Why Garmin Instead of Apple or Samsung
I’ve used Apple Watch before. It was fine, but the battery life drove me nuts - charging every night got old fast. When my last watch died, I decided to try Garmin. They’re known for serious fitness tracking and better battery life, so I picked up the Venu 3.
Two months in, here’s where I’m at.
First Impressions
The Venu 3 looks more like a regular smartwatch than the sporty Garmin models with the chunky bezels. The AMOLED screen is bright and colorful - no complaints there. The 45mm case fits my wrist well without looking oversized.
It comes with a silicone band that’s comfortable for workouts. I swapped it for a leather one for office days, which is easy enough to do.
The interface takes some getting used to if you’re coming from Apple or Samsung. Garmin’s software is different - more focused on fitness data than apps and notifications. Took me a few days to get comfortable navigating everything.
Fitness Tracking - The Main Attraction
This is where Garmin shines. The workout tracking is incredibly detailed. After a run, I get pace splits, cadence, ground contact time, heart rate zones, and a bunch of other metrics I’m still learning to interpret.
Built-in GPS is accurate and locks on quickly. I’ve compared routes to my phone’s GPS and they match up well.
The sleep tracking is more advanced than what I had before. It breaks down sleep stages and gives you a “body battery” score that shows how recovered you are. Actually useful for deciding whether to push through a workout or take a rest day.
One thing I appreciate: you can create custom workouts and it guides you through them with vibration prompts. I built a strength training routine with rest timers and it works great.
Smartwatch Features
Here’s where it’s more mixed. Basic notifications work fine - I can see texts, emails, and app alerts on my wrist. But you can’t really respond to them beyond canned quick replies.
There’s no voice assistant built in (you can use it with Siri or Google Assistant on your phone, but it’s clunky). The app store is limited compared to Apple Watch.
Music storage is there though - you can load Spotify playlists offline, which is great for runs without your phone. Garmin Pay works for contactless payments at places that accept it.
Battery Life
This is the big win. I charge it once a week with normal use. If I’m doing GPS-tracked runs every day, maybe twice a week. Coming from Apple Watch’s daily charging, this felt luxurious.
During a weekend camping trip, I didn’t think about charging at all. That alone made the switch worth it for me.
What I Genuinely Like
- Detailed fitness and sleep tracking
- Battery lasts close to two weeks in smartwatch mode
- Bright AMOLED display that’s easy to read outdoors
- Accurate GPS without needing my phone
- Offline Spotify for runs
- Comfortable for all-day wear
- Sturdy build quality
What Falls Short
- Limited smartwatch apps compared to Apple/Samsung
- Can’t really interact with notifications
- No voice assistant worth using
- Learning curve for the interface
- Price is on the higher end
- Water resistance could be better rated
The Price Question
Yeah, the Venu 3 isn’t cheap. It costs about the same as an Apple Watch. The difference is what you prioritize. If you want detailed fitness metrics and battery life, Garmin wins. If you want seamless iPhone integration and tons of apps, Apple Watch is still the move.
For Android users, it’s a more interesting comparison with Samsung. I’d say Garmin still edges ahead for serious fitness use, but Samsung is more versatile for daily smartwatch stuff.
Who Should Consider This
Runners, cyclists, gym-goers, or anyone who wants serious fitness tracking will appreciate what Garmin does here. If you’re frustrated by charging your watch every day, the battery life alone might sell you.
If you mostly want a notification center on your wrist and only occasionally track workouts, you’re paying for features you won’t use.
Bottom Line
The Venu 3 converted me to Garmin. It’s not perfect as a smartwatch - you’ll miss some things if you’re coming from Apple or Samsung. But for fitness tracking and battery life, it’s excellent.
I run about four times a week and go to the gym a couple more. This watch handles all of that while lasting a week on a charge. That’s exactly what I wanted.
Prices change frequently. Always verify before purchasing!