Garmin Venu 3 vs Garmin Venu 2

• 

  Garmin Venu 3

  best choice

  The Garmin Venu 3 is an improvement over the Venu 2 in almost every way. New features include voice support for Siri and Google Assistant, extended battery life and wheelchair support. The smaller bezels also allow for a larger 1.4-inch touchscreen, which is the same size as the Garmin Venu 2.

  advantage

  • Google Assistant and Siri support
  • Nap detection
  • Longer battery life

  shortcoming

  • More expensive
  • Smaller models are priced the same
  • No child activity tracking

• 

  Garmin Venu 2

  Good choice

  $328 $400 Save $72

  Feature-packed and with a beautiful display, this is a great option for those who crave the power of Garmin sports tracking in a smartwatch body.

  advantage

  • Lower price
  • Similar design and dimensions to Venu 3
  • Child activity tracking feature

  shortcoming

  • No voice control
  • Smaller screen and thicker bezels
  • No nap detection

Garmin makes a variety of wearables and fitness products, many of which are tailored for specific activities. The Forerunner 965, for example, is aimed specifically at runners, and its products include the Edge bike computer, which is built specifically for cyclists. Garmin also makes more attractive smartwatches, including the top-of-the-line Fenix ​​series and the more affordable Venu smartwatch.

The latest version of Garmin Venu is Garmin Venu 3, launched in August 2023. How does it compare to previous models? Here’s everything you need to know about the Garmin Venu 3 vs Garmin Venu 2.

Prices, specifications and availability

Garmin released the 45mm Venu 3 in August 2023. The product is currently available directly from the company with a silicone strap for $450. The Venu 3S is a smaller 41mm version of the Venu 3 with a 1.2-inch display, and is also available from Garmin for the same $450 price.

The 45mm Venu 2 was launched in April 2021. The core model is no longer available directly from Garmin, but can currently be found on Amazon for $350 or less. The smaller 40mm Venu 2S is available on Amazon for $350 or less. There’s also a 43mm Venu 2 Plus that adds voice capabilities, priced at $450 from Garmin and starting at $300 on Amazon.

Taking a look at the specs of both models, you’ll notice that there are very few visual differences between them.

• Garmin Venu 3

  heart rate monitor

  Yes

  Battery Life

  14 days

  Car GPS

  Yes

  Offline media storage

  Yes

  health sensor

  Yes

  aspect

  45×45×12mm, 47g

  vocal

  Offline music support

  mobile payment

  Jiaming Pay

• Garmin Venu 2

  heart rate monitor

  Yes

  Battery Life

  11 days

  Car GPS

  Yes

  Offline media storage

  Yes

  health sensor

  Yes

  aspect

  45.40×45.40×12.20mm, 49g

  vocal

  Offline music support

  mobile payment

  Jiaming Pay

design and build

Almost identical except for one key difference

The dimensions of both models are nearly identical, with the Venu 2 being a fraction of a millimeter larger in every direction. Both models are designed to fit wrist circumferences from 135 to 200 mm. Both Venu 3 and Venu 2 are available in smaller sizes. The Venu 3S measures 41 x 41 x 12 mm and is designed for wrist sizes between 110 and 175 mm. The Venu 2S measures 40.4 x 40.4 x 12.1 mm and will also fit wrists in the 110-175 mm range.

Other than size, the S model is nearly identical, but has a smaller screen (for obvious reasons) and a slightly lower resolution. The S model also has shorter battery life.

All models feature stainless steel bezels, fiber-reinforced polymer cases and Gorilla Glass 3 dials. They are both water-resistant to 5ATM (50m) and use industry-standard quick-release straps, which are 22mm on the standard model and 18mm on the Venu 3S and Venu 2S.

However, there is a key physical difference between Venu 3 and Venu 2. The Venu 3 has a third button on the right side of the watch that the Venu 2 doesn’t have. This button activates the built-in speakers in the Garmin Venu 3, but is missing from the Venu 2. It can be found on Venu 2 Plus. It allows newer models to offer additional features, which we’ll look at in detail later in this article.

exhibit

Differences in border sizes

Although the Venu 2 and Venu 3 are nearly identical in size, the newer model is able to accommodate a slightly larger display thanks to smaller bezels. The Venu 3 has a 1.4-inch (35.4mm) display, while the Venu 2 has a 1.3-inch (33mm) display.

