Apple Watch Series 10 vs Garmin Venu 3
Elisabeth Christ
Updated October 2024
The smartwatch market continues to evolve with standout releases like the Apple Watch Series 10 and Garmin Venu 3, each targeting users with different needs. Apple’s latest iteration pushes the boundaries of sleek design and software innovation, while Garmin’s Venu 3 emphasizes fitness accuracy and wellness insights, perfect for athletes and everyday users alike. Both watches offer compelling features, from advanced fitness tracking to long-lasting battery life, but how do they truly compare when it comes to design, performance, and everyday utility?
Key Takeaways
The Apple Watch Series 10 brings premium design, robust smart features, and solid integration with the Apple ecosystem, while Garmin Venu 3 stands out with superior fitness tracking and endurance-driven battery life. The choice between the two hinges on whether you prioritize style and smart features (Apple) or athletic precision and lasting power (Garmin).
Apple Watch Series 10
Ultra-Slim Apple Smartwatch with Impressive Improvements
✓ WR50 and IP7X-rated water resistance
✓ Always-On Retina LTPO3 display
✓ WatchOS 11
✓ New sleep apnea detection
Garmin Venu 3
Mid-Range Smartwatch with Advanced Health Features
✓ Up to 14 days of battery life
✓ Built-in Speaker & Microphone
✓ Bright 1.4" AMOLED touchscreen display
✓ Wheelchair Mode
#1 Design & Price
Apple Watch Series 10 vs Garmin Venu 3
The Apple Watch Series 10 brings Apple's signature elegance with a lightweight, compact design that balances function and aesthetics. Available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, the aluminum or titanium body choices offer a sleek profile that's enhanced by an always-on Retina LTPO3 display. The Series 10 is just 9.7mm thick, making it one of the slimmest smartwatches on the market, yet slightly bulkier than its predecessor. With its IP7X water resistance and WR50 rating, it can withstand everyday splashes and even a swim, making it as durable as it is fashionable. The price starts at $399, while the titanium variant comes in at $699, which reflects Apple's premium touch.
Garmin’s Venu 3 contrasts this with a more robust build, ideal for those seeking durability over elegance. Its fibre-reinforced polymer case and stainless-steel bezel make it a heavier, more rugged option compared to the Series 10. Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, the Venu 3 also offers a choice of minimalistic silicone bands, perfect for fitness activities. With a 5ATM water resistance, it's designed for more intense water-based sports, including swimming and diving. Starting at $449.99, Garmin's Venu 3 positions itself as a slightly more expensive option, catering to fitness enthusiasts looking for robust, professional-grade features.
#2 Features & Performance
• Smart Features
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch Series 10 impresses with its seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. Powered by watchOS 11 and the S10 SiP 64-bit dual-core processor, it supports apps, notifications, and calls with ease. The 2,000-nit Retina display ensures vibrant visuals, even in bright outdoor conditions, and the new voice isolation feature is ideal for phone and FaceTime calls in noisy environments. Gesture controls, like the double-tap feature, add a modern twist, making navigation intuitive. However, the Series 10 is more suited for users deeply embedded in Apple's ecosystem, providing the best experience with iPhones.
Garmin Venu 3
Garmin Venu 3, on the other hand, offers a more fitness-focused smart feature set. Its built-in GPS supports multiple GNSS systems, ensuring precise location tracking in various environments. Garmin’s approach emphasizes wellness and recovery insights with features like advanced sleep coach and nap detection, along with a comprehensive Morning and Evening Report to track your energy levels throughout the day. While it lacks some of Apple’s intuitive gesture controls, it compensates with a seamless Garmin Connect app experience that offers a broad range of fitness and health data.
• Wellness Monitor
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple’s wellness offerings are robust, with the Vitals app tracking heart rate, wrist temperature, and respiratory rate. The Series 10 even introduces sleep apnea detection, although this is still unavailable in the U.S. This watch’s wellness features are designed with subtlety, integrating health tracking seamlessly into the overall user experience. With an improved accelerometer and high-precision sensors, Apple offers great accuracy in monitoring your vital stats, although it’s more lifestyle-oriented than its competitor.
Garmin Venu 3
Garmin Venu 3 shines in this area, offering a more thorough approach to wellness monitoring. It excels with features like Body Battery, which tracks your energy reserves based on heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep data. Garmin’s Stress Score and HRV measurements add another layer of depth, helping users manage their mental and physical well-being more proactively. The Venu 3’s ability to monitor health trends through the Garmin Connect app also makes it a go-to for serious athletes looking for continuous, detailed insights.
• Fitness Tracking
Garmin Venu 3
Fitness tracking is where Garmin excels, and the Venu 3 continues this legacy. It comes equipped with extensive sport modes, covering everything from basic steps and calories to advanced metrics like VO2 Max, endurance scores, and hill performance for outdoor athletes. The in-built Garmin Coach feature offers personalized workout plans, making it a fitness companion for every level of athlete. The accuracy of its dual-band GPS and various sport modes ensures it’s ready for everything from triathlons to daily runs.
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch Series 10, while not as specialized in sports tracking as Garmin, still provides a comprehensive fitness experience for the everyday user. It offers basic metrics such as heart rate, steps, and GPS tracking for running and cycling, while its new voice isolation and gesture control features make it great for workouts. Apple Fitness+ also provides a suite of personalized workout plans, but the metrics aren't as granular as what Garmin delivers, making it ideal for those who prioritize casual fitness over athletic precision.
#3 Battery & Connectivity
Garmin Venu 3
In terms of battery life, the Apple Watch Series 10 keeps up well with its industry peers but doesn't lead the pack. Apple promises 18 hours of standard use or up to 36 hours with Low Power Mode activated. The quick charging feature is a standout, providing up to 80% charge in just 30 minutes. For users seeking a smartwatch that powers through their day, Apple’s charging capabilities are ideal, but frequent charging may be needed if used extensively for fitness tracking or media playback.
Garmin Venu 3, however, is a different beast when it comes to battery life. With up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 26 hours in GPS mode, it's designed for users who don’t want to think about charging every day. The Venu 3’s energy efficiency makes it more suitable for long trips or continuous fitness tracking without worrying about finding a charger. This long-lasting battery paired with solid Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi connectivity gives it a clear edge for those who value endurance over fast charging.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs Garmin Venu 3
Final Thoughts
Apple Watch Series 10 vs Garmin Venu 3
Both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Garmin Venu 3 bring their own set of strengths to the table. Apple continues to offer a sleek, premium device that's heavily integrated into the Apple ecosystem, making it ideal for those who prioritize smart features and general wellness tracking. Garmin Venu 3, on the other hand, excels with its robust fitness features, durable design, and remarkable battery life, catering more to the athletic crowd. Choosing between these two largely comes down to lifestyle—whether you prefer a watch designed for all-around smart usage or one finely tuned for fitness and wellness monitoring.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Apple Watch Series 9
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Coros Pace 3
Garmin Venu 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix 7 Pro
Author
Elisabeth Christ
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