Overview
I have long been a loyal user of running watches produced by Garmin and my most recent (and previously much loved) watch is this Garmin Vivo Active 3. I have also road tested the Polar Vantage M, the Polar Ignite recently and now this new Garmin Venu. I typically run 50km to 60km per week (combination of trails and on road) and also use the watches for multi-sports such as weight training, spinning etc. My review below contains the detail but in summary I absolutely love this watch, its functionality and its high quality screen are exactly what was needed in this now quite crowded sports/activity tracking watch area. When combined with the Garmin app you really do have a 5* product which will help with monitoring health and performance.
Set Up:
- You can set up the watch with or without the Garmin App. It is recommended to use the app and therefore I did (I also love analyising my fitness data so a watch which isn’t syncing with an app is no fun for me).
- The watch was easy to set up and both the watch and App were intuitive to use.
Charging
- The watch arrived with 52% battery power. It comes with a USB charger (note: no mains plug, you will either need to charge via a laptop or a mains to USB charger). The watch attaches to the charger via an each magnetic connection.
- The watch went from out of box to being 100% charged in less than 1 hour (via mains).
- The charger is a small clip in which attaches to the back of the watch. It attaches easily (it is the same connector as the Vivoactive, a watch with which I have had no charging mishaps in the past and therefore seems to be a robust and reliable system).
Aesthetics, general wearability and day to day use
- The Garmin Venu looks very good on my wrist, it is a nice size for day to day wear (it is slightly deeper than the Vivoactive 3 but the screen size is about the same size).
- It is light and as a result it was easy to forget I was wearing it. It is only 46g (3g heavier than the Vivoactive 3)
- The strap is soft and pliable (other running watches such as the the cheaper Polar watches have quite stiff straps).
Ease of Operation:
- The watch is operated largely by touch screen (there are two buttons on the side of the watch, one which starts/stops activities and can be used a a selector button, the other which is mainly used to access the main menu/settings). I really like the intuitive and easy to use touch screen ability – it feels modern and up to date but more importantly it is very quick to navigate.
- To start training you select the top button on the device and then scroll to find the activity you want to start. You can set the watch up so your most frequently used activities are listed up front for a quick start. There are many pre-programmed activities but I have mainly used the running (outdoors), treadmill running, indoor cycling and strength training activities.
- The activity is paused by pressing the same button and then the touch screen gives end and save options. I have found that the watch is quicker to start/stop/change activities than the Vivoactive 3 is.
GPS log on
- There is nothing more frustrating then your watch taking a long time to log onto the GPS signal when you just want to start running, I was concerned about this having read other reviews of this watch.
- I had no siginifcant issues with the GPS link up. I have used the watch in a small town, a city, at the start of many races and in the countryside when trail running and the GPS log on was adequate in all locations (usually almost immediate but on rare and more frustrating occasions up to 1 minute).
- It is worth noting that the Polar watch I have road tested often found GPS signal before the Garmin watches when I wear them side by side.
Activities/Running/Distance Accuracy/GPS
- As a runner this is what is most important to me.
- The outdoor running accuracy appears to be incredibly good. IMy Vivoactive 3 has matched (with very small tolerances) with official race measured distances in anything from 5km to 30km races. When I tested this Venu vs the Vivoactive 3 (wearing both on the same two runs) they measured almost exactly the same.
- On set up I selected automatic pause so when I stop running, for example at traffic lights, the device automatically pauses and then restarts tracking once I am running again. This feature worked well.
- I like the strength training rep counter although I don’t always use it (unless I am wanting to deliberately slow down my work rate)
Data screens
- Along side the accuracy of data the availability of data whilst running is important to me.
- Each data screen can hold 4 pieces of data (e.g. pace, distance, time etc.).
- You can customise what data you have via the app.
- The data was easy to see whilst running and gave me the information I needed to monitor and improve my performance.
Display
- The display graphics on the Venu and amazing compared to the Vivoactive 3, I am hugely surprised by the improvement. I have photographed the two watches side by side, the Venu on the top is so much better than the Vivoactive 3. It also looks much more modern in terms of what is displayed on the screen, the layout etc.
- I really enjoy the fact that you can customise what data you have on your standard watch screen. I have mine set up to show digital time, date and step count. It did take a bit of time to work out how to do this but worth it once you have it working in the way you want it to.
