Breaking Down the Garmin Venu X1: A Titan of Smartwatches
- The Garmin Venu X1, priced at $799, flaunts a premium titanium design and shares similar high-end features with the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 970.
- The watch boasts an 8mm-thick titanium body, built-in mic & speaker, LED flashlight, offline maps, and a sleek AMOLED display with sapphire glass protection.
- The 2-inch square-shaped AMOLED display provides brighter visibility than most other AMOLED watches.
Slim, Unusual Garmin Watch Spotted: Here's a Breakdown of Venu X1's Notable Features
With the Garmin market gravitating towards AMOLED screens, the Venu series took the lead in this trend. Now, the Garmin Venu X1 adds to this tradition, boasting a sleek, 8mm-thick design reminiscent of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Garmin's strategy for the Venu X1 seems to revolve around challenging the Apple Watch Ultra, with a slightly larger display, the same $799 launch price, and an impressive eight-day battery life. This watch clocks in at 448 x 486 resolution, with a border along the top and bottom slightly noticeable compared to the Apple Watch Ultra's 502 x 410 resolution.
In essence, while the Garmin Venu X1 and the Apple Watch Ultra share many differences, they cater to distinct user preferences. The Apple Watch Ultra excels in apps, computing power, phone integration, and full titanium casing, whereas the Venu X1 focuses on high-end fitness features and a comfortable design.
Venu X1 vs. Venu 3: The Fitnessshowdown
The Garmin Venu X1 beats the Garmin Venu 3 in terms of fitness-oriented features. While the Venu 3 is more of a generalist, lacking key training tools like Training Readiness, the Venu X1 offers an array of advanced features tailored to runners and hikers.
For runners, the Garmin Venu X1 adds Training Status / Load / Effect, Lactate Threshold, Performance Condition, Daily Suggested Workouts, a Race Glance widget, real-time stamina, heat acclimation, multi-sport activities, Strava Live Segments, Hill / Endurance scores, and numerous new sports modes.
As for hikers, they will appreciate the Venu X1's predownloaded topo maps, which should look exceptional on the 2-inch display, and could render the Garmin Instinct 3 users green with envy. Additionally, the watch features 43,000 golf courses and a Virtual Caddie.
Know Your Fitness Game in Minutes
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In terms of smart features, the Venu X1 brings back the mic & speaker, now capable of Voice Memos and on-device voice commands, although it may not match the level of Apple's Siri or Google Assistant. For a detailed feature-by-feature comparison between the Venu X1 and Venu 3, you can visit the Garmin Compare link.
For a more budget-friendly yet superior fitness experience, the Garmin Forerunner 970 might pique your interest. It shares the same premium perks as the Venu X1, such as an LED flashlight, mic & speaker, sapphire crystal protection, and top-tier Elevate v5 sensor for ECGs and skin temperature. It also lasts up to 15 days on a single charge, compared to the Venu X1's eight days, with 21 hours of dual-band GPS tracking.
However, the Venu X1 offers a competitive advantage with its much lighter weight (40g vs. 56g for the Forerunner 970) and sleeker profile (4.9mm thinner). This makes the Venu X1 a popular choice for athletes who prioritize comfort and wearability for extended workouts.
Finally, the Garmin Venu X1 offers a more spacious watch face for glanceable information and custom complications, making navigation and usage more user-friendly.
The Venu X1: Love It or Hate It
The Garmin Venu X1 will attract users who crave sleek, skinny designs reminiscent of the Apple Watch X. However, those who prefer the traditional round design of the Fenix 8 or its fully titanium case might find the Venu X1 a little too out-there for their liking.
On the flip side, the Venu X1's smart design—weighing in at around 50g less than the 47mm Fenix 8—makes it an attractive choice for workouts due to its lightweight nature.
We hope to see a Garmin Venu 4 later this year, which could maintain the Venu X1's sleek design while offering increased affordability, potentially filling the gap between the Venu X1 and Venu 3 in terms of pricing and features.
The Garmin Venu X1 is priced at $799, and will be available in Black and Moss finishes at Garmin's online store starting June 18.
- The Garmin Venu X1, touted for its sleek design and advanced fitness features, can be compared to the Apple Watch Ultra in terms of aesthetic appeal, despite their differences in functionality.
- With the addition of Voice Memos and on-device voice commands, the Garmin Venu X1 expands its smart features, setting it apart from budget-friendly options like the Garmin Forerunner 970 while appealing to users who prioritize comfort and lightweight design for extended workouts.
