x1Garmin has once again shaken up the smartwatch market with the launch of its latest wearable, the Venu X1. Marking a significant evolution from the lifestyle-focused Venu lineup, the X1 brings cutting-edge performance features into a stylish and lightweight design. With this release, Garmin aims to bridge the gap between its fashionable Venu series and performance-driven Forerunner lineup, offering a product that appeals to both fitness enthusiasts and premium smartwatch buyers.
Let’s explore the key features, design innovations, performance capabilities, and real-world impressions of this highly anticipated watch.
Launch and Market Positioning
Unveiled on June 18, 2025, the Garmin Venu X1 comes with a premium price tag of $799.99 USD. This places it firmly in the same category as devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. It’s clear Garmin is setting its sights on a new tier of consumers—those who want a watch that balances luxury aesthetics with robust health and fitness tracking.
Garmin’s strategy with the Venu X1 is bold. It’s not just a successor to the Venu 3—this is a watch that attempts to disrupt the premium smartwatch market by offering top-tier design and performance in a more compact and stylish form factor.
Design: Sleek, Minimal, and Premium
One of the most striking features of the Venu X1 is its ultra-slim profile. At just 7.9 mm thick and weighing only ~40 grams, it is Garmin’s slimmest and lightest advanced smartwatch to date. Despite its feather-light build, the watch doesn’t compromise on durability, thanks to a titanium caseback and sapphire crystal display.
The X1 sports a 2-inch square AMOLED screen with a high resolution of 448 × 486 pixels. The screen is edge-to-edge, vivid, and remarkably bright, reaching up to 2,000 nits, making it easily readable even under direct sunlight. The watch is available in two refined color variants: Black and Moss Green, both paired with a ComfortFit nylon band that ensures all-day comfort.
In short, the Venu X1 redefines what a Garmin watch can look like—clean, minimalist, and premium.
Advanced Performance Features
While its looks are modern and minimal, the Venu X1 packs serious fitness and performance capabilities under the hood. Borrowing several features from Garmin’s Forerunner 970 and Fenix series, this device is no slouch when it comes to athletic performance.
- Built-in TopoActive Maps: These enable offline mapping, route planning, and real-time navigation—making it an ideal companion for runners, cyclists, and hikers.
- Training Metrics: Includes a full suite of Garmin’s most advanced tools—Training Readiness, Endurance Score, Hill Score, Running Economy, Race Projections, Impact Load Factor, and more.
- Sport Modes: Supports over 100 sport profiles, covering activities like golf, triathlon, skiing, cycling (including power meters), swim-run, and indoor gym workouts.
- Fitness Sensors: Features Garmin’s Elevate v5 heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, barometric altimeter, and compatibility with ANT+ external sensors.
However, one notable omission is multi-band GPS. While the Venu X1 supports all major satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS), it lacks dual-frequency GPS, which can result in slightly less accurate tracking in dense urban or mountainous areas.
Smartwatch Capabilities
The Venu X1 is also Garmin’s most feature-rich smartwatch to date. It goes beyond fitness tracking and delivers a comprehensive lifestyle experience.
- Built-in Speaker and Microphone: Users can take calls directly from their wrist, record voice notes, or use basic voice controls. It’s not a full voice assistant yet, but a useful addition for everyday use.
- Music Storage: Comes with 32 GB of internal memory, supporting offline playback from platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer.
- Contactless Payments: NFC-enabled Garmin Pay allows for quick and secure purchases on the go.
- Smart Notifications: Displays calls, messages, emails, calendar alerts, and social media updates with vibration alerts.
- App Support: Through the Connect IQ platform, users can download custom watch faces, data fields, and widgets. However, the ecosystem is still limited compared to Apple’s App Store or Google’s Wear OS platform.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance is a critical aspect of any smartwatch, and here the Venu X1 delivers solid, though not record-breaking, endurance.
- Smartwatch Mode: Up to 8 days (without always-on display).
- Always-On Display Mode: Drops to around 2 days.
- Battery Saver Mode: Extends life to 11 days by disabling some features.
- GPS Tracking: Lasts about 14 hours in all-systems mode, 16 hours with GPS-only, and around 7 hours when playing music.
These figures are respectable but slightly behind Garmin’s own Forerunner and Fenix models, which offer significantly longer battery lives. Users prioritizing ultra-endurance for activities like multi-day treks or marathons might still prefer the older, chunkier models.
Comparison with Venu 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 2
| Feature | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin Venu 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$799 | ~$450 | ~$799 |
| Display | 2″ AMOLED | 1.4″ AMOLED | 1.9″ OLED |
| Thickness | ~7.9 mm | ~12–13 mm | ~14.4 mm |
| Weight | ~40 g | ~47 g | ~61 g |
| Battery (AOD off) | Up to 8 days | ~14 days | ~36 hours |
| Battery (AOD on) | ~2 days | ~5 days | ~1.5 days |
| GPS | All-systems | Multi-band (optional) | Dual-frequency |
| Offline Maps | Yes | No | Yes |
| Flashlight | Yes | No | No |
| Voice & Calls | Yes | No | Yes (LTE model) |
| App Ecosystem | Garmin Connect IQ | Garmin Connect IQ | Apple App Store |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | WR100 (dive-rated) |
The Venu X1 clearly outshines the Venu 3 in features and hardware, while standing toe-to-toe with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in design and lifestyle appeal. Its edge lies in deeper performance analytics, mapping tools, and lighter build. However, Apple still leads in third-party apps and cellular integration.
What Users Are Saying
Early adopters have been vocal about their satisfaction with the Venu X1. Many point to the display as the standout feature, calling it Garmin’s most vibrant and sharpest screen yet. Its lightweight design is praised for making it more comfortable than bulkier fitness watches.
On the flip side, some users have expressed disappointment over the lack of multi-band GPS and the need for more frequent charging when using the always-on display. Others feel the price is a bit high for a device that doesn’t offer cellular connectivity.
Still, for most Garmin fans, the Venu X1 feels like a breath of fresh air—offering a modern aesthetic without sacrificing too much performance.
Final Verdict
The Garmin Venu X1 is a refined, powerful, and highly wearable smartwatch that redefines Garmin’s approach to premium wearables. It caters to a modern audience—those who want powerful fitness features, outdoor mapping, and voice support in a device that looks just as good at the office as it does on the trail.
Ideal for:
- Runners, cyclists, and triathletes who want advanced metrics without bulky gear.
- Professionals looking for a smartwatch that blends design with function.
- Fitness enthusiasts switching from traditional smartwatches like the Apple Watch.
Not ideal for:
- Ultra-distance athletes who need multi-week battery life.
- Users who rely on cellular connectivity.
- Those who prioritize deep third-party app ecosystems.
Garmin may still introduce a Venu 4 or an even more feature-packed wearable in the future, but for now, the Venu X1 stands as a symbol of the brand’s evolution—toward sleeker, smarter, and more stylish devices.
