Garmin Venu
Garmin gets smart with its first AMOLED sports watch.
Physically, the Garmin Venu is more of an understated tracker than a distinctive timepiece. Besides a grooved stainless steel band around the bezel, the circular polymer body is otherwise pared-back, bordering on generic – and it’s not instantly distinguishable from the Vivoactive 4.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, provided you want a sporty smartwatch that flies under the radar. It makes less of a style statement than the Apple Watch, but it’s also subtler than the bold frontage of the Suunto 7. You could easily wear the low-key Venu from gym to office without raising eyebrows: the 12.4mm depth means it sits slim beneath a sleeve, while the quick-release catch makes it easy to switch up your look with 20mm straps.
The metal ring around the case also adds a welcome hint of premium build quality, while the polymer construction ensures the Venu hits the scales at a featherweight 46.3g. Wear it all day and there’s little risk of wrist ache.
The Venu’s 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen is a sight to behold. Sharp, bright and vibrant, it transforms the user experience when compared to the memoryin-pixel display technology used on other Garmin watches. Blacks are deep, colours vivid and the extra brightness means the screen is readable even on the sunniest of runs.
Watch faces and widgets are crisp, too, courtesy of a 390 x 390 pixel resolution that puts the Venu into the ring with the likes of the Fossil Gen 5, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 3 and the Apple Watch
Series 5.
As you’d expect from a Garmin device, there are dedicated profiles for all sorts of sports, which can be individually loaded onto the watch. Besides running, cycling, pool swimming and golf, you can select from cardio, strength training, rowing or a whole host of different disciplines. Runners can follow input from Garmin’s Coach, a programme that guides you to your goals with adaptive training recommendations, while gym goers can task the Venu with counting their reps – though this system isn’t foolproof.
These modes are backed up by the Venu’s impressive suite of sensors. For outdoor activities, there’s GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO on-board, offering accurate location-tracking and excellent coverage. The Venu is quick to pick up a signal and reliably traces routes, even in wooded areas. Complimented by the in-built barometric altimeter, it’s also deft at recording terrain data, so your elevation effort won’t go unnoticed.
With a brilliant display, strong battery life and a full suite of fitness features, the Garmin Venu is one of the best all-round activity trackers. While its app library and touch interface won’t trouble the Apple Watch, the Venu is also a stellar smartwatch for those of a sporting disposition. Chris Rowlands