Garmin Venu 3 vs. 2 – Is it worth upgrading your Garmin Venu?

Garmin’s leadership in the smartwatch segment is indisputable, although it must be recognized that more and more brands are competing in it with very advanced models. This, in turn, forces the big players not to relax and to continue innovating in their proposals. In this article, we compare two of the smart watches that are most in demand by users loyal to this brand: Garmin Venu 3 vs 2.

One thing you may not know is that the Garmin Venu was the first Garmin smartwatch with an AMOLED screen, which was a significant step forward for the brand. Thus, it responded to the order that Samsung launched with its Galaxy Watch, in which it opted for this screen technology. Thus, Garmin has tried to perfect this part even more in the Garmin Venu 3, which is why the screen is a little larger and has more brightness and resolution.

Although, without a doubt, one of the aspects where we see the most evolution between the Garmin Venu 2 and 3 is in battery life; especially, when it is in power saving mode. In fact, the difference in autonomy between the standard mode and the energy saving mode on the Garmin Venu 2 is minimal, while on the Venu 3, it is almost double. On the other hand, Garmin has incorporated some more sports applications in the model 3, although, when it comes to physical and health benefits, both smartwatches are very equal.

Therefore, if you want to check which of the two Garmin Venu is more suitable for what you are looking for, we encourage you to read our complete review to discover their differences. Do not miss it!

Garmin Venu 3 vs 2 – Comparison Table

Do you want to check what the most substantial differences are between the two smartwatches in the Garmin Venu range? In that case, take a look at the following table where we summarize the specifications of each one:

Few design changes

At first glance, we see that there are not many changes in terms of design. Both have a stainless steel bezel, flanked by two side buttons and encasing a polymer and fiber casing. The Garmin Venu 3 is available in white or black, while the Venu 2 is only sold in dark shades. As for the dimensions, they are practically the same, although the Venu 3 is minimally lighter.

If you look at the screen, both smartwatches have an AMOLED screen, but the one on the Garmin Venu 3 is a little larger. This also makes the resolution higher and, therefore, it seems that the brightness is sharper than on the Venu 2 screen. In fact, it is one of the improvements that Garmin has implemented, since the Venu series was the first in the one that released this type of screen.

And, be careful, because there is another small difference. If you look closely, the Garmin Venu 3 has 3 buttons on the right side, while the Garmin Venu 2 only has 2. The third additional button on the Venu 3 is used to activate the microphone, and can be very useful if you use the assistant of voice frequently.

Battery: evolution is in saving mode

We are now talking about the change that Garmin has implemented regarding the battery of the Venu series. If we use the watch in standard mode, we see that the Garmin Venu 3 lasts two or three days longer than the Venu 2, a difference, a priori, not very significant. Where the quality leap really is is in the autonomy in battery saving mode.

In this option, the Garmin Venu 2 lasts about 12-14 days, something that does not differ much from its autonomy in standard mode. On the other hand, in the Garmin Venu 3, the autonomy extends up to 26 days, almost double its autonomy in normal mode. Of course, in both we have a fast charging option.

Sleep monitoring: more advanced on the Venu 3

We began to analyze the functionalities of both smartwatches in more detail, and one in which we have seen an advance between the Garmin Venu 2 and 3 is sleep monitoring. We assume that both smartwatches are capable of monitoring sleep quality, there are no differences here.

However, only the Garmin Venu 3 has the sleep training feature. Thanks to it, it is able to exhaustively track all phases and detect naps, in addition to reviewing different important metrics during the sleep period, such as heart rate variability. In the case of the Garmin Venu 2, monitoring is simpler.

Heart rate: how does it evolve?

One of the parameters that we usually consult the most when we have a smartwatch is the heart rate. In this aspect , the Garmin Venu 3 incorporates a more advanced sensor to monitor heart rate and heartbeat, because it has a greater number of receptors. This makes the precision with which it offers the data maximum. That is to say, it is not that it adds additional functionality that the Garmin Venu 2 did not have, but rather that it improves one of the functions that users are most interested in.

It is worth highlighting a small novelty in the Garmin Venu 3, and that is that, if you have a very high heart rate, you can do a meditation session guided by the watch itself. The Garmin Venu 2, on the other hand, measures stress management, but does not offer this additional meditation session.

And from a sporting point of view? There are changes?

In addition to monitoring your health status, the smartwatch allows you to carry out more exhaustive control of your training and sports activity. Although, in this sense, both the Garmin Venu 2 and 3 have the same capacity and there are no substantial differences.

The most important difference is that the Garmin Venu 3 has 30 sports applications, compared to the 25 that the Garmin Venu 2 has. And, in addition, it adds some more predetermined exercises than its predecessor, but there is no more evolution in terms of the monitoring or training. In fact, both smartwatches have the same water resistance, 5 ATM, which indicates that they can withstand approximately 50 meters of immersion.

Wheelchair mode, an important advance in accessibility

Now, we want to highlight a functionality that has caught our attention, and that seems to us to be an important advance for many people with disabilities who, until now, did not have them. The Garmin Venu 3 has a wheelchair mode, with which the watch fully tracks the daily chair impulses, notifies if there are any position changes that may be relevant, and offers training sessions adapted for users in a chair. wheel.

The Garmin Venu 2, on the other hand, does not include this functionality, which makes the Garmin Venu 3 a perfect smartwatch for people with disabilities. And it also shows the brand’s commitment to accessibility. 

Same connectivity options

Before finishing, we stop at the connectivity options and compatibility with other devices that each watch has. In this sense, there are no differences. Both smartwatches are compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, and can connect via Bluetooth, WiFi or ANT connection. Likewise, they allow contactless payments using NFC technology, so, in this regard, there is no relevant change.

Garmin Venu 3 vs Garmin Venu 2: Is it worth the smartwatch change?

After having analyzed the most important differences and similarities between the two smartwatches, we only have to decide if it is worth switching to the Garmin Venu 3 or not. To decide, the first thing we must do is check the price difference between both watches. And, the truth is that, if there is no additional economic offer, the difference is smaller than we expected. In fact, it seems to us that the Garmin Venu 3 is a smartwatch that has a better quality-price ratio than the Venu 2, taking into account the different functionalities and benefits it adds.

The question is: if you already have the Garmin Venu 2, is it worth upgrading? If you haven’t bought it for a long time, it may be more interesting to wait for new models, because you haven’t had time to pay for it. But , if you have had it for a long time and you think you have amortized the investment, it may be interesting to consider the change. Above all, if you like to make the most of your physical activity and your health, something the Venu 3 is better at.

However, this is a decision that only you can make, because it involves external conditions that only you know. What we can tell you is that Garmin has introduced real improvements, some of them quite substantial, in the Venu 3. In general, it has achieved a much more precise, complete smartwatch with which to improve the performance of your daily activity.