Is the Garmin Venu 3 in your radar this vacation season? Learn my in-depth overview to seek out out if it is best for you and the way it compares to the newer Venu 4.
Serious about shopping for the Garmin Venu 3? You’re not alone. Garmin simply launched the Venu 4, however the earlier model nonetheless has a lot to supply; particularly in case you’re searching for nice options with out dropping a ton of money. That’s why I’m doubling down on a Garmin Venu 3 overview.
Associated: Garmin Venu 3 vs Vivoactive 5: My Actual World Comparability
Sure, the Venu 4 could also be out and out there. However as a working mother juggling deadlines, children, and a handful of pets, I don’t at all times have time for tech that’s finicky or overly sophisticated. And I’m positive you don’t both. So I’m taking an in-depth take a look at this smartwatch for the busy, thrifty-minded amongst us. Individuals who don’t thoughts sacrificing some bells and whistles to snag a greater worth.
I’m hoping that the Venu 3 hits the candy spot: dependable sensors, lengthy battery life, affordable worth, and a construct that may survive a packed schedule (and a dropped espresso cup or two).
Wish to see what I discovered? Hold studying!
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: Premium Design and Show
So, full disclosure: I’m recent off a versus weblog evaluating the Garmin Venu 3 to the Garmin Vivoactive 5. And I’ll say, throughout my comparability assessments, I discovered the Venu 3’s design to be fairly premium. First, it boasts a stainless-steel case, which lends it a sublime but sporty look and really feel. On my typical morning run, I felt like I used to be the queen of wrist-based tech! Sure, I might put on a elaborate watch and get a exercise in.
So far as the show goes, it’s a vivid and clear 1.4″ full AMOLED with 454 x 454 decision. It’s a step up from the Vivoactive 5, however the Venu 4 is reportedly brighter and clearer. Each watches are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, so that you don’t have to fret about scratches.
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: Well being and Health Monitoring
The Garmin Venu 3 boasts spectacular chops when it comes well being and health monitoring. It makes use of Garmin’s Elevate 5 coronary heart Price sensor, the identical sensor because the newly launched Fenix 7 professional! So, regardless that this watch is 2 years outdated, Garmin nonetheless thought the HR sensor worthy sufficient to incorporate in considered one of its prime fashions.
However how a lot of a distinction does it make? Different reviewers have discovered it extremely correct for runs and exercises—and it even tracks intense motion fairly exactly. This appeals to me as a result of, whereas I may not run constantly anymore , I nonetheless like to trace my periods and provides myself a metaphorical pat on the again once I can!
Past the Elevate 5, the Venu 3 additionally has Garmin’s ECG sensor, which checks for indicators of atrial fibrillation, proper from my wrist. It’s such a reduction understanding this watch has an additional eye out for me. In the future, after a tough run, the sensor truly let me know that I used to be overexerting myself. Thank goodness!
Along with these, the Venu 3 additionally gives the Garmin Physique Battery (and insights), Pulse Ox, stress and menstrual monitoring, and meditation options.
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: Good Options
I’ve individuals who depend on me, so I’m at all times on name. For that cause, I gained’t even think about shopping for wearables that don’t supply name functionality or messaging. I gained’t take the danger. Fortunately, the Venu 3 gives a spread of sensible options that maintain me linked.
First, there’s a built-in speaker and microphone for calls. This implies I can choose up calls from the children’ college (hands-free) if I’m out on an errand or taking a stroll. It offers me a number of flexibility, however I do must maintain my telephone close by, as there’s no LTE possibility…that may have been a pleasant contact right here!
I additionally recognize the voice assistant assist. It’s tremendous straightforward to entry, through a center Customized/Voice Assistant Button that I can press to swiftly launch a voice assistant shortcut (like a function or app). In any other case, I can maintain the button to wake my telephone’s voice assistant and ask it concerning the climate. Good things!
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: GPS & Navigation
As a top-tier life-style smartwatch, Garmin took care to outfit the Venu 3 with GPS and navigation—important options for this writing mother. Yep, whereas I like being out and about, I even have a horrible sense of path. I’m that one who will get misplaced in her personal neighborhood, so you may wager GPS and navigation options are required specs for me.
Right here, the Venu 3 nails the fundamentals after which some. It will get a quick GPS repair through multi-GNSS, so distance, tempo, and route monitoring really feel reliable whether or not I’m strolling in a nationwide park or going for a run within the metropolis. I’ve even used the “navigate again to saved location” perform when exploring new routes, and it guided me again with no stress. Positive, it doesn’t have superior routing or reverse a route function like some professional working watches, and I noticed a number of customers reporting small route errors or firmware-related GPS glitches, however for somebody like me, it’s been clean crusing.
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: Efficiency
Throughout my time reviewing the Garmin Venu 3, I discovered that the Venu 3 punches above its weight in each day by day put on and exercises. Different reviewers have highlighted the snappy show, particularly when utilizing the touchscreen and bodily buttons collectively—I had the identical expertise. The UI is polished and intuitive; scrolling by way of exercise metrics or navigating menus didn’t really feel laggy.
As somebody juggling many roles, the efficiency feels reliable: you may belief it for day by day put on, exercises, and restoration insights with out feeling such as you’re preventing the watch.
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: Battery Life
I’m infamous for sending merchandise to the tech drawer if I feel the battery life is subpar. The Venu 3, for its half, truly boasts a powerful battery, able to lasting as much as 14 days in smartwatch mode. So, I can cost it to 100% and never must dig out the charger for 2 entire weeks.
Let’s take a look at the opposite battery specifics. With GPS alone, it lasts about 26 hours, and in case you use music + GPS, that drops to 11 hours. In real-world assessments, customers report positively on the battery life, noting that they will monitor exercises, monitor sleep, and use the always-on show for a number of days while not having a recharge. Some have famous, nevertheless, that firmware updates could trigger a heavier drain.
Garmin Venu 3 vs. Venu 4: Which One Matches Your Life?
In case you’re weighing the Garmin Venu 3 in opposition to the newer Venu 4, right here’s a fast breakdown that will help you determine:
- Battery Life: The Venu 3 has a powerful battery life, lasting as much as 14 days in smartwatch mode. The Venu 4 solely runs as much as 12 days in normal mode.
- GPS and Navigation: Each fashions supply multi-GNSS assist for correct monitoring. Nonetheless, the Venu 4 introduces dual-band GPS, for higher accuracy in difficult environments.
- Well being and Health Options: Each watches embrace superior well being monitoring instruments. The Venu 4 takes issues a step additional with sleep alignment evaluation and life-style logging.
- Design and Show: The Venu 4 boasts a premium all-metal casing and a brighter AMOLED touchscreen.
- Value: The Venu 4 is costlier. So the Venu 3 remains to be an amazing selection because it gives most of the similar core functionalities, however at a extra accessible worth level.
Garmin Venu 3 Assessment: My Verdict
The Garmin Venu 3 truly hit that candy spot of tech, usability, and worth for me. Positive, the Venu 4 ($549.99) is a big improve, however the core capabilities are the identical, plus the Venu 3 ($546.99) saves you $103.
Past the worth, the Venu 3 is a sensible selection for my fellow multitaskers and caretakers with its lengthy battery life, straightforward consumer expertise, sensible options, and respectable GPS. Briefly, it’s as reliable as we’re, which is one thing we completely deserve.
Get the Garmin Venu 3 for $446.99 on Amazon.