Interaction with other devices and apps
- In common with all runners I know I like to be able to analyse my running data and look at details such as my heart rate, pace and so on over the course of a run.
- The Venu uses the Garmin Connect app to do this (note you can have more than one Garmin device paired up with the app on your phone). The watch is quick to syncronise and does this itself after activities. It can also be forced via the app.
- The have my Garmin App (and therefore the watch data) also syncronised to MyFitnessPal so that my calories burnt are sent over to MFP and calories consumed are sent from MFP to the Garmin (watch and app).
As a training aide
- Being able to pre-program workouts before setting off makes for much easier interval training.
- I use the Garmin to write a training plan with specific work-outs (e.g. interval training) and these then become available in the watch on syncing the two together.
- The data you get on the watch at the end of the run is not that extensive (the Polar watch may be better for you if you want this on the watch) but the data in the app is extensive and useful for a post race or run postmortem.
Battery life
- The battery life on the Venu is very good, but outperformed by the Polar by about 10% when both had the same features engaged (e.g. continuous heart rate monitoring). The increased screen quality is however worth the impact on battery life!
- As part of my testing I charged it up and took the Venu out for a 3 hour trail jaunt, using GPS the whole time. I came back with just under 50% battery so happy enough with that and it ties into the 6 hours of GPS usage battery claim.
Garmin App
- The Garmin Connect App is what takes this watch from a very good 4* product to a 5* watch for me.
- It is a real life tracker. I track my weight (and my BMI which is automatically tracks), my steps, my menstrual cycle, my calories in (and out, via a link up with MFP), I analyse my run and race results, set and monitor step (and other activity) goals – I must look at the App on average 10 times per day.
- The App is easy to use, intuitive and I honestly believe it has contributed to me developing an even healthier lifestyle.
- The app is the reason why I can’t see myself moving away from Garmin when I need my next running watch/activity tracker.
- As an aside I find the 24/7 heart rate monitoring offered by Garmin devices to be incredibly helpful. I normally can work out I am going down will and illness about 12 hours before hand because of my slightly raised resting heart rate etc.
Other features
- The ‘sleep’ feature ion the Venu is more accurate than on the Vivoactive 3 which seems to think I’m asleep from the minute I get into bed and start reading until I get up in the morning.
- I had the watch paired with my phone all day via the Garmin Connect app so I could receive message etc. notifications – a useful function but it does drain the battery more quickly.
In summary the Garmin Venu is an amazing watch supported by a brilliant app and I would not hesitate to recommend it.
Update 9th July 2021: After almost 2 years of daily usage, this watch has suddenly encountered a problem where it no longer charges up. I've tried various cables and chargers which work fine on other Garmin watches. After contacting Garmin customer services, they immediately acknowledged the problem and will take back the watch and send a refurbished replacement. This has now been posted back now. So far, first impressions of customer service is very impressive. I will update once matter is resolved.
Update 14th July 2021: The refurbished replacement has arrived today, and as far as I can see, it's a in as good as new condition everything seems to work just fine including charging! setting it up was a breeze, just sync up to your phone app and all the settings are transferred across and all ready to go with minimum fuss. Impressive customer service!
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Garmin Venu 2 Plus GPS Smartwatch with All-day Health Monitoring and Voice Functionality
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | (4783) | (5040) | (2646) | (5322) |
| Price | £209.00 | £178.00 | £239.99 | £149.00 |
| Sold By | Century-Sales | White Sands Ltd | FairTech | iBuyTech-UK [24 Hr Dispatch] |
| Are batteries included? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Are batteries required? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Binding | Electronics | — | Electronics | Electronics |
| Colour | Black and Slate Grey | Black/Slate | Black and Slate | Black Silicone with Slate Hardware |
From the manufacturer
Garmin Venu
GPS Smartwatch with a Bright, Beautiful Display Built for the Active Lifestyle
- AMOLED display and up to 5-day battery life in smartwatch mode; up to 6 hours in GPS mode with music
- Keep an eye on your health 24/7 with the broadest available range of all-day health monitoring features
- Easily download music to your watch for phone-free listening
- Record all the ways to move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps
- Get easy-to-follow, animated workouts right on your watch screen
Body Battery Energy Monitoring
See your body’s energy levels throughout the day, so you can find the best times for activity and rest.
