The Garmin Venu 3 is a unique amalgamation of a fitness tracker, wellness coach, and smartwatch, all wrapped up in a discreet and sleek package.

T3 Verdict

Marketed as an all-encompassing device, the latest Venu 3 is perhaps the closest Garmin gets to a full-fledged smartwatch. With features like Garmin Pay, music playback, and smartphone notifications, it seamlessly integrates the brand’s exceptional fitness, health, and wellness tracking capabilities. For those seeking a discreet, user-friendly wearable that aligns with their budget and offers an impressive battery life, the Garmin Venu 3 is a must-have.

Reasons to Buy:

• Compact and lightweight design
• Access to comprehensive fitness and health tools from Garmin
• Smartphone notification support
• Stunning AMOLED display

Reasons to Avoid:

• Limited navigational tools
• Watch faces might feel less premium compared to competitors
• Basic aesthetics

Price and Availability

The Garmin Venu 3 was unveiled in August 2023 and is currently available in two sizes. The smaller 41mm Venu 3S is priced at $449/£449/ AU$ 749, offering six subtle color options. On the other hand, the larger 45mm Venu 3 is priced the same, with the exception of a black leather strap model that retails for $499/£499. The availability of the latter in Australian dollars was not confirmed during our review.

Design and Build

The Garmin Venu 3 maintains a design language similar to its predecessors, with a round face encased in fiber-reinforced polymer. The AMOLED display, covering 80% of the watch’s surface, offers a crisp and vibrant interface, complemented by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for durability. Despite its 5ATM water resistance, the Venu 3 is not as rugged as some of Garmin’s other models, resulting in a lightweight build that makes it an ideal everyday companion.

Features

Equipped with a responsive touchscreen and intuitive navigation buttons, the Venu 3 streamlines user experience. The ‘Glances’ feature offers quick access to an array of health and fitness data, customizable through the Garmin Connect app. With smooth animations and vibrant visuals, the Venu 3 ensures an engaging and interactive interface.

Health and Fitness Tracking

While it retains Garmin’s signature fitness tracking capabilities, the Venu 3 emphasizes holistic health and well-being. Offering insightful morning reports, sleep quality analysis, and tailored workout recommendations, it acts as a comprehensive wellness companion. It excels in strength training support and provides detailed insights into exercise performance.

Smartwatch Skills

Although its smartwatch capabilities are relatively limited, the Venu 3 supports Garmin Pay and offline music playback. While Android users can enjoy additional functionalities such as text responses and call rejections, iPhone users might find the smartwatch features more restricted.

Battery Life

Impressively, the Garmin Venu 3 delivers up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in full GPS mode. Even with regular use involving workouts, notifications, and interactions, the Venu 3 easily lasts for a week, making it a reliable companion for extended periods.

Verdict

Ideal for users prioritizing health and wellness without compromising on smartwatch features, the Garmin Venu 3 strikes a balance between functionality and simplicity. While it might not cater to extreme sports enthusiasts or tech-savvy users, it provides a seamless and user-friendly experience, bolstered by Garmin’s renowned health tracking capabilities.

Also Consider

Competing with devices like Google’s Pixel Watch 2 and Garmin’s own Vivoactive 5, the Venu 3 offers a distinctive balance of health tracking and smartwatch functionalities. Users seeking a more comprehensive smartwatch experience might find alternatives that offer a broader range of features.

---