Garmin Venu X1 vs Garmin Venu 3 - Key Differences and Which One Wins

Garmin’s Venu series has long been favored by users who seek both aesthetics and advanced health features. With the release of the all-new Venu X1 and Venu 3, Garmin introduces two distinct approaches in design and user focus. The Venu X1 is Garmin’s first ultra-thin, square-shaped flagship smartwatch, featuring a 2-inch AMOLED display- the largest in its lineup- designed for users who value a sleek, modern, and tech-forward appearance. On the other hand, the Venu 3 maintains the brand’s classic round design and emphasizes comprehensive health tracking and smart features, standing as the most balanced and mature option in the current Venu lineup. You can also check the article before of Garmin Venu X1 Review.

As the highly acclaimed Venu 3 from 2023 faces off against the stylish new Venu X1 from 2025, many users may struggle to decide between the two. Though both belong to Garmin’s premium lineup, they differ significantly in screen design, feature priorities, user experience, and battery life. This Garmin Venu X1 vs Garmin Venu 3 comparison will break down their key differences to help you choose the smartwatch that best suits your lifestyle and fitness needs. You can also check other Garmin Venu Watch models review and comparison below:

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Garmin Venu 3 vs Apple Watch Series 9

Garmin Venu 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Design, Size & Weight Comparison - Tech-Forward vs. Classic Elegance

In terms of design, the Garmin Venu X1 stands out with its rare square-shaped AMOLED display, offering a bold, modern, and high-tech look. It features a titanium case with a sapphire crystal lens, delivering both premium aesthetics and lightweight comfort. Measuring 46 × 41 × 7.9 mm, it's one of Garmin’s thinnest watches to date, and weighs just around 34g, making it ideal for users who prioritize ultra-thin profiles and a futuristic design.

In contrast, the Venu 3 retains a more traditional round watch face, appealing to those who prefer a classic and refined style. It comes in two sizes- 45mm (approx. 47.4g) and 41mm (approx. 40g)- to suit various wrist sizes. The watch uses a stainless steel bezel with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, balancing durability and elegance while maintaining all-day wearing comfort. You can also check other Garmin Venu Watch accessories such as Garmin Venu Watch straps and Garmin Venu 3 Watch straps.

Winner: Venu X1

Reason: With a sleeker design, lighter build, and more premium materials, the Venu X1 offers a superior experience for users seeking cutting-edge style and all-day comfort.

Display Comparison - Large Square Screen vs. Classic Round Screen

The Garmin Venu X1 features a 2-inch square AMOLED display with a resolution of 448×486 pixels and a scratch-resistant sapphire glass. It offers clear, vibrant visuals with a wide viewing area, ideal for detailed maps and comprehensive fitness data. The AMOLED’s self-emissive nature delivers high contrast and true blacks, providing an excellent visual experience and strong durability.

The Venu 3 uses a classic round AMOLED screen available in two sizes: 45mm (1.4 inches, 454×454 pixels) and 41mm (1.2 inches, 390×390 pixels). The display is sharp with good color performance, appealing to users who prefer traditional watch aesthetics. Although its size and resolution are slightly lower than the Venu X1, its high pixel density ensures clarity for daily use. It also features brightness and auto-adjustment functions suitable for outdoor conditions, though its durability is somewhat less due to the lack of sapphire glass.

Winner: Garmin Venu X1

Reason: With a larger screen, higher resolution, and sapphire glass protection, the Venu X1 offers superior display quality and durability, perfect for users seeking an exceptional visual experience.

Health & Fitness Features Comparison - Comprehensive Tracking vs. Advanced Coaching

Garmin Venu X1 and Venu 3 each have strengths in health monitoring and fitness features. Both offer accurate heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. The Venu X1 uses a 5th-generation heart rate sensor and supports real-time heart rate and SpO2 tracking, along with an industry-leading respiration rate monitoring feature, ideal for users who focus on detailed health data. For sleep tracking, the Venu X1 can accurately identify multiple sleep stages and provides a morning health summary.

