Garmin venu 3 vs 3S: how do they compare?
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Known for their focus on health monitoring, fitness tracking and other premium smart features, Garmin is considered one of the leading smartwatch brands on the market – with Venu 3 and Venu 3S among its popular offerings. However, when choosing between two models, it’s important to understand which one matches your goals.
While Venu 3 and Venu 3S seem similar on the surface, they differ in aspects like fit, size, and battery life – each better suited for different users. Together with the Cybernews research team, I analyzed product specifications, manufacturer statements and customer feedback to come up with a detailed overview of Venu 3 vs Venu 3S.
In this article, I’ll compare them across various factors, such as design, display specifications, tracking features, and pricing, to help you make an informed choice.
While both seem reliable, Venu 3 stood out for me thanks to its extended battery life and large screen – making it a promising option for fitness-heavy users and outdoor activities. Meanwhile, Venu 3s can be a better pick for casual, everyday wear and less sports-oriented customers.
Garmin venu 3 vs 3S overview
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| Title | Garmin Venu 3 | Garmin Venu 3S |
| Key features | 6 workout modes, 1.4” display size, 14-day battery life | 6 workout modes, fast response time, slim design, lightweight (27g) |
| Best for | Sports, outdoor use | Casual use, design-oriented users |
| Price | $264.99 $332.49 -20% | $421.95 |
| More info | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S offer a pretty similar set of features, as both models come with 6 workout modes (including for wheelchair users), heart rate and stress alerts, identical device compatibility, and advanced features for activities like gaming, jogging, golfing, and cycling.
However, you’ll notice differences in smartwatches’ display size, weight, overall design, and battery life. They may position Venu 3 as a better option for sports-oriented users, and Venu 3S as a better pick for daily use, but ultimately it all goes down to personal preference and what you find more comfortable on your wrist.
About Garmin Venu 3
With its AMOLED 1.4-inch display and a battery that lasts up to 14 days in the smartwatch mode or even up to 26 days in the Battery Saver mode, Venu 3 is a great pick for joggers, cyclists, swimmers or simply fitness enthusiasts who value durability and appreciate improved readability during workouts or health checks.
While its design may seem a bit bulky (especially if you have a smaller wrist) compared to lighter options, it still seems well-suited for sports and outdoor activities, with advanced features like constant heart rate, women’s health or hydration monitoring, multiple workout modes, area calculation for outdoor recreation, cycling alerts, and more.
About Garmin Venu 3S
Garmin Venu 3S is a compact alternative to Venu 3 that offers the same platform, similar features and fast response time but in a smaller and lighter form. The reduced weight and sleek design make it more convenient for casual use – especially if you have small wrists, are sensitive to heavier watches or simply prefer a discreet design.
However, the comfort comes at the price of a smaller 1.2-inch screen and shorter battery life – 10 days in the smartwatch mode and up to 20 days in the battery saver mode. While Venu 3S is well fit for everyday wear and users who prefer lighter models, it may prove a less suitable option for a workout-heavy routine.
Garmin venu 3 vs 3S: specs and features compared
To better understand what makes each smartwatch stand out and how they compare against each other, I compiled some of their stand-out features, such as workout modes, display size, weight and more, in a table below:
| Garmin Venu 3 | Garmin Venu 3S | |
| Display specs | 1.4-inch diameter, 454x454 resolution | 1.2-inch diameter, 390x390 resolution |
| Memory | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Physical size | 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 | 30 g (47 with band) | 27 g (40 with band) |
| Battery life | 14 days (26 in a Battery Saver mode) | 10 days (20 in a Battery Saver mode) |
| Workout modes | 6, including for wheelchair users | 6, including for wheelchair users |
| Voice calls and sending texts via voice | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistance | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
Both models use the same software, are made from the same materials, offer similar health monitoring and fitness features (from step counter to sleep monitoring), and integrate identically within the Garmin ecosystem.
However, you can still notice differences when it comes to physical parameters, such as display size, weight, and battery life, making the models best fit for different wrist sizes and intensity of use.
There’s no single best choice, as your decision will ultimately depend on your goals. Choose Venu 3 if you prioritize battery life and readability, but consider Venu 3S if you have a smaller wrist or plan for less demanding use.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: design, display and color options
Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S share the same materials, build quality, case size and AMOLED display, with the difference coming down to case diameter, thickness, and weight.
At almost 50 g with band, Venu 3 feels more substantial on the wrist and takes up more space – which won’t be a problem if you’re used to heavier and bigger watches, but may not be the best option for users with smaller wrists, those who plan to sleep in their watch or aim for daily use rather than workouts.
Meanwhile, Venu 3S is lighter and comfortable for 24/7 wear, not interfering with your routine or sleep. It also has a more flexible design, with the band available in multiple colors, while Venu 3 only supports classical black and white options.
However, if you’re planning to make use of fitness-focused features, such as workout routines or on-screen workout animations, you might prefer Venu 3’s larger screen and 454x454 resolution.
Venu 3S’s sleek design is impressive, but Venu 3 still stands out for me thanks to a bigger display, sharper visuals and better readability – which feels like a stronger fit for fitness and sports.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: fitness and workout tracking
Venu 3 and Venu 3S share a pretty much identical set of advanced fitness features, which includes 6 different training modes, over 30 fitness apps integrated, animated workouts, custom workout creation, and dedicated toolsets for running, swimming, cycling and other activities. Both models also support the same 12 activity profiles, from winter sports to boxing to outdoor recreation.
