New canine
Keep your cellphone in your pocket as you reply cellphone calls or communicate to Google Assistant or Siri in your wrist. The Venu 3 provides key upgrades like a brand new well being sensor suite, wheelchair mode, days of additional battery, and restoration time whereas holding a slim and enticing design.
For
- Adds mic/ speaker for Bluetooth calls, assistant
- All-Systems GNSS monitoring
- Elevate v5 coronary heart price sensor
- Slightly bigger shows
- Sleep Coaching and Recovery Time
Against
- Pricier than ever
- Some lacking options from different Garmin
- Venu 3S battery loses 4 days
Old methods
Even although the Garmin Venu 2 provided a big step up over the unique Venu, it is feeling its age at this level. It nonetheless appears beautiful and has strong battery life, however its “mainstream” focus would not work fairly as properly with out the most recent Garmin software program or mic/speaker combo.
For
- More affordably priced
- Vibrant show and battery life nonetheless impress
- Has many of the similar sensors, sports activities modes
Against
- No Sleep Coaching / nap detection / HRV standing
- Location Services-only monitoring
- No mic or speaker
- Missing restoration time after exercises
Unlike the extra rugged Instincts or specialised Forerunners, the Garmin Venu sequence targets mainstream health followers. It showcases Garmin’s efforts to make a extra traditional smartwatch, providing new options earlier than every other Garmin watch will get them. The Garmin Venu 3 isn’t any exception, making some noteworthy upgrades over the 2021 Venu 2.
On many ranges, the Garmin Venu 3 succeeds final yr’s Garmin Venu 2 Plus. Garmin provides the identical mic and speaker for Bluetooth calling and sensible assistant instructions, and there’s even a 3rd button for shortcuts. Unfortunately, the Venu 3 has the Plus’ lavish $450 price ticket, however you get unique instruments reminiscent of Sleep Coaching, post-workout restoration suggestions, and the brand new Garmin Elevate v5 coronary heart price sensor.
If you personal the Venu 2 and are figuring out whether or not or to not improve — or are contemplating saving cash with a reduced Venu 2 — we’re right here to assist. First, we’ll examine every little thing unchanged between the 2 watches. Then, we’ll totally break down the Garmin Venu 3 vs. 2 specs and options to see if it is well worth the swap.
Spec comparability
Garmin used the same template to Venu 3 and Venu 2. These two watches share fairly a number of similarities, which we’ll define under:
| Category | Garmin Venu 3 | Garmin Venu 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.4-inch (454×454) or 1.2-inch (390×390) AMOLED touchscreen | 1.3-inch (416×416) or 1.1-inch (360×360) AMOLED touchscreen |
| Materials | Stainless metal bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case | Stainless metal bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case |
| Protection | 5ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 | 5ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Dimensions | 45 x 45 x 12 mm or 41 x 41 x 12 mm | 45.4 x 45.4 x 12.2 mm or 40.4 x 40.4 x 12.1 mm |
| Weight | 47g or 40g | 49g or 38g |
| Watch strap | 22mm or 18mm, quick-release | 22mm or 18mm, quick-release |
| Sensors | Garmin Elevate v5, SpO2, altimeter, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, thermometer, ambient mild | Garmin Elevate v4, SpO2, altimeter, compass, accelerometer, gyroscope, thermometer, ambient mild |
| Location Services monitoring | Location Services-only or All-Systems GNSS | Location Services solely |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC |
| Mic and speaker | ✔️ | 🚫 |
| Music storage | 8GB | 8GB |
Design: The Venu 3 and a pair of are available two sizes and use the identical supplies: chrome steel for the bezel and bolstered plastic for the general physique. The 45mm Venus makes use of 22mm quick-release bands, whereas the 41mm Venus makes use of 18mm bands.
Although the Venu 3 vs. 2 measurements are barely completely different—the Venu 3 is 2g lighter than the two, whereas the Venu 3S is 2g weightier than the 2S—they’re roughly the identical measurement and can really feel the identical in your wrist. They even have the identical water resistance and Gorilla Glass safety.
Connectivity: The Venu 3 and a pair of use wi-fi syncing, facilitate information switch utilizing Wi-Fi, add contactless fee performance, and are appropriate with ANT+ equipment.
