Garmin Venu 3

Overview

The Garmin Venu 3 represents Garmin’s most successful attempt at creating a true smartwatch while maintaining their legendary battery life. With a gorgeous AMOLED display lasting 14 days, built-in speaker for calls, and comprehensive health tracking including revolutionary sleep coaching, it’s the fitness-first smartwatch that doesn’t compromise on either fitness or smart features.

The 14-Day AMOLED Achievement

The Venu 3’s headline feature is unprecedented:

• AMOLED display: Bright, vibrant, always-on
• 14-day battery: With all features enabled
• No compromise: Full tracking, notifications, always-on

This is the holy grail—beautiful display without battery anxiety. No other AMOLED smartwatch comes close.

Sleep Coaching Revolution

Garmin’s new sleep features are game-changing:

• Personalized sleep coaching: Tailored recommendations
• Nap detection: Automatic nap tracking and recovery credit
• Sleep need calculation: How much sleep YOU specifically need
• Recovery insights: How sleep affects your day
• Smart wake windows: Gentle wake during light sleep

This is more advanced than Fitbit, Apple, or Samsung’s sleep tracking.

Phone Calls on Your Wrist

New for Venu series:

• Built-in speaker: Clear call quality
• Microphone: Voice commands and responses
• Voice assistant: Access phone’s Siri/Google Assistant
• Text responses: Voice-to-text replies

Finally, Garmin catches up to basic smartwatch expectations.

Health & Fitness Tracking

Body Battery Energy

Garmin’s unique metric:

• Tracks energy reserves (0-100)
• Shows impact of stress, activity, sleep
• Predicts energy throughout day
• Genuinely useful for pacing yourself

Comprehensive Metrics

• Heart rate variability: HRV status and trends
• Stress tracking: 24/7 with relaxation reminders
• Pulse Ox: Blood oxygen saturation
• Respiration: Breathing rate tracking
• Intensity minutes: WHO-based activity goals
• Fitness age: VO2 max-based age estimate

Workout Features

• 30+ sport profiles
• Animated on-screen workouts
• HIIT timers with rest periods
• Rep counting for strength training
• Automatic rest between sets
• GPS tracking for outdoor activities

Wheelchair Mode Innovation

Industry-first accessibility:

• Wheelchair-specific metrics
• Pushes instead of steps
• Adapted activity goals
• Sport profiles for wheelchair sports
• Transfers tracking

This thoughtful inclusion sets a new standard for accessibility.

Design & Display

AMOLED Excellence

The 1.4 inch display impresses:

• 454x454 resolution (453 ppi)
• 1000 nits brightness
• Always-on without battery penalty
• Gorilla Glass 3 protection
• Touch + button navigation

Colors pop, text is crisp, outdoor visibility excellent.

Build Quality

• Stainless steel bezel adds premium feel
• Fiber-reinforced polymer keeps weight down
• 47g is comfortable all day
• 22mm quick-release bands
• 5ATM water resistance

Feels more premium than previous Venu models.

Real-World Performance

Battery Life Reality

Garmin’s 14-day claim holds up:

• Everything on: 12-14 days (always-on, SpO2, notifications)
• Conservative use: 16+ days possible
• GPS activities: 26 hours continuous
• Music + GPS: 8 hours
• Power saving: Up to 20 days

This destroys Apple Watch (18 hours) and Galaxy Watch (2 days).

GPS Accuracy

Single-band but solid:

• Open areas: Within 3-5 meters
• Urban: Some building interference
• Tree cover: Good track following
• Not as good as multi-band models

Adequate for fitness, not precision navigation.

Heart Rate Performance

Elevate 4 sensor:

• Resting: Excellent accuracy
• Steady cardio: Within 2-3 bpm
• Intervals: 5-10 second lag
• Daily wear: Consistent and reliable

Good for training zones, pair chest strap for precision.

Smart Features

What Works Well

• Notifications are reliable and readable
• Music storage/streaming works smoothly
• Garmin Pay for contactless payments
• Weather with hourly forecasts
• Calendar integration
• Find my phone

What’s Missing

• No onboard maps
• Limited app selection vs Apple/Samsung
• No LTE option
• Voice assistant requires phone
• No ECG or advanced health sensors

Venu 3 vs Competition

vs Apple Watch Series 9

• Venu 3 wins: Battery life (14 days vs 18 hours), cross-platform
• Apple wins: Apps, ecosystem, advanced health sensors
• Verdict: Venu 3 for fitness/battery, Apple for smart features

vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

• Venu 3 wins: Battery life, fitness features, sleep tracking
• Samsung wins: Rotating bezel, Wear OS apps, ECG
• Verdict: Venu 3 for athletes, Samsung for Android integration

vs Forerunner 265

• Venu 3 wins: Smart features, speaker, daily wear design
• 265 wins: Running metrics, multi-band GPS, training focus
• Verdict: Venu 3 for lifestyle, 265 for serious runners

Size Options

Venu 3 (45mm):

• Standard size for most wrists
• 1.4 inch display
• 14-day battery

Venu 3S (41mm):

• Smaller wrists
• 1.2 inch display
• 10-day battery

The S model loses some battery but remains impressive.

Who Should Buy the Venu 3?

Perfect For:

• Fitness enthusiasts wanting smart features
• Battery life priority
• Sleep optimization focus
• Cross-platform users (iOS/Android)
• Daily wear with occasional workouts
• Music during exercise

Consider Alternatives If:

• Need maps/navigation (Fenix/Epix)
• Serious runner (Forerunner 265/965)
• Want full smartwatch (Apple/Samsung)
• Budget conscious (Venu Sq 2)
• Extreme sports (Fenix)

Purchase Considerations

At $449, it’s not cheap but justified:

• Best battery/display combination available
• Comprehensive health tracking
• Finally has calling capability
• Works with any phone
• No subscription required

Often on sale for $399, which is excellent value.

Verdict

The Garmin Venu 3 is the smartwatch Garmin fans have been waiting for—one that doesn’t sacrifice battery life for features. The 14-day AMOLED combination is unmatched, while sleep coaching, calling capability, and wheelchair mode show Garmin listening to users.

It’s not perfect—limited apps and missing maps hold it back from competing directly with Apple Watch. But for fitness-focused users who want smart features without daily charging, the Venu 3 is the best option available.

Bottom line: Buy the Venu 3 if you prioritize fitness tracking and battery life but still want essential smart features. It’s the perfect middle ground between fitness tracker and smartwatch, finally delivering on the promise of having it all—just don’t expect the app ecosystem of Apple or Samsung.