Eccentric flagship
The Garmin Venu X1 shakes up the model’s round template with a large squircle show that units the UI free to indicate extra info with bigger textual content on a twice-as-bright show, sparing your eyes. It beats the Venu 3 for superior software program however cannot sustain for battery life.
Professionals
- Provides LED flashlight and voice instructions
- Premium software program for runners, cyclists, golfers, and extra
- Implausible 2-inch, 2,000-nit show for maps
- Most comfy Garmin watch to put on
Cons
- 8-day battery life is brief for Garmin
- Far too costly for “mainstream” Venu consumers
- Loses ECG readings
All-around gem
Garmin could exchange the Venu 3 with the Venu 4 quickly, however this watch is something however outdated. It nonetheless has one of the best Elevate sensors to match Garmin flagships, paired with a stylishly “regular” watch design and a very good two-week battery life. It is solely “inexpensive” relative to the Venu X1, nevertheless it’s a very good worth regardless.
Professionals
- Each Venu 3 sizes beat X1 for battery life
- ECG readings for coronary heart checks
- One additional button for shortcuts
Cons
- No flashlight, on-watch voice instructions, maps
- Smaller, dimmer show
- Lacks a ton of the X1’s software program methods and sports activities modes
- Could also be changed by Venu 4 quickly
The Garmin Venu X1 is without doubt one of the oddest watches the model has bought. It is a premium-tier, skinny smartwatch that makes the Venu 3 look restricted in some methods and superior in others.
Given how costly the Venu X1 is, you may in all probability need to understand how significantly better it’s than the mainline Venu 3, which prices $350 much less. We have heard rumors that the Venu 4 might arrive quickly, however till then, the Venu 3 stays one of many greatest Garmin watches out there, providing options that usually include costs similar to these of the Fenix 8 or Forerunner 970.
It comes right down to your priorities. The Venu X1 arguably has one of the best show and luxury of any Garmin watch, together with superior coaching instruments and maps. However it trades away the weeks-long battery life that Garmin energy customers are accustomed to, and lots of of its upgraded options will probably be overkill for the everyday Venu crowd.
Class | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
Dimensions | 41 x 46 x 7.9mm, 40g with nylon strap | 3: 45 x 45 x 12mm, 47g with silicone strap 3S: 41 x 41 x 12mm, 40g with silicone strap |
Supplies | Fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium caseback | Fiber-reinforced polymer with stainless-steel bezel |
Buttons | 2 | 3 |
Safety | 5 ATM, sapphire crystal | 5 ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 |
Show | 2-inch (448 x 486) diagonal, 2,000 nits | 1.4-inch (454 x 454) or 1.2-inch (390 x 390) diameter, 1,000 nits |
Battery life (Smartwatch) | 8 days; 2 w/ AOD | 3: 14 days; 5 w/ AOD 3S: 10 days; 5 w/ AOD |
Battery life (GPS) | GPS: 16 hours All-systems GNSS: 14 hours All-systems GNSS w/ music: 7 hours | GPS: 26 (3) or 21 (3S) hours All-systems GNSS: 20 (3) or 15 (3S) hours All-systems GNSS w/ music: 11 (3) or 8 (3S) hours |
Monitoring | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
Storage | 32GB (Maps, music) | 8GB (Music) |
Sensors | Elevate v5 HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, pores and skin temperature | Elevate v5 HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, ECG, pores and skin temperature |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Flashlight | ✔️ | ❌ |
Mic & speaker | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Garmin Venu X1 vs. Venu 3: Design and show
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The Garmin Venu lineup targets “mainstream” audiences. Its designs prioritize light-weight fashion, with fewer buttons and AMOLED shows (earlier than that grew to become the norm for Garmin). The Venu 3 suits that mould, measuring 1–2mm skinnier than most Garmins and masking its polymer physique with a pretty metal bezel.
The Venu X1, then again, very clearly emulates the Apple Watch Extremely 2 squircle look, besides with an extremely skinny body that leaves little room for a typical Garmin battery. It is extremely comfy to put on, however the design will flip off Garmin followers who dislike Apple Watches on precept.
The two-inch Venu X1 and the 1.2-inch Venu 3S weigh the identical, which is the crux of the X1’s attraction: a weight you may barely really feel paired with a ton of visible knowledge, whereas the 3S has to squeeze issues in.
