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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

An important omission on the Venu 3 series is the Garmin ECG App, a feature present in the Venu 2 Plus. Also, one feature that was widely expected – skin temperature tracking is not here. However, we believe it will be enabled via a firmware update for Venu 3 in the coming months.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Here is a detailed overview of the differences between Venu 3, Venu 3s and Venu 2 Pro.

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, Jet Lag Adviser and enhanced battery life is a nice step up.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

On the flip side, the absence of the Venu 2 Pro’s ECG App might be a sticking point for users who prioritise advanced health metrics. Additionally, the lack of a Training Readiness metric 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.

Both watches sell for $499 on Garmin’s website.

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