One thing to consider is how the watch size may affect your experience with certain features – for example, workout muscle maps or animations which are displayed on the screen. Those who plan to focus on intense workouts over casual monitoring may find Venu 3 more convenient, although 3S’s screen is still considered perfectly fit for fitness activities.
Both models are perfectly fine for fitness and sports, but Venu 3 is slightly ahead due to its screen being a better match for custom and animated workout routines.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: health monitoring
Both Venu 3 and Venu 3S use the same sensor hardware and algorithms to track factors like heart rate, sleep stages, stress levels, respiration, hydration and body battery metrics. Data is processed and displayed in the same format as well, and both devices work with the Garmin Connect app for more convenient use.
However, if your goal is daily use and 24/7 monitoring, the models’ size and fit can once again prove crucial for your experience – as Venu 3S might feel less intrusive during sleep because of its slim design and lighter weight.
While both models provide equal functionality, Venu 3S might offer better sleep comfort, which is essential to day-to-day health monitoring.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: battery life
Battery life is one of the key, stand-out differences between Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S due to their different battery capacity and physical size.
Garmin advertises longer battery life for Venu 3 for all modes, including smartwatch and GPS-only – claiming it can last up to 26 days on the Battery Saver mode, as the additional internal space allows the watch to operate longer between charges. According to the manufacturer, Venu 3 will also work up to 14 days with default display configurations and up to 5 days with the Display Always On mode.
Meanwhile, 3S is claimed to work up to 20 days on the Battery Saver mode, up to 10 days with default configurations, and up to 5 days with the Display Always On mode, a side effect of its compact design. However, most users note that they still find 3S’s battery sufficient for daily use, even though the charging may be required more often.
Both models are praised by users for their battery life, but Venu 3 stands out for better battery durability and less frequent charging needed.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: price
Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S usually stay in a close pricing range, with the same price being listed on the manufacturer’s official website, and only a slight gap noticeable with online retailers.
Both sit at a higher end of mid-range – more budget-friendly compared to other Garmin models, but still far from affordable. However, despite virtually identical features, you may sometimes be able to find Venu 3S at a lower cost due to its smaller size.
Keep in mind that pricing can also vary based on the retailer, region, and promotional periods. It’s important to shop on trusted platforms only (such as the official website or Amazon) and time your purchase right – for example, you may be able to get better pricing during Black Monday or the Christmas sale.
Although the models’ pricing is identical most of the time, 3S may occasionally sell at a more beneficial price while maintaining the same feature set.
Garmin venu 3 vs 3S: smart features
Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S offer the same set of smartwatch features, both supporting smartphone notifications for calls, messages, and apps, on-wrist texting, music storage, photo viewing (although only available for Android), calendar, weather forecasts, and more. Garmin Pay for contactless payments is also available for both models.
The app ecosystem is identical, with users able to customize their watch and download third-party apps through the Connect IQ store, as well as use the Garmin Connect app for data syncing and analysis.
There are no smart features exclusive to either model. Compatibility with Android and iOS devices is also the same, although there may be limitations tied to the specific phone’s limitations.
Venu 3 and Venu 3S share the same set of smart features and integration capabilities, with no clear winner in this category.
What do users think about each model?
During discussions on Reddit, retailer sites and community forums, Venu 3 users praise its large display and longer battery life. While some feel that the size can feel excessive (especially on smaller wrists), most also claim they don’t feel any particular discomfort.
Venu 3S users often highlight comfort and design among advantages, as many find lighter weight and smaller case better for wearing continuously – especially overnight. And despite a smaller battery life, most still find it sufficient enough for daily use.
In both cases, users seem to compliment the watches’ functionality and durability, while some of the common complaints include high price and – in certain cases – inaccurate metric reporting.
Users tend to compliment both models, with the choice usually depending on personal preferences for design and build.
Final verdict: which one should you buy?
The choice between Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S comes down to how the watch fits into your daily routine, with key features essentially the same.
If you’re more targeted towards fitness activities, don’t mind bulkier design, and prefer a larger display as well as longer battery life with fewer charging interruptions, Garmin Venu 3 will be a more practical option. If comfort for 24/7 wear and lighter weight matter the most to you and you’re planning for casual use, Venu 3S can be a better match.
Remember that both will provide the same experience with Garmin’s health, fitness, and smart features, so decide based on how you want the watch to feel on your wrist and which display size or battery life suits your lifestyle better.
FAQ
Is Garmin Venu 3 more accurate than Venu 3S?
No, Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S operate using the same system, sensors and algorithms. Their tracking accuracy is usually considered equivalent.
Do Garmin Venu 3 and 3S have the same health sensors?
Yes, both watches have the same heart rate, sleep and stress monitoring features, as well as other advanced tracking capabilities. Their main differences lay in display size and battery life.
Which model is better for small wrists?
Garmin Venu 3S is often considered a better fit for small wrists due to its smaller case size and lighter weight, which can be crucial during 24/7 wear. However, the eventual choice may depend on your personal preferences.
Does battery life differ significantly between Venu 3 and 3S?
Yes, Venu 3 is believed to have longer battery life, as the manufacturer claims it can go uncharged up to 14 days on default settings. Meanwhile, Venu 3S is said to require more frequent charging.
Are Garmin Venu 3 and 3S compatible with the same accessories?
Yes, most accessories, such as charging cables and software features, are believed to be compatible, although bands may differ by size. You can check a specific accessory’s compatibility on the official Garmin website.
