Apple Watch Series 12 vs Garmin Venu 4 specs comparison

Series 12 is the better smartwatch, with deeper iPhone integration, stronger app support and Apple’s latest health features. Venu 4 is the better choice for battery life and fitness tracking, lasting up to 10 or 12 days depending on size and offering multi-band GPS, ECG and Garmin’s broader training ecosystem.

At a glance

What's different?

The strongest database-backed differences, without pretending every different number is an advantage.

Apple Watch Series 12

  • Phone compatibility iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) with iOS 27 or later
  • Offline maps Not available on the other model
  • Hypertension notifications Hypertension notifications (no direct blood-pressure measurement)
  • Cellular connectivity Not available on the other model
  • 29% lighter 39.5 g vs 56 g

Garmin Venu 4 45 mm

  • Phone compatibility Android and iOS
  • Much longer battery life 12 days vs 24 hours
  • Multi-band GPS Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ vs Built-in GNSS
  • More advanced training tools Body Battery, Training Status, Training Load Focus +4 more
  • LED flashlight Not available on the other model
Both include ECG, blood oxygen tracking, skin temperature tracking, HRV tracking, on-board music, Bluetooth calling, a microphone.
Full comparison

The full record

73 specifications across 6 areas, with 28 genuine differences.

1. Design & display 9 differences · advantages split between the two Mixed
Fact
Apple Watch Series 12
Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Release date
2026-09-18
September 2025
Physical size
Aluminum/titanium: 46 x 40 x 9.7 mm or 42 x 37 x 9.7 mm; ceramic: 47 x 41 x 9.85 mm or 43 x 37 x 9.85 mm
45 x 45 x 12.5 mm
Weight
46 mm: 39.5 g (aluminum GPS), 38.6 g (aluminum GPS + Cellular), 44.9 g (titanium), 51.3 g (Pearl White ceramic), 52.9 g (Night Blue ceramic); 42 mm: 32.2 g, 31.5 g, 36.5 g, 41.7 g and 42.8 g respectively
56 g with included band
Material
Aluminum, titanium or ceramic case, 60% tougher than Series 11
Stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer
Water resistance
5 ATM; IP6X; depth gauge to 6 m
5 ATM
Color options
Aluminum: Dark Bronze, Light Gold, Black, Space Gray; Titanium: Radiant Gold, Natural; Ceramic: Pearl White, Night Blue
Slate, Silver
Display type
Always-On Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED
AMOLED touchscreen
Display size
42 mm or 46 mm case (ceramic cases are 43 mm or 47 mm tall)
1.4 inch
Display resolution
42 mm: 374 x 446 pixels; 46 mm: 416 x 496 pixels
454 x 454 pixels
2. Battery & charging 2 differences · Garmin Venu 4 45 mm leads on Battery life Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Fact
Apple Watch Series 12
Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Battery
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Battery life
Up to 24 hours; up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode
Up to 12 days smartwatch mode (4 days always-on); up to 25 days Battery Saver; up to 20 hours GPS-only GNSS; up to 19 hours all-systems GNSS; up to 9 hours all-systems GNSS with music
Charging
USB-C magnetic fast charging; up to 80% in about 30 minutes; 15 minute charge for 2 hours of use
USB
3. Sensors & positioning 1 difference · Garmin Venu 4 45 mm leads on GNSS type Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Fact
Apple Watch Series 12
Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
GNSS type
Built-in GNSS
Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ
GPS
Yes
Yes
GALILEO
Yes
Yes
GLONASS
Yes
Yes
QZSS
Yes
Yes
Beidou
Yes
Yes
Accelerometer
Yes
Yes
Gyroscope
Yes
Yes
Barometric altimeter
Yes
Yes
Compass
Yes
Yes
Ambient light sensor
Yes
Yes
Optical heart rate
Yes (always-on optical heart sensor; high-frequency background tracking)
Yes
Electrical heart rate
Yes
Yes
SpO2
Yes
Yes
Temperature
Yes
Yes
Galvanic skin response
No
No
Microphone
Yes
Yes
Speakers
Yes
Yes
Vibration motor
Yes
Yes
4. Health & activity 3 differences · advantages split between the two Mixed
Fact
Apple Watch Series 12
Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Steps
Yes
Yes
Distance
Yes
Yes
Calories burned
Yes
Yes
Floors
Yes
Yes
Sports tracking
Yes
Yes
Sleep
Yes
Yes
Heart rate
Yes
Yes
HRV
Yes (Up to 24x more frequent than Series 11)
Yes
Stress
No
Yes
Blood oxygen
Yes
Yes
Respiration rate
Yes
Yes
Skin temperature
Yes
Yes
ECG
Yes
Yes
Blood pressure
Hypertension notifications (no direct blood-pressure measurement)
No
Body composition
No
No
Glucose
No
No
Hydration level
No
No
UV exposure
No
No
Calorie intake
No
No
Hyperglycemia risk assessment
No
No
Arterial stiffness detection
No
No
Pulse wave arrhythmia analysis
Yes
No
5. Smart features 9 differences · no clear overall edge No clear edge
Fact
Apple Watch Series 12
Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Smartphone compatibility
iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) with iOS 27 or later
Android and iOS
Operating system at launch
watchOS 27
Garmin proprietary
Bluetooth
Yes (5.3)
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes (Wi-Fi 4 / 802.11n, 2.4/5 GHz)
Yes
NFC / connected pay
Yes (Apple Pay)
Yes
UWB
Yes (2nd-generation UWB)
No
Cellular
Optional (5G RedCap and LTE on supported regional models)
No
Smartphone notifications
Yes
Yes
Bluetooth calling
Yes (standalone on cellular models; via paired iPhone otherwise)
Yes (paired smartphone)
Smartphone music control
Yes
Yes
On-board music storage
Yes
Yes
Voice assistant
Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence
Yes (paired smartphone)
6. Navigation & safety 4 differences · advantages split between the two Mixed
Fact
Apple Watch Series 12
Garmin Venu 4 45 mm
Maps
Yes
No
Offline maps
Yes
No
Navigation
Yes
Yes
Emergency SOS
Yes
Yes (paired smartphone)
Satellite SOS
No
No
Fall detection
Yes
Yes
LED flashlight
No
Yes
Diving
No
No

Individual specifications

These technical specs are correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publishing.