Garmin’s Venu X1 and Venu 3 target fitness-first users with slightly different priorities: the X1 pushes premium design and a brighter display, while the Venu 3 focuses on battery endurance and a mature feature set. This comparison breaks down the trade-offs so you can pick what matters most.
Garmin Venu X1 vs Venu 3 specs table
| Feature / Model | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED emphasis on bright, high-res screen | AMOLED balanced brightness with battery focus |
| Build | Premium materials / sleeker, lighter design | Rugged/utility-forward with tactile controls |
| Core sensors | GPS, HR, SpO₂, sleep, accelerometer | GPS, HR, SpO₂, sleep, accelerometer |
| Mapping & navigation | Onboard maps (consumer-focused) | Onboard maps + mature routing tools |
| Smart features | Speaker/mic, music, notifications, Garmin Pay | Music, notifications, Garmin Pay; physical buttons for workouts |
| Battery (typical) | Shorter trade off for larger/brighter display | Longer oriented toward extended use |
| Best for | Style-first users who want a premium display | Endurance athletes and long-duration users |
Garmin Venu X1 vs Venu 3: Design Display and Smart Features Compared
The Venu X1 pushes a premium, modern look with a large 2-inch AMOLED and a slim, lightweight frame aimed at daily wearability; Garmin also uses tougher materials like sapphire and titanium on higher trims to sharpen the luxe feel.
The Venu 3 keeps the circular/rounded aesthetic Garmin popularized earlier, with a bright AMOLED and a slightly thicker profile that prioritizes battery and sensor package over ultra-thin styling. If you want the biggest, most eye-catching screen in a compact case, the X1 is the headline feature.
Both watches bring Garmin’s well-regarded fitness toolset GPS, continuous heart-rate, SpO₂, sleep and stress tracking, plus animated workouts and more than 100 activity profiles.
The Venu 3 benefits from a couple of firmware years of refinement and more mature sports analytics on the platform, while the Venu X1 cherry-picks flagship features into a sleeker package (maps, golf course data, and the same core training metrics many athletes depend on). In short: performance tracking parity is close, but the 3 feels like the more tried-and-tested platform for endurance athletes.
Garmin has steadily improved smartwatch conveniences, and both models support smartphone notifications, music storage and playback, onboard maps and Garmin Pay in supported regions. The X1 adds a built-in speaker and mic and leans hard on an all-touch interface and polished watch faces to give a more “consumer” smartwatch feel; some long-time Garmin users may miss additional hardware controls that appear on other Garmin family members.
The Venu 3, meanwhile, focuses on steady day-to-day use with an interface that balances touchscreen interactions and physical controls for workout reliability.
Garmin Venu X1 vs Venu 3: Battery Life and Real-World Performance
This is where the split is clearest. Garmin positions the Venu 3 as a long-endurance daily device it routinely hits double-digit days in smartwatch mode.
while the Venu X1 accepts shorter runtime in exchange for its larger, brighter display and slimmer body. If weekly charging is a dealbreaker, the Venu 3’s stamina is the safer bet; if an outstanding screen and lighter wrist feel matter more, expect to charge the X1 more frequently.
Reviewers report both watches deliver accurate GPS and heart-rate data for everyday runs and gym sessions; the Venu X1 offers one of Garmin’s best displays for mapping and on-watch data, while the Venu 3’s longer track record gives it an edge in stability and feature polish.
For mixed-use (workouts + smartwatch daily use + sleep tracking), the Venu 3’s balance tends to be more forgiving; the X1 feels more premium for daytime wear and visual clarity.
Choose Venu X1 if you want the brightest, most striking AMOLED in a slim premium case, prioritize display quality and daily comfort, and don’t mind more frequent charging. It’s compelling for users who want polished smartwatch interactions and premium materials.
Choose Venu 3 if you value battery life, tested fitness analytics, and a steadier, more practical sports watch experience for long training days or multi-day activities. It’s the safer pick for endurance athletes and users who prefer longer intervals between charges.