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Smart NotificationsReceive emails, texts and alerts right on your watch when paired with a compatible smartphone. You can even respond to texts if you have an Android phone. |
MusicEasily download songs to your watch, including playlists from your Spotify, Deezer or Amazon Music accounts (subscription may be required). Connect with wireless headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening. |
Safety and Tracking FeaturesWhile your watch and phone are paired, your location can be sent to your contacts either manually or — during outdoor activities — automatically with built-in incident detection (when paired to a compatible smartphone), if needed. |
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Garmin PayBreeze through checkout lines with Garmin Pay contactless payment solution through participating providers (not all countries and payment networks are eligible). |
Connect IQ StoreAdd personality to your watch by downloading apps, widgets, watch faces and more. It’s easy and — even better — it’s free. |
Garmin CoachGet a personal running coach on your wrist, for free, to help you train for your next 5K, 10K or half-marathon. |
Customer reviews
Garmin at its best plus a AMOLED screen = the perfect device for monitoring health and performance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2019
OverviewI have long been a loyal user of running watches produced by Garmin and my most recent (and previously much loved) watch is this Garmin Vivo Active 3. I have also road tested the Polar Vantage M, the Polar Ignite recently and now this new Garmin Venu. I typically run 50km to 60km per week (combination of trails and on road) and also use the watches for multi-sports such as weight training, spinning etc. My review below contains the detail but in summary I absolutely love this watch, its functionality and its high quality screen are exactly what was needed in this now quite crowded sports/activity tracking watch area. When combined with the Garmin app you really do have a 5* product which will help with monitoring health and performance.Set Up:- You can set up the watch with or without the Garmin App. It is recommended to use the app and therefore I did (I also love analyising my fitness data so a watch which isn’t syncing with an app is no fun for me).- The watch was easy to set up and both the watch and App were intuitive to use.Charging- The watch arrived with 52% battery power. It comes with a USB charger (note: no mains plug, you will either need to charge via a laptop or a mains to USB charger). The watch attaches to the charger via an each magnetic connection.- The watch went from out of box to being 100% charged in less than 1 hour (via mains).- The charger is a small clip in which attaches to the back of the watch. It attaches easily (it is the same connector as the Vivoactive, a watch with which I have had no charging mishaps in the past and therefore seems to be a robust and reliable system).Aesthetics, general wearability and day to day use- The Garmin Venu looks very good on my wrist, it is a nice size for day to day wear (it is slightly deeper than the Vivoactive 3 but the screen size is about the same size).- It is light and as a result it was easy to forget I was wearing it. It is only 46g (3g heavier than the Vivoactive 3)- The strap is soft and pliable (other running watches such as the the cheaper Polar watches have quite stiff straps).Ease of Operation:- The watch is operated largely by touch screen (there are two buttons on the side of the watch, one which starts/stops activities and can be used a a selector button, the other which is mainly used to access the main menu/settings). I really like the intuitive and easy to use touch screen ability – it feels modern and up to date but more importantly it is very quick to navigate.- To start training you select the top button on the device and then scroll to find the activity you want to start. You can set the watch up so your most frequently used activities are listed up front for a quick start. There are many pre-programmed activities but I have mainly used the running (outdoors), treadmill running, indoor cycling and strength training activities.- The activity is paused by pressing the same button and then the touch screen gives end and save options. I have found that the watch is quicker to start/stop/change activities than the Vivoactive 3 is.GPS log on- There is nothing more frustrating then your watch taking a long time to log onto the GPS signal when you just want to start running, I was concerned about this having read other reviews of this watch.- I had no siginifcant issues with the GPS link up. I have used the watch in a small town, a city, at the start of many races and in the countryside when trail running and the GPS log on was adequate in all locations (usually almost immediate but on rare and more frustrating occasions up to 1 minute).- It is worth noting that the Polar watch I have road tested often found GPS signal before the Garmin watches when I wear them side by side.Activities/Running/Distance Accuracy/GPS- As a runner this is what is most important to me.- The outdoor running accuracy appears to be incredibly good. IMy Vivoactive 3 has matched (with very small tolerances) with official race measured distances in anything from 5km to 30km races. When I tested this Venu vs the Vivoactive 3 (wearing both on the same two runs) they measured almost exactly the same.- On set up I selected automatic pause so when I stop running, for example at traffic lights, the device automatically pauses and then restarts tracking once I am running again. This feature worked well.