A part of the load distinction comes from the X1’s lighter nylon strap, nevertheless it’s truly fairly comfy (apart from being laborious to take off of bigger wrists), whereas I complained that the Venu 3’s default silicone band wasn’t breathable sufficient in my assessment.
My largest criticism with the X1 design is that it solely has two buttons. Venu watches typically rely upon touchscreen controls, however not less than the Venu 3 has a 3rd button for 2 shortcuts. In any other case, the X1 would not have the Up / Down buttons that Garmin energy customers like, or the crown that Apple followers would possibly like. It is simply as swipe-dependent because the Venu 3.
The 1.4-inch Garmin Venu 3 show is definitely fairly good, on par with the a lot pricier Fenix 8 in decision and brightness. However this X1 squircle design creates room for a ton of additional visible knowledge, because the watch face above reveals.
That mentioned, you may need to resolve in the event you want this information sufficient to spend lots of extra for it; we’ll discuss the primary use case (maps) in a later part.
What’s significantly good is that the Venu X1 is twice as vibrant because the Venu 3 and all different Garmin AMOLED watches besides the Forerunner 570 and 970. The older mannequin is vibrant sufficient for regular circumstances, however tends to get washed out in sunny climate, whereas the X1 is totally seen.
Garmin Venu X1 vs. 3: {Hardware}, sensors, and battery
Each the Garmin Venu X1 and three sport the most recent Elevate gen-5 sensor, with one of the best HR accuracy, stress and restoration knowledge, and nightly pores and skin temp and respiration charge information. Put one other method, you will not get new or higher knowledge by upgrading to the X1.
In reality, the Venu X1 is lacking ECG readings, in the event you’re involved about monitoring coronary heart well being. We imagine this comes right down to design: Garmin makes use of a metallic bezel wired to the sensor’s electrodes, and the Venu X1 solely has titanium on the caseback. Garmin would not do passive AFib detection like different manufacturers, so the Venu 3 is your greatest wager for normal check-ins.
Like many of the newest Garmin fashions, the Venu X1 has a built-in flashlight, activated by holding down the again button. It is rather more helpful than the display-based flashlight on the Venu 3, however it’ll burn by way of your battery shortly in the event you use it too usually. It is decently vibrant for one thing up shut, however not one of the best match for nighttime exercises.
Each fashions have a built-in mic and speaker for Bluetooth calling and passthrough instructions to your linked Android telephone’s assistant or iPhone’s Siri. New to the desk is the X1’s Voice Command instrument for on-watch capabilities like “Begin a run” or “Present my coaching standing.”
Sadly, Voice Command tends to be pretty buggy and restricted, a trait it shares on the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970. Hopefully, Garmin will make it smarter over time. For now, setting it up as a shortcut enables you to skip a bunch of swipes to open an app or menu, however be ready to your command to get misinterpreted generally.
Usually talking, the Garmin Venu 3 matches its dearer sibling when it comes to {hardware}, and it beats it handily for battery life. It will get an additional six days out of the field, three extra days’ AOD mode, and 6 further hours of all-systems GNSS monitoring.
The Venu X1’s eight days of battery life actually is not unhealthy in comparison with a smartwatch, however because it would not have the smarts of an Apple or Put on OS watch, and it prices almost as a lot as an Enduro 3, you’d want it lasted longer.
Garmin Venu X1 vs. 3: Software program
This product examine web page reveals each distinction between the Venu X1 and Venu 3, however since it is a ache to learn by way of lots of of options, I’ve put the software program highlights within the desk beneath.
