The smartwatch market is evolving at breakneck speed, with brands racing to blend cutting-edge fitness features and everyday convenience into ever-sleeker packages. Garmin’s Venu series has long occupied a sweet spot for athletes looking for the brand’s robust health tracking, but without the bulk and complexity of its elite running watches. The Garmin Venu X1 is easily the brand’s most successful version to date, satisfying both fitness enthusiasts and style-conscious users who normally wouldn’t consider anything other than an Apple Watch.
Garmin Venu X1
Cons
Short battery life (especially with always-on display)- No dual-band GPS
- App ecosystem less robust than Apple/Google
Design and Display
The Venu X1 is worlds apart from Garmin’s previous round-faced Venu models, introducing a familiar square design with a ginormous 2-inch AMOLED display (448 x 486 pixels) that stretches nearly edge-to-edge. The display is truly the star of the show, here. It’s super bright and easy to navigate, even in direct sunlight. The optional always-on setting lets you check your time and your stats without raising your arm. (At the expense of your battery, of course). The sheer size and clarity of the display honestly makes my husband’s Apple Watch Ultra 2 look a little puny in comparison.
Even with that size, though, the X1 has a thin profile and lightweight build feels light and comfy on your wrist. The watch face is just 7.9mm thick and weighs only 34 grams, making it Garmin’s thinnest watch to date. At the same time, its titanium shell and sapphire crystal lens give it reassuring durability. The device is also water-resistant up to 5 atmospheres (ATM), which means you can strap this baby on and go from the road, to the pool, to your shower and more.
Likewise, its default fabric band is breathable and you could wear it all day and night without a problem. The quick-release mechanism for the band allows for easy strap swaps and customization. Which, you’ll likely be grateful for because the sport strap is hideous. It’s comfortable as heck, but looks like a belt that soldiers wear with combat fatigues. Why gray, Garmin? Why?
User Interface and Software
The Venu X1 runs an updated version of Garmin’s proprietary operating system, which mixes the user-friendly flow of its Forerunner and Fenix watches with the style-forward details found in previous Venu models. I found the workflow reasonably intuitive, trading buttons for swipes like its chief rival, Apple.
The X1’s two-button layout (upper and lower right) complements the touchscreen, with the upper button serving as an “enter” or activity portal launcher and the lower as a universal “back” button. Everything else, from launching workouts to customizing data screens, are handled via touchscreen, making the experience feel more like navigating your phone than a standard GPS running watch.
Speaking of which, the Garmin Connect companion app returns as the hub for interfacing with your data on your phone, which is critical for data visualization and device management. The app offers a robust dashboard with detailed health and fitness analytics and customizable widgets, but it feels unwieldy compared to similar apps from Apple and other brands. (You have too much on the front page and not enough sticky landing areas, Garmin.)
Despite improvements over the years, the messy layout and poor integrations hold the X1 (and all of Garmin’s watches) back a bit. It’s never stopped me from recommending Garmin watches, and it doesn’t make the X1 any less phenomenal, but I’m still waiting for the day that Garmin’s software matches the quality of its hardware.
Fitness and Health Tracking
The Venu X1 covers all the basics: step tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and killer GPS for outdoor activities. Heart rate and fitness tracking are pretty freaking accurate, closely matching results from chest straps and other high-end wearables. Its GPS acquisition picks you up quick and stays accurate. Even without the dual-band system Garmin employs on its other high-end watches, it delivered excellent accuracy for running, cycling, and swimming, with consistent route tracking and minimal signal drops.
The X1 also sports advanced analytics previously found in higher-end Garmins, including VO2 max, “Body Battery,” sleep tracking, HRV (Heart Rate Variability), and blood oxygen saturation monitoring. Adding metrics like “Training Readiness,” “Endurance Score,” and “Hill Score” bring a new level of insight for those serious about training.
On the recovery side, the X1 has the best sleep monitoring of any Garmin I’ve tested. It more closely matched my Oura ring than other models and, since it’s so light and flat, it was much more comfortable in bed than other sport watches. I might have even preferred it over the Oura itself.
The Venu X1 tracks workouts across a long list of different sports, from running and cycling to swimming and strength training. It’s great for triathletes, multi-sport fanatics, and everyday users. The nifty on-screen workout animations, automatic activity detection, and customizable data fields (up to eight per page) make it a close companion for almost any activity.
Smart Features
In keeping with its hybrid running-lifestyle vibe, the X1 offers more non-fitness quality of lifestyle features than the average Garmin watch. Though it still doesn’t compare with the versatility and ease of the smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, and Google, but I think it comes pretty close. You get many of what I’d consider to be the most important daily conveniences you might not normally get with a running watch.
- Notifications: Interface with calls, messages, and app alerts from your phone directly on your wrist. The built-in microphone and speaker allow for on-device calls when paired with your phone. It’s not loud, but gets the job done. They are tricky to silence, though, which can be annoying. Thank heavens it goes into automatic do not disturb mode when you sleep, or your Gmail would make you murderous.
- Music: You can listen with offline music playback with support for Spotify and Deezer, plus ample storage for playlists.