- I like the strength training rep counter although I don’t always use it (unless I am wanting to deliberately slow down my work rate)Data screens- Along side the accuracy of data the availability of data whilst running is important to me.- Each data screen can hold 4 pieces of data (e.g. pace, distance, time etc.).- You can customise what data you have via the app.- The data was easy to see whilst running and gave me the information I needed to monitor and improve my performance.Display- The display graphics on the Venu and amazing compared to the Vivoactive 3, I am hugely surprised by the improvement. I have photographed the two watches side by side, the Venu on the top is so much better than the Vivoactive 3. It also looks much more modern in terms of what is displayed on the screen, the layout etc.- I really enjoy the fact that you can customise what data you have on your standard watch screen. I have mine set up to show digital time, date and step count. It did take a bit of time to work out how to do this but worth it once you have it working in the way you want it to.Interaction with other devices and apps- In common with all runners I know I like to be able to analyse my running data and look at details such as my heart rate, pace and so on over the course of a run.- The Venu uses the Garmin Connect app to do this (note you can have more than one Garmin device paired up with the app on your phone). The watch is quick to syncronise and does this itself after activities. It can also be forced via the app.- The have my Garmin App (and therefore the watch data) also syncronised to MyFitnessPal so that my calories burnt are sent over to MFP and calories consumed are sent from MFP to the Garmin (watch and app).As a training aide- Being able to pre-program workouts before setting off makes for much easier interval training.- I use the Garmin to write a training plan with specific work-outs (e.g. interval training) and these then become available in the watch on syncing the two together.- The data you get on the watch at the end of the run is not that extensive (the Polar watch may be better for you if you want this on the watch) but the data in the app is extensive and useful for a post race or run postmortem.Battery life- The battery life on the Venu is very good, but outperformed by the Polar by about 10% when both had the same features engaged (e.g. continuous heart rate monitoring). The increased screen quality is however worth the impact on battery life!- As part of my testing I charged it up and took the Venu out for a 3 hour trail jaunt, using GPS the whole time. I came back with just under 50% battery so happy enough with that and it ties into the 6 hours of GPS usage battery claim.Garmin App- The Garmin Connect App is what takes this watch from a very good 4* product to a 5* watch for me.- It is a real life tracker. I track my weight (and my BMI which is automatically tracks), my steps, my menstrual cycle, my calories in (and out, via a link up with MFP), I analyse my run and race results, set and monitor step (and other activity) goals – I must look at the App on average 10 times per day.- The App is easy to use, intuitive and I honestly believe it has contributed to me developing an even healthier lifestyle.- The app is the reason why I can’t see myself moving away from Garmin when I need my next running watch/activity tracker.- As an aside I find the 24/7 heart rate monitoring offered by Garmin devices to be incredibly helpful. I normally can work out I am going down will and illness about 12 hours before hand because of my slightly raised resting heart rate etc.Other features- The ‘sleep’ feature ion the Venu is more accurate than on the Vivoactive 3 which seems to think I’m asleep from the minute I get into bed and start reading until I get up in the morning.- I had the watch paired with my phone all day via the Garmin Connect app so I could receive message etc. notifications – a useful function but it does drain the battery more quickly.In summary the Garmin Venu is an amazing watch supported by a brilliant app and I would not hesitate to recommend it.Update 9th July 2021: After almost 2 years of daily usage, this watch has suddenly encountered a problem where it no longer charges up. I've tried various cables and chargers which work fine on other Garmin watches. After contacting Garmin customer services, they immediately acknowledged the problem and will take back the watch and send a refurbished replacement. This has now been posted back now. So far, first impressions of customer service is very impressive. I will update once matter is resolved.Update 14th July 2021: The refurbished replacement has arrived today, and as far as I can see, it's a in as good as new condition everything seems to work just fine including charging! setting it up was a breeze, just sync up to your phone app and all the settings are transferred across and all ready to go with minimum fuss. Impressive customer service!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2019
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2019
I have long been a loyal user of running watches produced by Garmin and my most recent (and previously much loved) watch is this Garmin Vivo Active 3. I have also road tested the Polar Vantage M, the Polar Ignite recently and now this new Garmin Venu. I typically run 50km to 60km per week (combination of trails and on road) and also use the watches for multi-sports such as weight training, spinning etc. My review below contains the detail but in summary I absolutely love this watch, its functionality and its high quality screen are exactly what was needed in this now quite crowded sports/activity tracking watch area. When combined with the Garmin app you really do have a 5* product which will help with monitoring health and performance.
