Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs Garmin Venu 3
The Verdict
Both smartwatches share Garmin's solid foundation at nearly identical prices, but the Venu 3 delivers meaningful upgrades. Display improvements include a larger 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with 454 x 454 resolution compared to the 2 Plus's 1.3-inch 416 x 416 panel, offering noticeably sharper visuals. Health tracking expands significantly on the Venu 3 with ECG and skin temperature monitoring, features absent on the 2 Plus. Battery performance improves substantially: the Venu 3 reaches 14 days in smartwatch mode versus 9 days, and GPS endurance extends to 26 hours from 24. The Venu 3 weighs 4 grams less despite the larger screen. Both maintain water resistance, NFC payments, and comprehensive fitness tracking. Given the superior health sensors, extended battery, enhanced display, and identical pricing, the Venu 3 represents the stronger choice for most users seeking current Garmin technology.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Garmin Venu 2 Plus if…
- →Built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist
- →Vivid AMOLED display is one of the best on any Garmin
- →Voice assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby) via phone
Buy the Garmin Venu 3 if…
- →Outstanding 14-day battery life with AMOLED display
- →Comprehensive health tracking including ECG and skin temperature
- →Built-in speaker and microphone for calls
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Pros
- Built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist
- Vivid AMOLED display is one of the best on any Garmin
- Voice assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby) via phone
- 9-day battery with AMOLED is excellent
- On-watch music storage with Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer
Cons
- No cellular — phone calls require Bluetooth connection to phone
- No multi-band GPS — less precise in urban canyons
- $449 approaches Apple Watch Ultra territory
- Stainless steel bezel adds bulk at 51 g
Garmin Venu 3
Pros
- Outstanding 14-day battery life with AMOLED display
- Comprehensive health tracking including ECG and skin temperature
- Built-in speaker and microphone for calls
- Advanced sleep coaching and nap detection
- Multi-band GNSS for accurate GPS tracking
Cons
- No third-party app ecosystem like Wear OS
- Limited smartwatch features compared to Apple/Samsung
- No cellular connectivity option
- Garmin Pay supports limited banks
Full Specifications
| Spec | Garmin Venu 2 Plus | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Garmin OS (Connect IQ) | Garmin OS |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 51 g | 47 g |
| Case material | Stainless steel bezel with fiber-reinforced polymer case | Stainless steel bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5 ATM |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 days (smartwatch), 24 hrs GPS | Up to 14 days smartwatch mode, 26 hours GPS |
| Display | ||
| Size | 43mm (1.3 inches) | 1.4 inch |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 416 x 416 | 454 x 454 |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Garmin custom processor | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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