Garmin Venu 3 vs Venu 2 Pro: what’s new & different?
The Garmin Venu 3 series has arrived, and it brings a host of new features that set it apart from the Venu 2 Plus. Leading up to today’s official release, the rumor mill was in overdrive. Speculations ranged from enhanced battery life to new health monitoring features.
Now that the Venu 3 is finally here, it’s time to separate fact from fiction. Priced at $449.99 on Garmin’s website (check price on Amazon), the same as its predecessor, the Venu 2 Plus, the new smartwatch aims to offer more bang for your buck with a host of additions. This article will delve into these enhancements, providing a comprehensive analysis of what makes the Venu 3 different from its predecessor.
Garmin Venu 3 vs Venu 2 Pro: Hardware
Design and display: More choices, better flexibility
Unlike the Venu 2 Plus, which came in a single size, the Venu 3 offers more flexibility with two size options: the standard Venu 3 and the smaller Venu 3S. This is a significant advantage for consumers as it allows for a more personalized fit.
The Venu 3 comes encased in a fiber-reinforced polymer, a departure from the Venu 2 Plus, which featured a stainless-steel rear cover. This change contributes to the Venu 3’s lighter weight, making it more comfortable for extended wear.
In terms of display, the Venu 3 takes the lead with a 1.4″ display size and a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. This is a noticeable improvement over the 1.3″ display and 416 x 416-pixel resolution of the Venu 2 Plus. The Venu 3S offers a 1.2″ display, catering to those who prefer a smaller watch face.
Battery life
The Venu 3 offers up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with the display always-on. This is a nice improvement over the Venu 2 Plus, which offers up to 9 days in the same mode. The Venu 3S is not far behind, providing up to 10 days with the display always-on.
Garmin Venu 3 vs Venu 2 Pro: New features
Both models offer comprehensive health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate, pulse ox blood oxygen saturation, and advanced sleep tracking. However, the Venu 3 and Venu 3S introduce new features like Sleep Coach, Nap Detection, and Jet Lag Adviser, absent in the Venu 2 Plus. They also support more activity profiles and have the latest generation heart rate sensor. Another addition is the skin temperature sensor that works while you sleep.
Sleep coaching
One of the standout features of the Venu 3 is its Sleep Coaching function. Unlike the Venu 2 Plus, which offers advanced sleep tracking, the Venu 3 goes a step further by providing actionable insights. It not only monitors your sleep patterns but also offers personalized advice to improve your sleep quality. This could be a game-changer for those who struggle with sleep issues.
Those series about training will be happy to know the watch on their wrist will let them know exactly how much sleep they need in order to recover. Let’s hope this feature trickles down to earlier generation devices.
Nap detection
The Venu 3 also introduces Nap Detection, a feature absent in the Venu 2 Plus. This function automatically recognizes when you take a short nap and logs it into your daily sleep data.
It’s a small but significant addition for those who rely on power naps to recharge during the day. This addresses a common complaint from Garmin users – for years they have been vocal about needing this feature.
Morning Report
Another new feature exclusive to the Venu 3 series is the Morning Report. This provides a summary of your previous day’s activities, sleep quality, and overall wellness when you wake up. It’s a convenient way to get a quick overview of your health metrics without diving deep into the app.
HRV status
The Venu 3 comes equipped with HRV (Heart Rate Variability) status, providing more in-depth cardiovascular data. However, it’s worth noting that the watch does not offer a Training Readiness metric, which could be a drawback for serious athletes who rely on such data for optimized training. The new watches also support power meter compatibility for cyclists, another feature absent in the Venu 2 Plus.
Gaming and activity tracking
The Venu 3 and Venu 3S venture into new territory with gaming features, compatible with the GameOn App. They also offer more comprehensive activity tracking features, including workouts for wheelchair users and weight shift alerts.
Built in speaker and microphone
All these watches have a built-in speaker and microphone. When connected to a compatible smartphone, they alow you to both make and receive phone calls directly from the watch. Additionally, you can utilize your smartphone’s voice assistant to reply to text messages and perform other tasks. For Android users, the Venu 3 offers the capability to view images directly from notifications on the watch.
Garmin Venu 3 vs Venu 2 Pro: Comparison Table
Here is a detailed overview of the differences between Venu 3, Venu 3s and Venu 2 Pro.
General Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 | Venu 3S |
|---|---|---|---|
Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer with stainless-steel rear cover | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
Quick Release Bands | Yes (20 mm, Industry standard) | Yes (22 mm, Industry standard) | Yes (18 mm, Industry standard) |
Physical Size | 43.6 x 43.6 x 12.6 mm (Fits wrists with a circumference of 125-190 mm) | 45 x 45 x 12 mm (Fits wrists with a circumference of 135-200 mm) | 41 x 41 x 12 mm (Fits wrists with a circumference of 110-175 mm) |
Weight | 51.0 g | 47 g | 40 g |
Display Type | AMOLED optional always-on mode | AMOLED Optional Always-On Mode | AMOLED Optional Always-On Mode |
Display Size | 1.3″ (33.0 mm) diameter | 1.4″ (35.4 mm) diameter | 1.2″ (30.4 mm) diameter |
Display Resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels | 390 x 390 pixels |
Large Font Option | No | Yes | Yes |
Wheelchair Mode | No | Yes | Yes |
Battery Life | Up to 9 days (Smartwatch mode), Up to 10 days (Battery saver mode), Up to 8 hours (GPS with music), Up to 24 hours (GPS without music) | Up to 14 days (Smartwatch mode with display always-on), Up to 26 days (Battery Saver mode), Up to 26 hours (GPS-Only GNSS mode), Up to 20 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode), Up to 11 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode with music) | Up to 10 days (Smartwatch mode with display always-on), Up to 20 days (Battery Saver mode), Up to 21 hours (GPS-Only GNSS mode), Up to 15 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode), Up to 8 hours (All-Systems GNSS mode with music) |
Health & Wellness Monitoring
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 series |
|---|---|---|
Skin temperature | No | Yes |
Meditation | No | Yes |
Sleep Coach | No | Yes |
Nap Detection | No | Yes |
Jet Lag Adviser | No | Yes |
Daily Smart Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 series |
|---|---|---|
On-Device Connect IQ™ Store | No | Yes |
View Images from Notifications on Watch (Android™ Only) | No | Yes |
Morning Report | No | Yes |
Realtime Settings Sync with Garmin Connect™ Mobile | No | Yes |
Smart Trainer Control | No | Yes |
Gaming Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 series |
|---|---|---|
Gaming Activity | No | Yes |
GameOn™ App Compatible | No | Yes |
Training, Planning and Analysis Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
Recovery Time | No | Yes |
HRV Status | No | Yes |
Respiration Rate (During Exercise) | Yoga and Breathwork only | Yoga, breathwork and meditation only |
Interval Training | No | Yes |
Improved Interval | No | Yes |
Improved Recovery Time | No | Yes (limited) |
Audio Prompts | No | Yes |
Recreation
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
Available Outdoor Recreation Profiles | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Disc Golf | Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Snowshoeing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Tennis, Padel, Pickleball, Disc Golf |
Workouts for wheelchair users | No | Yes |
Cycling Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 series |
|---|---|---|
Available Cycling Profiles | Biking, Indoor Biking | Biking, Indoor Biking, eBiking, Handcycling, Indoor Handcycling |
Power Meter Compatible | No | Yes |
Swimming Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 series |
|---|---|---|
Open-Water Swim Metrics | No | Yes |
Auto Rest (Pool Swim Only) | No | Yes |
Kid Activity Tracking Features
Feature | Venu 2 Plus | Venu 3 series |
|---|---|---|
Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges App | Yes (optional Connect IQ Toe-to-Toe™ Challenges app) | No |
Garmin Venu 3 vs Venu 2 Pro: The bottom line
The Garmin Venu 3 series offers some notable improvements over the Venu 2 Plus. The introduction of new sizes caters to a broader audience, and the Sleep Coach, Nap Detection, skin temperature, Jet Lag Adviser and enhanced battery life is a nice step up.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The Venu 2 Pro also lacks of a Training Readiness metric. This could be a drawback for serious athletes who rely on such data for optimized training.
In conclusion, the Venu 3 series offers a well-rounded package that makes it a compelling option for a wide range of users. Whether or not to upgrade hinges on your specific needs and how much you value the new features and improvements. But if you are a first time buyer or have an old Garmin watch, it is a great option.
Check price on Garmin’s website (check price on Amazon).
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