Set Up:
- You can set up the watch with or without the Garmin App. It is recommended to use the app and therefore I did (I also love analyising my fitness data so a watch which isn’t syncing with an app is no fun for me).
- The watch was easy to set up and both the watch and App were intuitive to use.
Charging
- The watch arrived with 52% battery power. It comes with a USB charger (note: no mains plug, you will either need to charge via a laptop or a mains to USB charger). The watch attaches to the charger via an each magnetic connection.
- The watch went from out of box to being 100% charged in less than 1 hour (via mains).
- The charger is a small clip in which attaches to the back of the watch. It attaches easily (it is the same connector as the Vivoactive, a watch with which I have had no charging mishaps in the past and therefore seems to be a robust and reliable system).
Aesthetics, general wearability and day to day use
- The Garmin Venu looks very good on my wrist, it is a nice size for day to day wear (it is slightly deeper than the Vivoactive 3 but the screen size is about the same size).
- It is light and as a result it was easy to forget I was wearing it. It is only 46g (3g heavier than the Vivoactive 3)
- The strap is soft and pliable (other running watches such as the the cheaper Polar watches have quite stiff straps).
Ease of Operation:
- The watch is operated largely by touch screen (there are two buttons on the side of the watch, one which starts/stops activities and can be used a a selector button, the other which is mainly used to access the main menu/settings). I really like the intuitive and easy to use touch screen ability – it feels modern and up to date but more importantly it is very quick to navigate.
- To start training you select the top button on the device and then scroll to find the activity you want to start. You can set the watch up so your most frequently used activities are listed up front for a quick start. There are many pre-programmed activities but I have mainly used the running (outdoors), treadmill running, indoor cycling and strength training activities.
- The activity is paused by pressing the same button and then the touch screen gives end and save options. I have found that the watch is quicker to start/stop/change activities than the Vivoactive 3 is.
GPS log on
- There is nothing more frustrating then your watch taking a long time to log onto the GPS signal when you just want to start running, I was concerned about this having read other reviews of this watch.
- I had no siginifcant issues with the GPS link up. I have used the watch in a small town, a city, at the start of many races and in the countryside when trail running and the GPS log on was adequate in all locations (usually almost immediate but on rare and more frustrating occasions up to 1 minute).
- It is worth noting that the Polar watch I have road tested often found GPS signal before the Garmin watches when I wear them side by side.
Activities/Running/Distance Accuracy/GPS
- As a runner this is what is most important to me.
- The outdoor running accuracy appears to be incredibly good. IMy Vivoactive 3 has matched (with very small tolerances) with official race measured distances in anything from 5km to 30km races. When I tested this Venu vs the Vivoactive 3 (wearing both on the same two runs) they measured almost exactly the same.
- On set up I selected automatic pause so when I stop running, for example at traffic lights, the device automatically pauses and then restarts tracking once I am running again. This feature worked well.
- I like the strength training rep counter although I don’t always use it (unless I am wanting to deliberately slow down my work rate)
Data screens
- Along side the accuracy of data the availability of data whilst running is important to me.
- Each data screen can hold 4 pieces of data (e.g. pace, distance, time etc.).
- You can customise what data you have via the app.
- The data was easy to see whilst running and gave me the information I needed to monitor and improve my performance.
Display
- The display graphics on the Venu and amazing compared to the Vivoactive 3, I am hugely surprised by the improvement. I have photographed the two watches side by side, the Venu on the top is so much better than the Vivoactive 3. It also looks much more modern in terms of what is displayed on the screen, the layout etc.
- I really enjoy the fact that you can customise what data you have on your standard watch screen. I have mine set up to show digital time, date and step count. It did take a bit of time to work out how to do this but worth it once you have it working in the way you want it to.
Interaction with other devices and apps
- In common with all runners I know I like to be able to analyse my running data and look at details such as my heart rate, pace and so on over the course of a run.
- The Venu uses the Garmin Connect app to do this (note you can have more than one Garmin device paired up with the app on your phone). The watch is quick to syncronise and does this itself after activities. It can also be forced via the app.