Class | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
Sleep and well being | Sleep Coach, RHR, Physique Battery, nap detection, stress, HRV, respiration charge, respiration variations, jet lag adviser, pores and skin temp | Sleep Coach, RHR, Physique Battery, nap detection, stress, HRV, respiration charge, respiration variations, jet lag adviser, pores and skin temp, ECG |
Exercises | Cardio, Energy, HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Garmin Run / Biking / Energy Coach, every day recommended operating / biking exercises | Cardio, Energy, HIIT, Yoga, Pilates, Wheelchair, |
Coaching | HR zones, intervals, restoration time, exercise profit, coaching standing, coaching load focus, coaching readiness, coaching impact, real-time stamina, hill/ endurance scores, Strava Reside Segments | HR zones, intervals, restoration time, exercise profit |
Operating | Operating energy, operating dynamics, grade-adjusted tempo, efficiency situation, PacePro, Race predictor, lactate threshold | Operating energy, operating dynamics |
Biking | Suitable with energy meters and Varia tech; Programs and cycle maps, race an exercise, MTB Grit & Circulation, Biking dynamics | Suitable with energy meters and Varia tech |
Golf | Automated yardage, digital scorecard, inexperienced view, hazards, pinpointer, preloaded with 43,000 programs, touch-targeting, wind pace and path, digital caddie | Automated yardage, digital scorecard, inexperienced view, hazards, pinpointer |
Maps | Preloaded highway and path maps, point-to-point navigation, Tracback, Up forward, Nextfork, ClimbPro, Sight N Go | Again to start out solely |
The Garmin Venu 3 is tailored for indoor athletes, with a variety of pre-made exercises and on-watch exercise animations and muscle maps to indicate the shape and advantages for every. It does have the necessities for runners, cyclists, and swimmers, with correct location knowledge and post-workout knowledge on how lengthy to relaxation, however nothing past that.
In contrast, the Garmin Venu X1 goes all out. For indoor athletes, you may comply with a Garmin Energy Coach coaching plan that personalizes exercises to your skills as an alternative of simply choosing premade ones. And for out of doors athletes, the X1 has almost all the similar operating and biking instruments because the Forerunner 970 — except for the newest operating tolerance metric and dual-band GPS.
Particularly, coaching load is important for serving to athletes choose if their exercises are diversified and difficult sufficient to enhance, and lactate threshold guides athletes on the HR turning level the place their our bodies go into overdrive.
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The Venu X1’s signature function, nonetheless, is mapping. You get preloaded topographic maps for roads and trails, plus golf programs if that is your pastime.
Only a few Garmin watches have built-in maps, together with “adventurer” watches just like the Intuition 3. The Venu 3 would not even have breadcrumb navigation, so you may’t create a Garmin course or obtain and comply with GPX maps.
On this case, I am going to examine the X1 towards different “premium” Garmin fashions. Within the photographs above, you may see how the X1’s sq. show provides you rather more context to your environment and room for extra textual content and buttons; the dearer Fenix 8 naturally cuts off visible knowledge, so you need to zoom out extra to see what’s close by, and any textual content is disruptive.
It is one in every of my favourite options on the Venu X1, nevertheless it’s additionally honest to say I do not get an opportunity to make use of it usually, and I not often comply with programs on-watch. For those who’re completely satisfied sufficient utilizing your telephone for mapping everytime you hike, perhaps you needn’t spend lots of extra for this instrument.
Garmin Venu X1 vs. Venu 3: Which must you purchase, or must you improve?
The Venu 3 stays one of many greatest health watches regardless of launching in 2023. It is a well-rounded choice for individuals who need correct exercise outcomes and a few primary coaching ideas, however have already got an app or coach to information their coaching.
You could need to await the Venu 4, however given how inflation has hit Garmin watch costs, that might simply find yourself costing $500 or extra, and we do not understand how totally different it will be. The Venu 3 or Vivoactive 6 could also be a greater match for the extra informal, frugal health fan.
The Garmin Venu X1 is fantastically comfy and offers you extra complete coaching instruments throughout most sports activities, nevertheless it could be overkill for the standard Venu purchaser. In reality, it is extra of a Forerunner 970 rival, for individuals prepared to chop their battery life in half for a lighter match and extra knowledge at a look.
Eccentric flagship
Select the Garmin Venu X1 if you’d like flagship-level software program and care extra a couple of sensible show than a standard smartwatch design. Skip it for the Venu 3 if you’d like the necessities and higher battery life for lots of much less, or go for the Forerunner 970 or Fenix 8 if you’d like the software program and higher battery life.
All-around gem
Select the Garmin Venu 3 for one of many model’s greatest mid-range choices, beating the Forerunner 265 and Intuition 3 with its glossy appears and Bluetooth calling. Await the Venu 4 in the event you like its look however will pay somewhat extra for 2025 upgrades, or improve to the Venu X1 in the event you like its light-weight really feel however choose a bigger show.