Sensors: Although the Venu 3 has the newest-gen Elevate v5 optical coronary heart price sensor (extra on that under), every little thing else stays the identical. The Venu 2 has the Pulse Ox sensor for blood oxygen, an altimeter for elevation, a compass for navigation, ambient mild for show changes, and an accelerometer/ gyroscope for measuring motion for step-counting and gymnasium workout routines.
Core well being and coaching information: We’ll focus on Venu 3’s latest software program methods under. With the Venu 2, you get the standard Garmin software program suite you understand and love: Heart price zones, depth minutes, Body Battery, health age, Livetrack, animated on-screen exercises, and a Health Snapshot.
Music storage: Each Venu watch has 8GB of storage. In addition to something you obtain from Connect IQ, you’ve loads of house in your MP3 information or playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer.
Hardware and battery
The most obvious Garmin Venu 3 improve is its show. Both sizes provide you with an additional 0.1 inches of show house from 1.1 and 1.3 to 1.2 and 1.4. Garmin shrunk the Venu 2’s noticeable show border, giving the Venu 3 extra visible house with out considerably altering the dimensions.
Notably, regardless of incorporating a microphone and speaker, Garmin diminished the thickness of Venu 3 in comparison with Venu 2. The 1.3-inch Garmin Venu 2 Plus is 0.6mm thicker and weighs 4g greater than the 1.4-inch Venu 3.
Garmin saved the sound high quality of the Venu 3 the identical as its predecessor, the Venu 2. The default mid-range quantity is fairly quiet in a muted room. If you flip up the amount, you’ll be able to hear ambient noise in peaceable environment however not in the midst of a loud crowd except you maintain the watch to your ear.
With the Venu 2 Plus, our reviewer discovered that his voice “got here by clearly to my name recipients on the opposite aspect” however was much less happy with the speaker, calling it a bit “tinny” and laborious to listen to besides in a silent room. We’re hopeful the speaker will get a minor increase with the Venu 3; even when it is the identical high quality, a tinny speaker is healthier than none.
The mic’s different profit is that it helps you to command your cellphone’s main sensible assistant: Google Assistant, Bixby, or Siri. Considering that loads of Wear OS watches now not have Google Assistant, it is good that you could entry it on a Garmin watch.
As for the speaker, it allows audio prompts throughout guided exercises like intervals, so you’ll be able to proceed along with your exercise with out taking a look at your watch.
| Battery mode | Garmin Venu 3 / 3S | Garmin Venu 2 / 2S |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | 14 days / 10 days | 11 days / 10 days |
| Always-on show | 5 days / 5 days | 2 days / 2 days |
| Battery Saver mode | 26 days / 20 days | 12 days / 11 days |
| Location Services-only | 26 hours / 21 hours | 22 hours / 19 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS | 20 hours / 15 hours | 🚫 |
| Location Services with music | 13 hours / 10 hours | 8 hours / 7 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS with music | 11 hours / 8 hours | 🚫 |
The Garmin Venu 2 helps Location Services, GLONASS, and GALILEO individually. With the Garmin Venu 3, you’ll be able to activate All-Systems mode to raised pinpoint your location in areas the place one satellite tv for pc sign is likely to be disrupted.
Another substantial {hardware} distinction is that the Garmin Venu 3 delivers a mighty battery life increase. The Venu 2 had reliable battery life for its time, however it might barely help an always-on show, the battery saver mode barely lived as much as the title, and utilizing Location Services with music would burn by the battery manner too quick.
The Venu 3 does a lot better in these areas, and its All-Systems mode lasts almost so long as the Venu 2 in Location Services-only mode. As for the Venu 3S, it isn’t that a lot better than the 2S aside from the AOD or Battery Saver modes, displaying the identical 10-day most for normal use.
The final important distinction between the Venu 3 and the Venu 2 is the brand new Elevate v5 optical coronary heart price sensor. Garmin hasn’t marketed what makes this new sensor higher, however we all know it has extra LEDs, which ought to make it take extra correct readings.
Thanks to DC Rainmaker, we additionally know that the Venu 3 can take ECG readings, identical to the Venu 2 Plus, and has FDA clearance. He additionally claims that the Elevate v5 sensor can take pores and skin temperature readings; Gadgets & Wearables corroborated this by discovering Garmin Connect screenshots of a brand new pores and skin temperature widget.
In principle, the Garmin Venu 3 will help two new well being metrics that the Venu 2 cannot. But even when the Elevate v5 helps these options, we will not assure Garmin will activate them on the Venu 3; typically, hidden {hardware} limitations preclude technically attainable options from engaged on particular fashions.