- The have my Garmin App (and therefore the watch data) also syncronised to MyFitnessPal so that my calories burnt are sent over to MFP and calories consumed are sent from MFP to the Garmin (watch and app).
As a training aide
- Being able to pre-program workouts before setting off makes for much easier interval training.
- I use the Garmin to write a training plan with specific work-outs (e.g. interval training) and these then become available in the watch on syncing the two together.
- The data you get on the watch at the end of the run is not that extensive (the Polar watch may be better for you if you want this on the watch) but the data in the app is extensive and useful for a post race or run postmortem.
Battery life
- The battery life on the Venu is very good, but outperformed by the Polar by about 10% when both had the same features engaged (e.g. continuous heart rate monitoring). The increased screen quality is however worth the impact on battery life!
- As part of my testing I charged it up and took the Venu out for a 3 hour trail jaunt, using GPS the whole time. I came back with just under 50% battery so happy enough with that and it ties into the 6 hours of GPS usage battery claim.
Garmin App
- The Garmin Connect App is what takes this watch from a very good 4* product to a 5* watch for me.
- It is a real life tracker. I track my weight (and my BMI which is automatically tracks), my steps, my menstrual cycle, my calories in (and out, via a link up with MFP), I analyse my run and race results, set and monitor step (and other activity) goals – I must look at the App on average 10 times per day.
- The App is easy to use, intuitive and I honestly believe it has contributed to me developing an even healthier lifestyle.
- The app is the reason why I can’t see myself moving away from Garmin when I need my next running watch/activity tracker.
- As an aside I find the 24/7 heart rate monitoring offered by Garmin devices to be incredibly helpful. I normally can work out I am going down will and illness about 12 hours before hand because of my slightly raised resting heart rate etc.
Other features
- The ‘sleep’ feature ion the Venu is more accurate than on the Vivoactive 3 which seems to think I’m asleep from the minute I get into bed and start reading until I get up in the morning.
- I had the watch paired with my phone all day via the Garmin Connect app so I could receive message etc. notifications – a useful function but it does drain the battery more quickly.
In summary the Garmin Venu is an amazing watch supported by a brilliant app and I would not hesitate to recommend it.
Update 9th July 2021: After almost 2 years of daily usage, this watch has suddenly encountered a problem where it no longer charges up. I've tried various cables and chargers which work fine on other Garmin watches. After contacting Garmin customer services, they immediately acknowledged the problem and will take back the watch and send a refurbished replacement. This has now been posted back now. So far, first impressions of customer service is very impressive. I will update once matter is resolved.
Update 14th July 2021: The refurbished replacement has arrived today, and as far as I can see, it's a in as good as new condition everything seems to work just fine including charging! setting it up was a breeze, just sync up to your phone app and all the settings are transferred across and all ready to go with minimum fuss. Impressive customer service!
Garmin at its best plus a AMOLED screen = the perfect device for monitoring health and performance
By JC on 4 November 2019
OverviewBy JC on 4 November 2019
I have long been a loyal user of running watches produced by Garmin and my most recent (and previously much loved) watch is this Garmin Vivo Active 3. I have also road tested the Polar Vantage M, the Polar Ignite recently and now this new Garmin Venu. I typically run 50km to 60km per week (combination of trails and on road) and also use the watches for multi-sports such as weight training, spinning etc. My review below contains the detail but in summary I absolutely love this watch, its functionality and its high quality screen are exactly what was needed in this now quite crowded sports/activity tracking watch area. When combined with the Garmin app you really do have a 5* product which will help with monitoring health and performance.
Set Up:
- You can set up the watch with or without the Garmin App. It is recommended to use the app and therefore I did (I also love analyising my fitness data so a watch which isn’t syncing with an app is no fun for me).
- The watch was easy to set up and both the watch and App were intuitive to use.
Charging
- The watch arrived with 52% battery power. It comes with a USB charger (note: no mains plug, you will either need to charge via a laptop or a mains to USB charger). The watch attaches to the charger via an each magnetic connection.
- The watch went from out of box to being 100% charged in less than 1 hour (via mains).
- The charger is a small clip in which attaches to the back of the watch. It attaches easily (it is the same connector as the Vivoactive, a watch with which I have had no charging mishaps in the past and therefore seems to be a robust and reliable system).
