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The Garmin Venu 3 has been a game-changer for me in the world of smartwatches. It’s the third iteration in the Venu series, and surprisingly, it’s the one that stands out the most. Unlike typical movie trilogies where the third installment might disappoint, the Venu 3 is, without a doubt, one of the best Garmin watches available. What I love about this watch is its perfect balance between being a smartwatch and a health tracker. The AMOLED screen is not only visually stunning but also rivals some of the top Apple watches.
It can keep up for up to two weeks without needing a recharge, a significant advantage over the limited battery life of Apple Watches. While it might lack a few of the premium running features found in other Garmin models, such as the Training Readiness score or Race Predictor, it more than makes up for it with advanced sleep tracking, personalized suggestions, and a detailed evening report. It even caters to wheelchair users with specific training metrics. The health insights provided by the Venu 3 have truly enhanced my overall well-being.
Garmin Venu 3 Specificaions
For those interested in fitness and who use smartwatches and are looking for a full study of the features, performance, and value of the Garmin Venu 3, the review is important reading.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 45 x 45 x 12 (mm) |
| Price | $450 / £450 / AU$749 |
| Display | 454 x 454 1.4-inch AMOLED touch |
| Battery life | Watch mode 14 days, GPS only 26 hours, GPS + Music 11 hours |
| Durability | 5 ATM |
| Weight | 46 g |
| Connection | Bluetooth, ANT+, WiFi |
| Check Price |
Garmin Venu 3 review: Design and screen
The Garmin Venu 3 has been my go-to smartwatch, serving not only as a reliable fitness tracker but also as a stylish accessory for my daily life. The silicone strap is incredibly comfortable, and its waterproof design adds to its practicality. I appreciate the minimalistic look, especially with the stainless steel bezel that gives it a premium touch, setting it apart from other smartwatches like Apple Watches and the Google Pixel Watch 2 with curved screens.
What truly stands out is the impressive 1.4-inch AMOLED display of the Venu 3. With a high resolution of 454 x 454 pixels, the screen is both super-bright and colorful. This feature ensures that all my fitness metrics are displayed clearly and attractively, regardless of the lighting conditions. The quality becomes even more apparent when the screen lights up.
Navigating through the watch’s menus is a breeze, thanks to the responsive touchscreen. The graphical transitions add a touch of elegance to the overall experience, making exploration intuitive. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 encasing the display provides durability and keeps the watch scratch-free – a crucial aspect that held up well even during my rigorous testing.
Garmin Venu 3 review: Features
I recently got my hands on the Garmin Venu 3, and it’s been a game-changer for my health and fitness journey. The device is loaded with an impressive array of features that cater to both my lifestyle and fitness goals. One thing that really stood out for me is its AMOLED screen, which not only enhances the overall display but also proves to be incredibly useful when connected to the Ring doorbell app.
Imagine getting an alert on your wrist and being able to see a screenshot of who’s at your door right then and there. That’s a feature I didn’t know I needed until I experienced it. Plus, the return of the speaker and microphone from the Venu 2 allows me to receive audio alerts and even take calls directly on the watch. While it may not be refined enough to respond using the Ring app, the convenience of handling calls on my wrist is a major plus.
Garmin Venu 3 review: Performance
My time spent with the Garmin Venu 3 was really satisfying, and it exemplified the stellar performance that is typical of products manufactured by Garmin. The GPS acquisition was quite reliable, providing both swiftness and precision in the measurements. I was really impressed with how accurate the heart rate measurements were, as they were consistent with the results of a chest strap examination.
The manner in which the Venu 3 makes use of this data is one of its defining characteristics. For example, the sleep monitoring function exceeded my expectations and is superior to that of many other Garmin watches, particularly ones that are primarily intended for use in athletic settings. In addition to delivering a Morning Report on your rest and recuperation, it also provides an Evening Report that analyzes your previous night’s sleep and makes recommendations on how you might improve the quality of your future night’s sleep.
Garmin Venu 3 review: Battery life
I found that the Venu 3 could last up to an amazing 14 days on a single charge, and even the slightly smaller Venu 3S managed a commendable 12 days. What blew me away was that, throughout my testing, I never had to worry about recharging it. Personally, I chose not to use the always-on display mode, which did reduce the battery life to 5 days, but it was a trade-off I was willing to make. The best part was that when I went out of town for a weekend, I didn’t have to bother packing the charger – a real convenience.
Comparing it to my other favorite smartwatches with long battery life, the Venu 2 Plus sits nicely between the Fitbit Sense 2, which lasts for about 6 days, and the Garmin Forerunner 265, boasting an impressive 15-day battery life. It’s worth noting that continuous use of GPS does impact the battery life estimate. The Venu 3, for instance, can last up to 26 hours with GPS-Only GNSS or 20 hours with All-Systems GNSS. Even with the GPS use, the battery life remained quite impressive.
Price and Availability
I recently got my hands on the Garmin Venu 3, and it’s priced at $449. Interestingly, that’s exactly the same as the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, but it’s $50 more than the original Venu 2 that came out in April 2021. If you’re thinking about getting one, you can still find the Garmin Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus in the market, but I’d suggest going for them only if you can snag a good discount.
I personally tested the Garmin Venu 3, which comes in a 45mm size. There’s also a Venu 3S model with a smaller 41mm watch face if that’s more your style. Both models have the same price tag and nearly identical specs (except for battery life, which I’ll get into below). The choice between the two simply comes down to your preference in terms of size.
Final Words
After incorporating the Venu 3 into my daily routine for the past few weeks, I’ve come to appreciate its value as an excellent companion for fitness and health. It seamlessly integrates into my daily life, especially given my active lifestyle. One standout feature is its impressive two-week battery life, a major selling point that adds to its overall appeal. As is typical with Garmin devices, the wealth of data provided for sports and fitness tracking is unparalleled.
What sets the Venu apart for me, though, is its increased emphasis on aspects like recovery, energy levels, and rest. This shift in focus helps strike the right balance between engaging in intense physical activities and ensuring proper rest. The synergy between the Body Battery feature, Sleep Coach, and recovery time predictions is particularly noteworthy.
Garmin Venu 3 review: The good and The bad
The Garmin Venu 3, much like the majority of other Garmin products available today, functioned really well in practice.
The Good
- Advanced Fitness Tracking
- Vivid Display
The Bad
- Learning Curve
Quesions and Answers
If you are considering purchasing a smartwatch and are debating whether or not to buy the Venu 2 only because it is currently on sale, then our recommendation is that you should seriously consider upgrading to the Venu 3, and not just because it is currently on sale.
The Venu 3 doesn’t have mapping, but it does have a navigation tool with a compass arrow that lets you save locations, get to locations, and find your way home.