch mode (5 days with always-on show enabled) | Garmin Venu 3S As much as 10 days in smartwatch mode (5 days with always-on show enabled) | Garmin Vivoactive 5 As much as 11 days in smartwatch mode (5 days with always-on show enabled) |
IP score | Garmin Venu 3 5ATM | Garmin Venu 3S 5ATM | Garmin Vivoactive 5 5 ATM |
Sensors | Garmin Venu 3 Garmin Elevate coronary heart price sensor | Garmin Venu 3S Garmin Elevate coronary heart price sensor | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Garmin Elevate coronary heart price sensor |
Connectivity | Garmin Venu 3 Bluetooth | Garmin Venu 3S Bluetooth | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Bluetooth |
Compatibility | Garmin Venu 3 Android, iOS | Garmin Venu 3S Android, iOS | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Android, iOS |
Garmin Pay | Garmin Venu 3 Sure | Garmin Venu 3S Sure | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Sure |
Smartwatch options | Garmin Venu 3 Make and obtain telephone calls | Garmin Venu 3S Make and obtain telephone calls | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Join IQ-compatible |
Colours | Garmin Venu 3 Silver bezel with Whitestone case | Garmin Venu 3S Gentle Gold bezel with French Grey, Mud Rose, or Ivory case | Garmin Vivoactive 5 Metallic Orchid, Slate, Cream Gold with Ivory case, Metallic Navy with Navy case |
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3: Design

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The Vivoactive 5 and Venu 3 share a whole lot of the identical DNA with an nearly equivalent design. There are a couple of variations, together with the nnumber of buttons on every gadget, however you’d be hard-pressed to inform the distinction at a look. Dimension clever, the Vivoactive slots in between the Venu 3 and Venu 3S, coming in at 42.2mm. In distinction, the Venu 3 is 45mm, whereas the S mannequin is 41mm.
Regardless of the similarities, there are some key variations except for measurement. The Vivoactive 5 swaps the Venu 3’s stainless-steel development in favor of aluminum. This detracts from the premium appear and feel to a point, however the Vivoactive 5 continues to be a really enticing watch. Because of the distinction in supplies, you’re additionally extra more likely to scratch and ding the Vivoactive.

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On the optimistic aspect, the Vivoactive 5 is 4g lighter, so it could really really feel a bit extra snug in your wrist. Garmin’s new watch additionally has the identical 5ATM water resistance and Gorilla Glass safety discovered on the Venu 3 household.
The general footprint of the Vivoactive 5 isn’t an excessive amount of completely different from the Venu 3S, it’s only a tad greater. You additionally get the identical AMOLED display screen sort, in addition to the identical display screen measurement and determination.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3: Options

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The Vivoactive presents the same expertise to the Venu, minus a couple of sensors and options. There’s no built-in microphone or speaker right here, although you possibly can nonetheless take heed to music through a Bluetooth gadget. If we’re sincere, the speaker was fairly restricted anyhow. You additionally nonetheless wanted to hook up with your telephone to take calls. You’ll nonetheless get notification alerts about an incoming name, you’ll simply need to dig out your telephone to take it.
Past this, you’ll discover the storage is minimize in half at simply 4GB. That stated, except you retailer a whole lot of music or audiobooks, this gained’t actually matter. There’s additionally no barometric altimeter, which may report steps taken or elevation climbed. That’s a bummer for climbing fans who need essentially the most accuracy right here.
The Vivoactive 5 presents the same expertise to the Venu 3 as health tracker, however doesn’t boast as many good options.
Avid cyclists may favor the Venu 3 because the Vivoactive cuts a few of these options, reminiscent of the flexibility to regulate turbo trainers or connect with energy meters. Fortunately, you possibly can nonetheless join to hurry and cadence sensors.
In all probability the most important draw back is the coronary heart price sensor. Whereas the Vivoactive nonetheless packs this characteristic, it makes use of the earlier technology of Garmin’s expertise often called Elevate 4. The E4 can also be nonetheless a really succesful sensor with two LED blocks and 4 gentle sensors, simply the latter has six LED blocks and 4 gentle sensors. The Venu 3 household goes to be a bit extra correct, however the Vivoactive 5 continues to be a terrific selection for many.
The excellent news is you’ll nonetheless have entry to all the identical sleep options because the Venu 3. You’ll additionally get Physique Battery, Pulse Ox, menstrual monitoring, stress monitoring, and extra.
Battery life can also be barely higher than the equally sized Venu 3S at 11 days versus 10. The Venu 3 nonetheless manages to one-up the Vivoactive right here at 14 days, however that’s actually simply all the way down to its bigger measurement.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3: Worth and colours
- Garmin Venu 3: $449.99
- Garmin Venu 3S: $449.99
- Garmin Vivoactive 5: $299.99
As beforehand talked about, there are two case sizes accessible for the Venu 3. Each fashions are available at $449.99. The previous is available in simply two colorways: a Silver bezel with a Whitestone case or a Slate bezel with a Black case. The latter comes with a Gentle Gold bezel and both French Grey, Mud Rose, or an Ivory case. Not taken with Gold? Conversely, you may get a silver bezel with a Sage Grey case or a Slate bezel with a Pebble grey case.
Turning to the Vivoactive 5, there’s only one measurement accessible for $299.99. As you possibly can see, that makes it $150 cheaper than the Venu 3 sequence. There are additionally a couple of completely different colour selections on provide. There’s a mannequin that comes with a Metallic Orchid bezel and case, a Slate bezel with a Black case, a Cream Gold bezel with an Ivory case, or a mannequin with a Metallic Navy case and bezel.

Garmin Venu 3
Extremely correct GPS and coronary heart price sensors
Computerized nap detection and sleep teaching
As much as 14-day battery life
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Venu 3: Which must you purchase?

Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The Venu 3 has a premium design, extra superior sensors, and a some key good options you gained’t get on the Vivoactive 5. However does that make it price $150 extra? It actually relies upon. In case you’re a bike owner, completely. In case you do a whole lot of uphill actions like climbing and need that altimeter, sure once more. The vivoactive 5 is a stable health companion however it doesnt provide options like voice help or onwrist telephone name help. For these instruments, we advocate the Venu 3.
Vivoactive vs Venu 3: Which must you purchase?
1 votes
If none of those options are that necessary to you, the Vivoactive comes very near matching the Venu 3 household. In some ways, it feels extra like a Venu 3 Lite than a successor to the growing old Vivoactive 4, and that’s meant as a praise. You’ll save a superb chunk of change with the Vivoactive and also you’ll nonetheless get a terrific be careful of it. Both approach, you’ll discover the identical unbelievable health tracker expertise Garmin is thought for minus a couple of options.
Incessantly Requested Query
Sure, each the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 have GPS expertise onboard.
No, neither the Garmin Vivoactive 5 nor Venu 3 have wi-fi charging expertise baked in.
The Venu 3 is able to answering calls on the gadget. Sadly, the Vivoactive 5 doesn’t have a built-in speaker or microphone so that you’ll get alerts however might want to take the decision in your smartphone.
The Venu 3 options ECG expertise however sadly this isn’t supplied on the Vivoactive 5.