Aesthetics, general wearability and day to day use
- The Garmin Venu looks very good on my wrist, it is a nice size for day to day wear (it is slightly deeper than the Vivoactive 3 but the screen size is about the same size).
- It is light and as a result it was easy to forget I was wearing it. It is only 46g (3g heavier than the Vivoactive 3)
- The strap is soft and pliable (other running watches such as the the cheaper Polar watches have quite stiff straps).
Ease of Operation:
- The watch is operated largely by touch screen (there are two buttons on the side of the watch, one which starts/stops activities and can be used a a selector button, the other which is mainly used to access the main menu/settings). I really like the intuitive and easy to use touch screen ability – it feels modern and up to date but more importantly it is very quick to navigate.
- To start training you select the top button on the device and then scroll to find the activity you want to start. You can set the watch up so your most frequently used activities are listed up front for a quick start. There are many pre-programmed activities but I have mainly used the running (outdoors), treadmill running, indoor cycling and strength training activities.
- The activity is paused by pressing the same button and then the touch screen gives end and save options. I have found that the watch is quicker to start/stop/change activities than the Vivoactive 3 is.
GPS log on
- There is nothing more frustrating then your watch taking a long time to log onto the GPS signal when you just want to start running, I was concerned about this having read other reviews of this watch.
- I had no siginifcant issues with the GPS link up. I have used the watch in a small town, a city, at the start of many races and in the countryside when trail running and the GPS log on was adequate in all locations (usually almost immediate but on rare and more frustrating occasions up to 1 minute).
- It is worth noting that the Polar watch I have road tested often found GPS signal before the Garmin watches when I wear them side by side.
Activities/Running/Distance Accuracy/GPS
- As a runner this is what is most important to me.
- The outdoor running accuracy appears to be incredibly good. IMy Vivoactive 3 has matched (with very small tolerances) with official race measured distances in anything from 5km to 30km races. When I tested this Venu vs the Vivoactive 3 (wearing both on the same two runs) they measured almost exactly the same.
- On set up I selected automatic pause so when I stop running, for example at traffic lights, the device automatically pauses and then restarts tracking once I am running again. This feature worked well.
- I like the strength training rep counter although I don’t always use it (unless I am wanting to deliberately slow down my work rate)
Data screens
- Along side the accuracy of data the availability of data whilst running is important to me.
- Each data screen can hold 4 pieces of data (e.g. pace, distance, time etc.).
- You can customise what data you have via the app.
- The data was easy to see whilst running and gave me the information I needed to monitor and improve my performance.
Display
- The display graphics on the Venu and amazing compared to the Vivoactive 3, I am hugely surprised by the improvement. I have photographed the two watches side by side, the Venu on the top is so much better than the Vivoactive 3. It also looks much more modern in terms of what is displayed on the screen, the layout etc.
- I really enjoy the fact that you can customise what data you have on your standard watch screen. I have mine set up to show digital time, date and step count. It did take a bit of time to work out how to do this but worth it once you have it working in the way you want it to.
Interaction with other devices and apps
- In common with all runners I know I like to be able to analyse my running data and look at details such as my heart rate, pace and so on over the course of a run.
- The Venu uses the Garmin Connect app to do this (note you can have more than one Garmin device paired up with the app on your phone). The watch is quick to syncronise and does this itself after activities. It can also be forced via the app.
- The have my Garmin App (and therefore the watch data) also syncronised to MyFitnessPal so that my calories burnt are sent over to MFP and calories consumed are sent from MFP to the Garmin (watch and app).
As a training aide
- Being able to pre-program workouts before setting off makes for much easier interval training.
- I use the Garmin to write a training plan with specific work-outs (e.g. interval training) and these then become available in the watch on syncing the two together.
- The data you get on the watch at the end of the run is not that extensive (the Polar watch may be better for you if you want this on the watch) but the data in the app is extensive and useful for a post race or run postmortem.
Battery life
- The battery life on the Venu is very good, but outperformed by the Polar by about 10% when both had the same features engaged (e.g. continuous heart rate monitoring). The increased screen quality is however worth the impact on battery life!
- As part of my testing I charged it up and took the Venu out for a 3 hour trail jaunt, using GPS the whole time. I came back with just under 50% battery so happy enough with that and it ties into the 6 hours of GPS usage battery claim.
