Okay, so I’ve been rocking a Garmin Venu 2 Plus for a while now, and it’s been pretty solid. But then the Venu 3 dropped, and I got that itch, you know? The “ooh, shiny new thing” itch. So, I decided to do a little head-to-head comparison, a real-world test, to see if upgrading was worth it.
First thing I did was unbox the Venu 3. Gotta love that new-gadget smell! I charged them both up to 100% – gotta start fair, right?
Side-by-Side Look and Feel
Putting them side-by-side, the Venu 3 is noticeably… sleeker. The 2 Plus isn’t chunky, but the 3 just feels a bit more refined. The screen on the 3 is also a tad bigger, which I appreciate. It’s not a huge difference, but every little bit helps when you’re glancing at your stats mid-run.
Battery Life Test
This was a big one for me. I hate charging my watch every other day. So, I wore both watches, one on each wrist, for a full week. I used them for my usual workouts – a mix of running, strength training, and some yoga. I also kept the always-on display turned off on both, ’cause that’s how I roll.
Here’s how the battery drained:
- Day 1: Venu 2 Plus – 92%, Venu 3 – 95%
- Day 3: Venu 2 Plus – 75%, Venu 3 – 82%
- Day 5: Venu 2 Plus – 50%, Venu 3 – 65%
- Day 7: Venu 2 Plus – 28%, Venu 3 – 48%
Yep, that’s not even a contest. The Venu 3 is the clear champ in the battery department.
Workout Tracking
During my workouts, I paid close attention to the heart rate readings. Both watches were pretty consistent, with only minor variations. I didn’t see anything that made me think one was significantly more accurate than the other. The GPS tracking was also on point for both. No complaints there.
One feature I dug on the Venu 3, It shows the Nap tracking which I took a nap during the testing period, It’s so amazing to see that.
Sleep Tracking
I wore both watches to bed (yeah, I looked a little ridiculous). Both gave me sleep scores and breakdowns of my sleep stages (light, deep, REM). They were generally in agreement, but the Venu 3 seemed to provide a bit more detail, especially about my sleep cycles. It also offers personalized sleep coaching tips, which is a nice touch.
The Verdict
After a week of double-wristing it, I’ve gotta say, the Venu 3 is a worthy upgrade. The improved battery life alone is a huge win for me. The slightly larger screen, sleeker design, and extra features like sleep coaching are just icing on the * you are thinking about the upgrade, it’s worth it.