The Venu 3 offers a more comprehensive set of health features. In addition to heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, it adds HRV status analysis, a sleep coach, skin temperature monitoring, and hydration reminders to help users manage their health more scientifically. Regarding sports modes, the Venu X1 supports over 100 activities and comes preloaded with TopoActive maps, making it suitable for outdoor enthusiasts.

The Venu 3 offers 65 sport modes, including indoor fitness and wheelchair modes, catering to more diverse needs. Its multi-frequency GPS technology enhances the stability and accuracy of activity tracking.

Overall, the Venu 3 excels in the depth and variety of health data and smart assistance features, while the Venu X1 stands out in the range of sports and professional outdoor functionalities.

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Reason: With richer health monitoring details and intelligent assistance features, the Venu 3 is better suited for users who prioritize comprehensive health management and diverse fitness needs.

Battery Life Comparison - Endurance for Everyday Use vs. Extended GPS Tracking

Garmin Venu X1 and Venu 3 have distinct strengths in battery performance. The Venu X1 offers up to 8 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and when GPS+GLONASS is enabled, it can last up to 18 hours, making it suitable for long outdoor activities. Its 2-inch square AMOLED screen supports always-on display (AOD) mode, which lasts about 2 days; turning off AOD extends battery life to around 8 days. However, real-world use shows that continuous GPS workouts and all-day health monitoring can reduce battery life.

In contrast, the Venu 3 delivers superior battery endurance. It can last up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, and even with all features and always-on display enabled, it supports about 10 days of use. Its GPS-only mode lasts up to 26 hours, and full-system GPS tracking can run for 20 hours, while playing music reduces battery life to approximately 11 hours. The Venu 3’s multi-system GPS technology efficiently reduces power consumption, meeting the demands of intensive exercise sessions.

Overall, the Venu 3 clearly outperforms the Venu X1 in battery life and versatility, making it a better choice for users who require longer usage times and more comprehensive functionality.

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Reason: With longer battery life and adaptability to various usage scenarios, the Venu 3 offers a more reliable and extended battery experience.

Garmin Venu X1 vs Venu 3 Feature Comparison - Practical Outdoor Tool vs. Smart Health Assistant

Garmin Venu X1 Key Features

• Built-in LED Flashlight: The Venu X1 includes a built-in LED flashlight that provides essential illumination in low-light environments, such as checking maps during nighttime outdoor activities or finding objects in the dark, enhancing convenience and safety.
• Voice Commands and Calling Support: Equipped with a speaker and microphone, Venu X1 allows users to make and receive calls directly from the wrist without needing to take out their phone. This is especially useful during workouts or when hands are occupied. Voice commands enable quick information queries and setting reminders, improving operation efficiency.
• Garmin Pay Contactless Payment & Find My Phone: Supports Garmin Pay for convenient contactless payments with a simple wrist tap, eliminating the need to pull out a phone. The “Find My Phone” feature helps quickly locate a misplaced phone, reducing inconvenience.

Garmin Venu 3 Key Features

• Sleep Coach and Sleep Scoring: Venu 3 offers personalized sleep scores and recommendations, supporting nap detection, guided meditation, and stress management to help improve sleep quality.
• Voice Assistant: With speaker support, Venu 3 features a voice assistant that, while less advanced than some smartphone assistants, still helps perform simple tasks like checking weather or setting alarms through voice commands, enhancing usability.
• Smart Notifications and Message Reply: Users can receive notifications from paired iOS or Android phones, including texts, emails, and social media updates. An integrated keyboard allows direct message replies from the watch, enabling seamless communication during workouts or busy moments.
• Garmin Pay Contactless Payment & Find My Phone: Also supports Garmin Pay and the “Find My Phone” function, providing daily convenience similar to Venu X1.

