Okay, so I’ve been on the hunt for a new smartwatch, and I narrowed it down to the Garmin Venu series. Specifically, I was torn between the original Venu and the newer Venu 3S. Here’s how my whole decision-making process went down.
First Look: Specs and Features
I started by, you know, just Googling both watches. I looked at pictures, read some basic reviews, and compared the main features. The Venu 3S is obviously newer, so I figured it would have some upgrades. Right off the bat, I noticed the 3S has that new heart rate sensor – the Elevate Gen 5 – which is supposed to be super accurate. The original Venu has the older Gen 3 sensor.
Digging Deeper: Battery Life and Size
Battery life is HUGE for me. I hate charging stuff all the time. The original Venu was pretty good, claiming around 5 days in smartwatch mode. But the Venu 3S boasted up to 10 days! That’s a big jump. Then there’s the size. The “S” in 3S stands for “small,” and it’s definitely more compact than the original Venu. I have kinda small wrists, so this was another point for the 3S.
Trying Them On (The Real Test!)
Honestly, reading specs online only gets you so far. I needed to actually see these things. So, I went to a local store that had both models. I strapped on the original Venu first. It was fine, felt okay, but a little bulky, to be honest. Then I tried the Venu 3S. Much better! It felt lighter and just fit my wrist better. The screen looked really crisp on both, but the smaller size of the 3S just felt more comfortable.
Sleep Tracking Showdown
I’m a bit obsessed with tracking my sleep (don’t judge!). Both watches do sleep tracking, but the Venu 3S has some extra features. The original Venu does the basics – light sleep, deep sleep, REM, all that. But the Venu 3S adds in sleep coaching and nap detection. Those sounded pretty cool, and I liked the idea of getting personalized advice on how to improve my sleep.
The Price Factor
Of course, you can’t ignore the price. The Venu 3S is newer, so it’s naturally going to cost more. I found the original Venu for a pretty decent price, especially since it’s been out for a while. The 3S was definitely a bigger investment. I had to weigh the extra features and better battery life against that higher price tag.
Making My Choice
After much debate and I decided to do it. I picked the Venu 3S.
The reasoning is really about these factors for me:
- Better Fit: It just felt way better on my wrist.
- Battery Life: That 10-day battery life was a major selling point.
- Sleep Features: I was intrigued by the sleep coaching and nap detection.
- Newer Sensor: I figured the newer heart rate sensor would be more accurate.
Even though it cost more, I think the Venu 3S is a better long-term investment for me. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and so far, I’m really happy with my choice! It’s comfortable, the battery lasts forever, and I’m loving all the data it gives me.