The Garmin Venu 4 presents a fresh aesthetic, enhanced precision, Forerunner training resources, and an entirely new Fitness Coach. But does it suffice for owners of the Venu 3?
Designed for athletes seeking daily workout recommendations, the Garmin Venu 4 strives to provide more diverse suggestions for both indoor and outdoor exercises than what a Forerunner can deliver. It retains the slimmer, sleek appearance of the Venu 3 but incorporates superior materials, updated hardware, and the latest Garmin user interface.
Pros:
– Flashlight and dual-band GPS
– Eye-catching steel in casing
– Training load, courses, and additional Forerunner training tools
– Daily personalized workout suggestions and Garmin Fitness Coach
– Innovative circadian sleep advice
– Health Status and Lifestyle Tracking
– 40 new sports modes
Cons:
– Increased brightness leads to reduced battery longevity
– Lacks new health sensors or sapphire glass
– Priced $100 higher
The Garmin Venu 3 was a game-changer in numerous aspects. Garmin’s anticipated software obsolescence for older models implies it won’t benefit from the Venu 4’s new features; nevertheless, self-guided athletes continue to experience the same fundamental capabilities, with the most prevalent indoor and outdoor sports modes, precise health metrics, and a lightweight, slim design.
Pros:
– Improved daily and always-on display battery longevity
– Additional button for shortcuts
– Lighter polymer casing
– Consistent health sensor accuracy
– More budget-friendly and frequently discounted
Cons:
– Absence of flashlight and dual-band GPS
– Dimmer AMOLED display
– Limited training guidance and no course navigation
– Will not receive new Garmin software updates like Health Status
The Garmin Venu 4 enhances the Venu 3, our top all-purpose Garmin watch of the last two years, featuring understated design tweaks, a handful of anticipated hardware improvements, and a comprehensive array of new fitness attributes that give this fourth-generation version a feel akin to the Forerunner 570 with fewer buttons.
This overview comparing the Venu 4 and Venu 3 is unlikely to reveal many surprises. Most Garmin watches in 2025 have added a flashlight, increased display brightness, voice commands, smart alarms, and new Garmin Coach plans. Those hoping for sixth-generation health sensors or other exclusive features may be let down.
Nevertheless, despite the widening gap between the Venu X1 and Venu 3, the Venu 4 boasts numerous appealing upgrades for those who felt Garmin restrained the Venu 3 software too much to achieve mainstream accessibility.
Let’s explore every critical difference to assist Garmin enthusiasts in determining whether the Venu 4 justifies the additional cost or if the Venu 3 remains a worthwhile purchase if available at a discount.
Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu 3 specs
| Category | Garmin Venu 4 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|———-|—————|—————|
| Case colors | 41mm: Slate, Silver, Lunar Gold; 45mm: Slate, Silver | 41mm: Slate, Silver, Soft Gold; 45mm: Slate, Silver |
| Materials | Case: Stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer; Bezel: Stainless steel | Case: Fiber-reinforced polymer; Bezel: Stainless steel |
| Strap | 22mm or 18mm silicone Quick Release strap | 22mm or 18mm silicone Quick Release strap |
| Protection | 5ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 | 5ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Dimensions | 45 x 45 x 12.5mm, 56g w/ strap; 41 x 41 x 12mm, 46g w/ strap | 45 x 45 x 12mm, 47g w/ strap; 41 x 41 x 12mm, 40g w/ strap |
| Display | 1.2-inch (390×390) or 1.4-inch (454×454) AMOLED touchscreen, 2,000 nits | 1.2-inch (390×390) or 1.4-inch (454×454) AMOLED touchscreen, 1,000 nits |
| Tracking | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, SatIQ, All-Systems GNSS + Multi-Band | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, All-Systems GNSS |
| Sensors | Elevate v5 HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, ECG, gyroscope, skin temperature | Elevate v5 HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, ECG, gyroscope, skin temperature |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC |
| Storage | ✔️ (8GB) | ✔️ (8GB) |
| Mic & speaker
