Trying to decide between the Garmin Venu 3 and 3s? After spending time with both, I’ve got some strong opinions on which one actually deserves a spot on your wrist.
After 5 years of reviewing wearables and health tech at Gadget Flow, I’ve seen my fair share of fitness trackers. But if there’s one brand that consistently earns my respect, it’s Garmin. Their multisport watches aren’t just packed with features—they’re built like tanks and actually last through grueling workouts (and life in general). If you’re serious about fitness, a Garmin just makes sense. So when I got the chance to test the Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S, I was thrilled. These aren’t your typical rugged Garmin watches—they’re sleeker, and more lifestyle-friendly.
But choosing between the two watches is a challenge. Outfitted with similar tech and features, I had to wonder, which one is the better buy? This blog aims to help you sort through the details. Today, I’ll thoroughly compare the Garmin Venu 3 with the Garmin Venu 3S. So whether you’re after ease-of-use, or a gizmo that takes your fitness to the next level—you’ll discover which one covers all your bases here.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: Design and Display
Garmin Venu 3
Design plays a huge role in how a smartwatch feels on your wrist, and the Venu 3 is definitely made to stand out. With its large 1.4-inch AMOLED display and crisp 454 x 454 resolution, it delivers vibrant visuals that are easy to read at a glance. The 45 mm case gives it a bold, statement-watch vibe—perfect if you want your smartwatch to double as an accessory. But at 50 grams, it’s also the heaviest of the two models. Personally, as someone with smaller wrists, I found it a bit much. It felt bulky, and after a while, I noticed the weight. If you’re into big displays and don’t mind the extra heft, though, this one makes an impression.
Garmin Venu 3S
If the Venu 3 is a statement piece, the Garmin Venu 3S is its sleeker, more subtle counterpart. With a 41 mm case, it’s ideal for smaller wrists or anyone who prefers a more minimalist design. The lighter 38-gram weight was a game-changer for me—I could wear it all day without it feeling intrusive. I even forgot I had it on while typing at work, which is a big plus. The 1.2-inch AMOLED display is smaller and has a lower 390 x 390 resolution, which means it’s not quite as sharp. But honestly, I never struggled to read notifications or check my stats. If you value comfort over size, this one’s the better pick.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: Battery Life
Battery is a dealbreaker for me. I once owned a smartwatch from a big-name brand that barely lasted 8 hours. I had to charge it mid-day just to make sure it survived my 4:30 pm workout. Never again. Thankfully, Garmin takes battery life seriously, and both the Venu 3 and 3S deliver a solid performance—way beyond the sad 8-hour mark. Here’s how they compare:
Garmin Venu 3
If you hate charging your devices constantly, you’ll appreciate the Venu 3’s massive battery life—up to 10 days in smartwatch mode. That’s over a week of wear without worrying about a charger. But there is a catch: if you’re using GPS non-stop (say, for long runs, cycling sessions, or hikes), the battery drops to around 20 hours. Still, that’s pretty standard for GPS-heavy use, and compared to many other smartwatches, it holds up well.
Garmin Venu 3S
The Venu 3S doesn’t last quite as long, but 8 days in smartwatch mode is still a win in my oppinion. And even if you rely on the GPS, you’ll get around 18 hours, which is more than enough for most workouts. What I love is the set-it-and-forget-it factor—there’s no daily charging anxiety here. Just pop it on the charger once a week, and you’re good to go. If you don’t need the absolute longest battery life, the 3S still delivers solid longevity without extra bulk.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: Smart Features
Smart features turn your watch into a true everyday companion. They go beyond just tracking workouts—they help you handle your day with a tap. Fortunately, both the Venu 3 and 3S are loaded with these conveniences. Here’s my take:
Garmin Venu 3
The Venu 3 comes packed with everything you’d expect: contactless payments via Garmin Pay, seamless smart notifications, and music storage with playback. Plus, it even features a speaker and microphone, so you can answer calls directly from your wrist when your phone’s nearby. For someone like me who values connectivity on the go, these features really add up.
Garmin Venu 3S
The Venu 3S doesn’t skip a beat—it has the same smart capabilities in a more compact form. If you’re after a smaller, more understated design without sacrificing functionality, the 3S is a great match. It has the same features, just with a sleeker silhouette.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: Health Monitoring
Now we get to the real reason you’re considering these smartwatches—the health monitoring features. If there’s one thing Garmin nails, it’s tracking every aspect of your health, and both the Venu 3 and 3S deliver exactly that.
And, just like the smart features, this category is a draw between the two smartwatches. The Garmin Venu 3 and 3S watches have exactly the same health monitoring features. These include:
Morning Report
There’s been a lot of talk about Garmin’s Morning Report feature all over the web. What it amounts to is this: it’s overview of your sleep, recovery, HRV status, daily calendar & more. And you receive it as soon as you wake up. You can even set the parameters of what you want to see. I genuinely look forward to it; it sets the tone for my day and helps me fine-tune my workout for optimal results.
Sleep Tracking
For the first time on a Garmin smartwatch, the Venu 3 and Venu 3S include nap-tracking. That’s right! Before these watches’ 2023 release, Garmin watches only tracked nighttime sleep. With the updated Sleep Coach, the Venu 3 and 3S can log those mid-afternoon power naps and even offer daily sleep summaries with tailored recommendations. After a particularly intense day, my watch has nudged me to catch a few extra winks—something I’ve come to really appreciate.
30+ Sports Apps
Whether you’re into swimming, running, yoga, or even pickleball, these watches have you covered with support for over 30 sports. I particularly like the workout creation feature in the Garmin Connect App. It lets me design custom routines from over 1,600 exercises and send them directly to my watch. It’s like having a personal trainer on standby, ready to push me to the next level.
Training Plans
I’ve wanted to train for a marathon for a while. Luckily, Garmin Coach on the Venu 3 and Venu 3S offers free adaptive training plans that help me progress through fitness levels step-by-step, helping me achieve my long-term goals. This is a dream for me. Instead of meeting with a trainer a couple of times a week, I can get a plan tailored to my goals right on my watch.
Garmin Venu 3 vs 3S: Price
Both the Venu 3 and Venu 3S cost $449.99 on Garmin’s official site. However, I’ve heard that the Venu 3S is sometimes discounted throughout the year. Currently, both the Venu 3 and the Venu 3S are on sale on Amazon, for $415.22 and $410.99 respectively in certain colors. If you’re looking for a premium multisport smartwatch without splurging too much, keeping an eye on either watch on Amazon could score you a discount.
The Verdict: The One I’d Actually Wear
For me, comfort is everything, so I’d go for the Garmin Venu 3S. With my smaller wrists, the Venu 3 felt too bulky and heavy—its large display is impressive, but not if it weighs you down. That being said, people with larger wrists, i.e. men, probably won’t have issues with the Venu 3’s larger display and case. For me, it’s purely about comfort and ease of use.
I’ll note that the Venu 3 has a longer battery life than the 3S, which could be an essential feature for you, depending on how you want to use the watch. As someone who excerises regularly—but close to home—I find an 8-day battery life more than satisfactory.
Plus, since both models share the same smart and health features, the Venu 3S hits the spot for people who value comfort and style. But, if a larger display and longer battery life are important to you, the Venu 3 is a solid—if pricy—choice.