As a ultimate aspect observe, despite the fact that each the Venu 3 and Venu 2 have Pulse Ox monitoring, solely the Venu 3 will help Jet Lag Adviser, serving to information you on how properly you’ve got recovered after touring the world and adjusting your health information accordingly.
Software
You might have already heard that the Venu 3 will help Sleep Coaching and nap monitoring for the primary time. After an evening’s sleep, you will obtain a Morning Report judging the standard of your sleep primarily based in your age, each day and longer-term exercise ranges, current sleep historical past, naps taken, and coronary heart price variability (HRV).
Generally talking, it suggests sleeping between 7 and 9 hours. You can attempt to make up for misplaced sleep by napping in the midst of the day; the Garmin Venu 3 will observe your noon sleep interval and take that into consideration in your Body Battery and sleep teaching.
Speaking of Body Battery, the Garmin Venu 3 will analyze your exercises and advise a restoration time after finishing them primarily based in your present health stage (VO2 Max) and tiredness. To assist information these recommendations, you’ll decide the “price of perceived exertion,” which suggests you will faucet one among 5 emoji faces to price how you’re feeling, from robust to injured.
Some different little however necessary new options are guided meditations, the power to assemble interval exercises in your watch, and the choice to change to a much bigger, extra readable font measurement.
We’re particularly delighted that the Garmin Venu 3 has wheelchair exercises: It tracks pushes as an alternative of steps and reminds you to shift your weight relatively than rise up and stretch. It’ll use a special metric to guage your effort since “higher physique train sometimes produces higher physiological pressure than decrease physique train at related workloads,” which “can lead to earlier fatigue onset throughout train.”
You additionally get 7 new sports activities modes: Snowshoeing, Tennis, Padel, Pickleball, eBiking, Handcycling, and Indoor Handcycling. The Garmin Venu 3 would not have as many sports activities modes as different Garmin watches, however the checklist is slowly rising, no less than.
While these are the numerous distinctions, we poured over the Garmin Venu 3 and a pair of spec sheets and found different upgrades it’s possible you’ll care about. Here are the remaining Garmin Venu 3 unique software program instruments we found:
- On-device Connect IQ retailer
- Support for the Garmin MatchOn app
- Support for energy meters, eBikes, and Smart Trainer Control
- Interval coaching: Open repeats, an interval information web page, a relaxation display screen, and auto-detection
- New open-water swim metrics and Auto-Rest detection throughout pool swimming mode
Should you improve?
Upgrading to the Garmin Venu 3 offers you All-Systems GNSS, a lot better battery life (particularly with AOD lively), Sleep Coaching, a mic and speaker for Bluetooth calls, a 3rd programmable button for pulling up your favored widgets, a bigger AMOLED show, restoration suggestions, and wheelchair workout routines — plus the ECG and pores and skin temperature readings.
Venu 2 homeowners have an actual motive to really feel tempted by the Venu 3, and anybody contemplating saving $50–$100 on the Venu 2 as an alternative of the Venu 3 ought to think twice about lacking out on all these new instruments.
If you personal the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, our present decide for the perfect health smartwatch, it is a way more troublesome determination since it’s essential to have purchased it lately. After all, you have already got the mic, speaker, ECG readings, and third button. Even although it has a much less spectacular nine-day battery life, spending one other $450 on the Venu 3 for diminishing returns might not be advisable. The oddity is in case you want a selected improve like energy meter compatibility or wheelchair mode.
Yet, we’re fairly pleased with every little thing the Garmin Venu 3 affords. We anticipated it to have coaching load, Training Readiness, advised exercises, multisport mode, dual-frequency Location Services, and different instruments on comparable $450 Garmin watches just like the Forerunner 265 or Instinct 2X Solar. But that is nonetheless a giant step in the appropriate course to maintain the Venu sequence related.
New canine
Choose the Garmin Venu 3 for its superbly giant show in a skinny, light-weight bundle, mic/speaker, and extra correct monitoring. Skip it in case you’re happy along with your Venu 2 Plus or favor a thicker Garmin watch with extra fitness-focused methods.
Old methods
Stick with (or purchase) the Garmin Venu 2 in case you’re tired of sleep monitoring and need a pretty Garmin tracker with all of the necessities. Otherwise, transfer on from Venu 2 and carefully look at Venu 3 for the entire causes outlined above.