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Reason: With more advanced health-related features, enhanced smart notifications, and versatile message reply options, Venu 3 better meets the needs of users seeking comprehensive health management and intelligent connectivity.

Map & Navigation Features Comparison - Outdoor Exploration Power vs. Everyday Lightweight Navigation

Garmin Venu X1

• Offline Full-Color Maps: Supports TopoActive offline full-color maps with detailed terrain, POIs, ski and golf course maps- ideal for use without internet connectivity.
• Advanced Navigation Tools: Offers round-trip routing, ClimbPro hill assist, route playback, and detailed map browsing, enabling precise navigation even in complex terrain.
• Extensive Map Customization: Includes options such as night mode, high-contrast view, route overlays, and north-up orientation to enhance outdoor usability.

Garmin Venu 3

• Basic Map Navigation: Equipped with built-in GPS, "Saved Locations," and point-to-point navigation with compass and directional arrows for straightforward guidance.
• No Offline Full-Color Maps: Lacks support for topographic maps and relies on phone connection or internet access for mapping, making it more suitable for everyday use.
• User-Friendly Operation: Simple interface and intuitive navigation features make it ideal for daily commutes or casual fitness tracking.

Winner: Garmin Venu X1

Reason: With full offline map support and a rich suite of advanced navigation tools, the Venu X1 is better suited for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous users. The Venu 3, while capable, focuses more on simplicity and daily convenience.

Price Comparison - Premium Flagship vs Value-Oriented Choice

Garmin Venu X1

Priced at USD 799.99, the Venu X1 features a titanium case and sapphire crystal lens. Positioned as a flagship smartwatch in Garmin’s lineup, it combines luxury materials with powerful features, targeting high-end users.

Garmin Venu 3 / 3S

Both versions are priced at USD 449.99, regardless of size. While it lacks the premium build of the X1, the Venu 3 delivers a comprehensive feature set that covers the needs of most users, making it a strong mid-to-high-end option.

Winner: Venu 3 / 3S

Reason: Although the Venu X1 offers higher-end materials and flagship status, the Venu 3 provides excellent functionality at nearly half the price- making it the better value for most users.

Garmin Venu X1 vs Venu 3 - Which Smartwatch Should You Buy?

Garmin has released two standout smartwatches - Venu X1 and Venu 3 - each targeting a different type of user with unique needs.

Venu X1: Designed for Style and Versatility

The Venu X1 is Garmin’s first smartwatch to feature a large 2-inch square AMOLED display, giving it a sleek, modern look. With a titanium bezel and sapphire crystal lens, it delivers a premium feel. It supports voice calls, voice assistant commands, an LED flashlight, full-color offline topo maps, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments. This high-end flagship model is ideal for users who value design, travel convenience, and smart functionality in one package.

Venu 3: Health-Focused and Reliable for Fitness Users

Venu 3 stays true to Garmin’s roots in fitness and health tracking. It features comprehensive health monitoring—including sleep coaching, stress tracking, nap detection, and guided meditation—alongside long battery life and 30+ sport modes. With Garmin Coach and animated workouts, it’s a great choice for fitness enthusiasts or anyone looking to improve overall well-being.

Price Comparison: A Clear Gap

• Venu X1: $799.99 – positioned as a premium flagship device
• Venu 3 / 3S: $449.99 – a more affordable mid-to-high-end option

The nearly $350 price difference reflects the contrast in positioning, materials, and advanced features.

Final Verdict - Venu X1 for Innovation, Venu 3 for Practicality

If you’re looking for cutting-edge design, smart features like voice controls and offline maps, and a watch that stands out, the Venu X1 is your match.

If you prioritize long battery life, deep health insights, and fitness functionality, then Venu 3 offers more value for your everyday needs.

Garmin Venu X1 vs Garmin Venu 3 isn’t about which is better overall - it’s about which one fits your lifestyle. Both models represent Garmin’s commitment to expanding its smartwatch lineup for both lifestyle-focused and traditional fitness users.