Garmin are, in my view, the most reliable name in smartwatches. Granted my frame of reference is relatively small and I usually wear mechanical watches (professional hazard), but I have recently taken to double-wristing, and I have relied on the Epix II. It’s taken me from the demanding jungles of Colombia to the equally balmy saunas of the Dolomites and has never missed a beat. So, when I say the new Venu X1 impressed me, that is no small thing.
Rather than going rugged and oversized like the Epix II, the Venu X1 sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. It’s aimed at everyday wear. Slim, light, and just plain good looking, it’s still packed with the features that matter. It feels more like a smartwatch in the best sense of the word. It wears well, the proportions are right, and the build quality is clear from the start.
Despite being built for daily use, it can still handle an adventure. Most recently, I tested its capabilities on a camping trip that included swimming in the North Sea, golfing on the local links courses, and hiking the coastal paths. I don’t usually find myself attached to tech items, but this is something I was so impressed with, I want to wear it every day (and perhaps even replace my Whoop).
This is Garmin’s thinnest and lightest smartwatch to date. At just 7.9 mm thick, with dimensions of 41x46mm and a weight between 34 and 40grams, depending on the strap, it wears like a feather. The titanium caseback and ComfortFit nylon band help it disappear on the wrist, yet it still feels solid and premium. It’s something comparable in dimensions to a Santos on leather. A little wider, but thinner and just as wearable.
The real eye-catcher is the 2.0 inch AMOLED sapphire covered touchscreen display. It is the biggest and sharpest Garmin has ever made, with a 448 by 486 resolution that remains clear even in bright sunlight. It’s crisp and colourful and finally gives Garmin a screen that can stand alongside the best from Apple and Samsung. It really came into its own during rounds of golf, measuring distances to the green with ease. It also has a really nice red-light function for when you want to wind down.
Out of the box, setup takes less than half an hour through the Garmin Connect app. Everything feels fast, smooth, and more intuitive than most other smart devices. Even things like button mapping and gesture control are easy to customise.
Smart features are decent. You can take Bluetooth calls, pay with Garmin Pay, and store up to 32GB of music with Spotify built in. Still, this is not a full replacement for a smartphone. There is no cellular support, the reply function is fiddly, and app support is limited. Personally, I turn off all notifications on a smartwatch. Life is busy enough, and when I am out running, golfing, swimming, or hiking, I do not want my wrist buzzing with every email and calendar ping. I want performance tracking, clear data, and the occasional alert when it matters (I set mine to alert me for calls only).
The Venu X1 supports over 100 different sports and includes all of Garmin’s key sensors. That means it can track your heart rate, measure blood oxygen levels, detect movement, know which way you are facing, monitor temperature, adjust to lighting conditions, and track changes in elevation. It also has advanced location tracking that works well whether you’re in a busy city or out in the countryside.
That said, I found the Epix II gave more accurate distance readings on the golf course, though without more use, I can’t confirm if this was a course specific thing. Garmin’s wellness tools are also included, and they are genuinely useful if you are trying to balance work, training, and rest. Heart rate variability, Body Battery (a metric that charges overnight) stress tracking, and sleep scoring all help you figure out when to push and when to slow down. It turns out camping makes you sleep like a baby.
Battery life is excellent and lasted the whole four-day trip in a host of different modes. You can get up to eight days in smartwatch mode, two days with the screen always on, and up to 16 hours of solid GPS use. It easily outlasts the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’s worth noting however during a round the watch did reset a few times and kept crashing, this seemed to sort itself out after a while and perhaps was patched by a software update.
The Venu X1 isn’t for people who want to scroll through Instagram on their wrist and want an extension of their phone. It is for people who care about training, recovery, and data, but still want something slim, sharp, and wearable every day.
The display is superb, the build is excellent, and the battery life is more than enough. If you are already in the Garmin ecosystem, or just want a break from being constantly connected, the Venu X1 is not just one of Garmin’s best products to date. It is one of the most well-rounded smartwatches available. Just don’t expect it to replace your phone (or your mechanical collection for that matter).
Price and Specs:
More details at Garmin.