Garmin App
- The Garmin Connect App is what takes this watch from a very good 4* product to a 5* watch for me.
- It is a real life tracker. I track my weight (and my BMI which is automatically tracks), my steps, my menstrual cycle, my calories in (and out, via a link up with MFP), I analyse my run and race results, set and monitor step (and other activity) goals – I must look at the App on average 10 times per day.
- The App is easy to use, intuitive and I honestly believe it has contributed to me developing an even healthier lifestyle.
- The app is the reason why I can’t see myself moving away from Garmin when I need my next running watch/activity tracker.
- As an aside I find the 24/7 heart rate monitoring offered by Garmin devices to be incredibly helpful. I normally can work out I am going down will and illness about 12 hours before hand because of my slightly raised resting heart rate etc.
Other features
- The ‘sleep’ feature ion the Venu is more accurate than on the Vivoactive 3 which seems to think I’m asleep from the minute I get into bed and start reading until I get up in the morning.
- I had the watch paired with my phone all day via the Garmin Connect app so I could receive message etc. notifications – a useful function but it does drain the battery more quickly.
In summary the Garmin Venu is an amazing watch supported by a brilliant app and I would not hesitate to recommend it.
Update 9th July 2021: After almost 2 years of daily usage, this watch has suddenly encountered a problem where it no longer charges up. I've tried various cables and chargers which work fine on other Garmin watches. After contacting Garmin customer services, they immediately acknowledged the problem and will take back the watch and send a refurbished replacement. This has now been posted back now. So far, first impressions of customer service is very impressive. I will update once matter is resolved.
Update 14th July 2021: The refurbished replacement has arrived today, and as far as I can see, it's a in as good as new condition everything seems to work just fine including charging! setting it up was a breeze, just sync up to your phone app and all the settings are transferred across and all ready to go with minimum fuss. Impressive customer service!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2019
Then I discovered the Venu which was marketed as a Vivoactive 4 with a better screen.
The one (tiny) gripe I always had with my V3 was that the screen colours were not very good and quite flat (even though it's very good in bright light).
The Venu changed all that. Very deep colours on a 390 x 390 AMOLED display (vs the 240 x 240 on the V3).
The watch has a great number of features and options, but most of them will be familiar to Garmin users. The Body Battery is a neat feature, as is the Pulse Ox, even though I haven't had the chance to test this thoroughly yet.
I find the device quite responsive and the battery life (so far) seems very decent.
The Venu is very light but looks and feels like a premium product.
One difference with the V3 (in the V3's favour) is that the Venu is doesn't have an 'always on' feature, i.e. you have to double tap the screen or press the top button to view. Not an issue though and I can see why they've done that as it would be a huge drain on the battery.
All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. There have already been several software updates and I'm sure there will be more going forward to dial in this new product.
If functionality comes first and display quality is less of a consideration, go for the Vivoactive 4. If you want the functionality and also enjoy a great display, go for the Venu.
Colour Name: Black and Slate GreyVerified Purchase
Solid watch, fantastic screen
By Amazon Customer on 13 December 2019
I've previously owned the Vivoactive 3. When the Vivoactive 4 came along I had no doubt whatsoever that I was going to get it.By Amazon Customer on 13 December 2019
Then I discovered the Venu which was marketed as a Vivoactive 4 with a better screen.
The one (tiny) gripe I always had with my V3 was that the screen colours were not very good and quite flat (even though it's very good in bright light).
The Venu changed all that. Very deep colours on a 390 x 390 AMOLED display (vs the 240 x 240 on the V3).
The watch has a great number of features and options, but most of them will be familiar to Garmin users. The Body Battery is a neat feature, as is the Pulse Ox, even though I haven't had the chance to test this thoroughly yet.
I find the device quite responsive and the battery life (so far) seems very decent.
The Venu is very light but looks and feels like a premium product.
One difference with the V3 (in the V3's favour) is that the Venu is doesn't have an 'always on' feature, i.e. you have to double tap the screen or press the top button to view. Not an issue though and I can see why they've done that as it would be a huge drain on the battery.
All in all I'm very happy with my purchase. There have already been several software updates and I'm sure there will be more going forward to dial in this new product.
If functionality comes first and display quality is less of a consideration, go for the Vivoactive 4. If you want the functionality and also enjoy a great display, go for the Venu.
Images in this review
