Garmin released the 3rd generation Venu series smartwatches in August 2023. It was released in two different variants Venu 3 and Venu 3S.
The significant differences between the Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S are mentioned below.
The Venu 3 and Venu 3S smartwatches differ in terms of the following parameters:
- Size of the watch
- Weight of the watch
- Size of the display screen
- Display resolution
- Battery backup
We expand on these points of difference below.
Size
The same Garmin software drives Venu 3 and Venu 3. The essential difference is in the size of the smartwatches.
| Watch dimensions | Venu 3 | Venu 3S |
|---|---|---|
| Watch size | 45 x 45 x 12 mm | 41 x 41 x 12 mm |
| Recommended wrist circumference | 135-200 mm | 110-175 mm |
| Silicone band size | 22 mm | 18 mm |
- Venu 3 and Venu 3S have the same thickness of 12 mm.
- Venu 3 is wider at 45 mm and Venu 3S is a 41 mm smartwatch.
- Venu 3 features a 22 mm quick release silicone band and Venu 3S features an 18 mm quick release silicone band
Weight
- Venu 3 weighs 30 g without the band and 47 g with the silicone band.
- Venu 3S weighs 27 g without the band and 40 g with the silicone band.
Display
Venu 3 and Venu 3S use the 3rd generation Corning Gorilla glass in the display lens. But, the difference lies in the size of the display of either watch.
- Venu 3 has a display lens of 1.4″ or 36 mm
- Venu 3S has a display lens of 1.2″ or 30 mm
The bigger display of Venu 3 translates into a higher display resolution.
- Venu 3 has a display resolution of 454 x 454 pixels
- Venu 3S has a display resolution of 390 x 390 pixels
Battery
The battery backup offered by Garmin Venu 3 is marginally higher than the backup of Venu 3S.
| Watch modes | Venu 3 backup | Venu 3S backup |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | Up to 14 days (5 days display always-on) | Up to 10 days (5 days display always-on) |
| Battery Saver Smartwatch mode | Up to 26 days | Up to 20 days |
| GPS-Only GNSS mode | Up to 26 hours | Up to 21 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS mode | Up to 20 hours | Up to 15 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS mode with music | Up to 11 hours | Up to 8 hours |
Colors
Venu 3S is available in more diverse color options than the Venu 3 smartwatches.
Venu 3S watch is available in the following 5 colors:
- Soft Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with French Gray Case
- Slate Stainless Steel Bezel with Pebble Gray Case
- Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with Sage Gray Case
- Soft Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with Dust Rose Case
- Soft Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with Ivory Case
Venu 3 is available in the following 2 colors:
- Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with Whitestone Case
- Slate Stainless Steel Bezel with Black Case
Apart from these differences, all other features and capabilities of the Venu 3 and Venu 3S smartwatches are identical.
Closing thoughts
The primary consideration, therefore, in picking the Venu 3 or Venu 3S smartwatch model has to be the wrist size. For thin wrists, Venu 3S is suitable. For bigger wrists, Venu 3 or the 45 mm variant must be given a preference.
The core functionality and features of both smartwatches remain unchanged.
Helen Kurt is a geeky nerd who loves to cover the wearables space. She has over 5 years of experience in the smartwatch domain. You can reach her on email at [email protected].