The Venu 2 Plus has the same 1.3-inch display as the Venu 2. The smaller Venu 3S has a 1.2-inch display, and the Venu 2S has a slightly smaller 1.1-inch display.

The Venu 3 also has a slightly higher display resolution of 454 x 454 pixels, while the Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus have a display resolution of 416 x 416 pixels. The Venu 3S has a display of 390 x 390 pixels, while the Venu 2S has a slightly lower display of 360 x 360 pixels. However, the pixel density is essentially the same across all devices. All models feature AMOLED touchscreen displays with optional always-on mode.

While the extra screen real estate isn’t huge, the smaller bezels do make the Venu 3 look sleeker.

Feature

It’s all about voice control and accessibility

As you might expect, many of the key features of the Venu 2 are also available on the Venu 3, such as body battery energy monitoring, stress and heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation measurement, hydration tracking and fitness age measurement. Both watches also offer many of the same exercise tracking apps, including running, walking, swimming, cycling, strength training, HIIT, and more.

The most notable physical difference between the Venu 3 and Venu 2 is the addition of a third button, which is key to one of the biggest differences between the two models. This is because this is the button you activate voice control on the Venu 3. While voice control is available on the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, it’s not available on the standard Garmin Venu 2 or Venu 2S models.

A long press of this button will activate the voice assistant on your phone connected to your Garmin watch. Android users can use Google Assistant, and Samsung users can also choose to use Bixby. On iPhone, long pressing the center button will invoke Siri. You can use your voice assistant to answer calls, play music, send messages, ask about the weather, and even control your smart home devices.

Venu 3 also offers a new sleep guidance feature, which replaces the sleep insights offered by Venu 2. You can gain critical, actionable insights into your sleep patterns to help improve the quality of your sleep, and even know exactly how much sleep you need to recover from a slumber. your workout. One of the biggest changes is the addition of Nap Detection, which tracks your naps as well as your main nighttime sleep.

Another major new addition to the Venu 3 is wheelchair mode. This can be based on the statistics and advice the watch provides to the wheelchair user. For example, in this mode, the Venu 3 will measure thrust instead of steps and provide alerts to remind users to shift their weight regularly. Activities such as hand cycling are also supported as well as dedicated activity options for wheelchair users.

Venu 3 also adds new heart rate variability (HRV) functionality, as well as updated sports features such as open water swimming metrics, e-bike support, power meter compatibility and disc golf support.

One thing the Venu 3 lacks is compatibility with Toe-to-Toe challenges, allowing you to challenge your kids to a step-counting contest using the Venu 2 and its Vivofit Jr. 2 fitness tracker.

Battery

one is better than the other

Another major difference between the Garmin Venu 3 and Garmin Venu 2 is battery life. You might think that the larger screen and newer sensors on the Garmin Venu 3 would mean battery life would take a slight hit, but the opposite is true.

Garmin says the Venu 2 can last up to 11 days on a charge in smartwatch mode. In real life, if you don’t use the GPS a lot, you can easily use it for a week without needing to charge.

According to reports, Venu 3 has a battery life of up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, which is more than 25% longer than Venu 2. How this performs in real-world use remains to be seen, but it’s likely that the Venu 3 can be used for more than a week without needing to be charged. The Venu 3S has a battery life of up to 10 days, which is the same as the Venu 2S and one day more than the Venu 2 Plus’s 9 days.

Garmin Venu 3 vs Garmin Venu 2: Which one should you buy?

If you are considering buying a Garmin Venu smartwatch, there is little to choose from in terms of looks as both models are very similar in size and design. The Garmin Venu 3’s slimmer bezels and slightly larger screen do make it look a bit sleeker, though.

The big differences between the two models are features and battery life. The Garmin Venu 3 not only offers voice control but also includes other useful features such as nap detection, wheelchair support, heart rate variability, and other useful features not available on the Garmin Venu 2. Improved battery life is also a big selling point.

However, if you’re not too concerned about voice assistant support, you might find the Venu 2’s lower price more attractive. It’s still a great smartwatch in its own right, and the slightly smaller screen doesn’t make a huge difference. Battery life isn’t quite as long, but it still easily lasts a week on a charge, which is much better than many smartwatches. The Venu 2 is also priced much lower, and while it won’t be available everywhere, you should be able to find one at a good price.

If voice assistant support is a barrier, you might also want to consider the Venu 2 Plus, which offers voice assistant support at a lower price than the Venu 3.