- Payments: Garmin Pay enables contactless payments at compatible terminals, though bank compatibility may vary by region. Unlike the Apple Watch, though, this isn’t a tap-and-pay scenario in many cases. It often requires a code to work, which undercuts its effectiveness.
- Third-Party Apps: Access to the Garmin IQ Store allows for additional apps and watch faces, though the selection is not as extensive as Apple’s App Store or Google Play.
Battery Life
The Venu X1’s most significant compromise is battery life: With the always-on display enabled, you can expect to get up to 2-ish days on a single charge; or up to 5 days with it turned off. GPS tracking drains the battery faster, so expect it to last through about 14 hours or so continuous running time.
That’s pretty rough by running watch standards. The X1 generally dies quicker than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or the Fitbit Sense 2. That said, it still performs more efficiently than most lifestyle-focused smartwatches, and offers better charging speeds. Garmin still has not switched to using a USB-C charging port, though, so don’t lose that cable, folks!
Road Testing
I’ve been testing the Venu X1 for a few weeks, now. I’ve tested it in the always-on mode, in lift-to-read mode, and more. I’ve done the “charging every morning” thing, and the “letting it ride until it dies,” thing. I’ve run in the mountains, city, on the beach, and on the treadmill with the Venu X1. I’ve downloaded the most popular apps and watch faces, used it to track my sleep, my habits, and even played some chess. (Unfortunately, I still can’t play chess.)
As a running and everyday watch, the X1 a joy. It’s light, big, and easy to use. It’s wildly reliable. Even in areas with crappy service, like the mountains and the beach, it had no problem linking up with its satellite buddies and tracking my pace and mileage. It’s not quite so situationally robust as the Garmin 965, but feels better as an everyday smartwatch because it’s so slim and light.
In fact, I think I may even prefer it over my Apple Watch as a lifestyle piece: I feel much more confident in its performance, so I don’t feel like I need to switch watches for the sake of my metrics. I even wear it to the office now, and I don’t see myself taking it off any time soon—especially since I ordered a much cuter band that doesn’t make me want to cover it with my sleeve.
Where it needs help is app integration and the Garmin Connect interface. Other than the proprietary chokehold Apple has on partnerships with popular fitness apps, I don’t understand the lack of quality programming in their app store. If I could use this watch and link it to my Ladder App or Centr App for training as easily as I connect it to a treadmill, I’d be over the moon. That being said, it does have a ton of different activity options, so hitting “HIIT” or “weightlifting” and then doing the workout still gives you a decent read of your energy expenditure and VO2 max.
It’s also sturdier than the Ultra in my opinion. My favorite weightlifting exercises are the Body and Bell training on Ladder (shoutout Lauren Kanski!) and Hyrox style on Centr, and both workouts are hard on watches. I’ve slammed this bad boy into many a ski machine and kettlebells have hit the watch dozens of times at this point, and nary a scratch is on him.
As with all sport watches, it can get a bit sweaty, and the funk of a fabric band is a real concern and something Garmin should consider when it chooses a new standard band, but they’re inexpensive to replace, and even if they’re ugly, they’re practical and comfy.
Overall, it’s a top contender for the best I’ve tested this year, easily. OH! And you can use it for golf too, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Comparing the Specs
Garmin Venu X1
Garmin Venu 3
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Display:
2″ AMOLED, square
1.4″ AMOLED, round
1.93″ OLED, square
Thickness:
7.9mm
12.2mm
14.4mm
Battery (AOD on):
2 days
4-5 days
1.5 days
Dual-band GPS:
No
No
Yes
Offline Maps:
Yes
No
Yes
Price (MSRP):
$799.99
$449.99
$799
Compared to its predecessor, the Garmin Venu 3, the X1 offers a larger, brighter display, thinner body, offline maps, and more advanced training metrics, but at the cost of battery life and a higher price. Compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Venu X1 matches or exceeds in display size and mapping features but falls short in app ecosystem and battery efficiency.
Final Verdict
The Garmin Venu X1 is a boss-level, forward-thinking smartwatch that changes what we expect a fitness-focused wearable can look and feel like. It’s best suited for users who prioritize display quality, advanced health metrics, and a sleek, modern design—and those who are willing to accept shorter battery life as the trade-off. Runners, tech-savvy users, and those who value Garmin’s robust GPS will find a lot to love, though those needing week-long battery life or a richer app store may want to look elsewhere.
If you want the most stylish, feature-rich Garmin yet and are comfortable with daily charging, the Venu X1 is a compelling—if pricey—choice. But for many, it will be the perfect balance of fitness and blending in with all the other square watches out and about.
Cat Bowen has been covering parenting and home for over a decade. At Best Products, she has tested hundreds of products for parents and for the home, often spending dozens of hours per product to ensure her reviews are accurate and informative. Prior to joining the team, she was at Romper where she covered everything from breastfeeding to child sleep habits to abortion rights access. You can find her work on Bustle, Romper, and more. Cat is a bit of an intellectual magpie and perpetual student, most recently receiving a graduate degree in gender studies where she examined a topic that vexes so many — pockets in women’s clothing.