Garmin Venu 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch8
The Verdict
The Garmin Venu 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch8 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is the cheaper of the two at $300 versus $399, a difference of about $99. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Garmin Venu 2 stands out for stunning amoled display with always-on option, while Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is praised for thinnest galaxy watch at 8.6mm. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Garmin Venu 2 if…
- →Stunning AMOLED display with always-on option
- →11-day battery life outperforms most AMOLED smartwatches
- →Comprehensive fitness tracking with 25+ sport profiles
Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 if…
- →Thinnest Galaxy Watch at 8.6mm
- →3nm Exynos W1000 processor
- →3000 nits peak brightness
Pros & Cons
Garmin Venu 2
Pros
- Stunning AMOLED display with always-on option
- 11-day battery life outperforms most AMOLED smartwatches
- Comprehensive fitness tracking with 25+ sport profiles
- Health Snapshot for quick 2-minute wellness checks
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments via NFC
Cons
- No ECG or blood pressure monitoring
- No cellular option — requires phone for notifications
- Limited smart features compared to Apple Watch or Wear OS
- Third-party app ecosystem is limited
- $399 is expensive for a non-cellular watch
Samsung Galaxy Watch8
Pros
- Thinnest Galaxy Watch at 8.6mm
- 3nm Exynos W1000 processor
- 3000 nits peak brightness
- Wear OS 6 with Gemini AI assistant
- Dual-frequency GPS
Cons
- $300 starting price for base model
- Battery life varies heavily with AOD
- Limited third-party watch face selection on Wear OS
Full Specifications
| Spec | Garmin Venu 2 | Samsung Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Garmin proprietary OS | Wear OS 6 with Gemini |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 49 g | 28.8 g (40mm) |
| Case material | Stainless steel bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case | Armor Aluminum |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 11 days (smartwatch), 8 hrs GPS with music | Up to 40 hours |
| Display | ||
| Size | 45mm | 40mm / 44mm |
| Type | AMOLED Always-On | Super AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 416 x 416 | 480 x 480 (44mm) |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Garmin custom SoC | Exynos W1000 (3nm) |
| RAM | — | 2 GB |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
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.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Garmin products or all Samsung products. View full details for the Garmin Venu 2 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch8.