Wear Radar

Garmin VenuvsApple Watch SE

Garmin Venu
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Users who want Garmin's best health analytics and sports tracking on a stylish AMOLED watch that doesn't look like a hiking GPS. Works equally well for Android and iPhone. The best Garmin option for someone who prioritises everyday wellness over extreme outdoor sports.

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Apple Watch SE
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

Best for: iPhone users who want Apple Watch's core experience — activity tracking, notifications, crash detection, and Apple Pay — at a lower price point. Ideal for kids, teens, or anyone upgrading from a much older watch without needing the advanced health sensors.

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Garmin VenuApple Watch SE
TierSmartwatchSmartwatch
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS only
Battery14 days18h
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, nap detectionhr, irregular rhythm, crash detection, fall detection
ReleasedSep 7, 2023Sep 19, 2025
Cycle length868 days1098 days
Cycle advicebadgood
Deals advicegoodneutral
Next modelApple Watch SE 4 (Expected fall 2027)

Why buy each?

Garmin Venu

Garmin Body Battery

Garmin's signature energy monitoring tracks stress, sleep, and heart rate variability to give you a daily 0–100 energy score — more nuanced than raw step counts.

Nap detection

The Venu 3 automatically detects when you nap during the day and logs it accurately in your sleep data — a unique wellness feature among smartwatches.

AMOLED display, 14-day battery

Most AMOLED smartwatches last 1–2 days. Garmin's efficient software architecture stretches the Venu 3 to 14 days — a huge practical advantage.

Apple Watch SE

Full watchOS at a lower price

Access the entire watchOS app ecosystem, Apple Pay, Siri, and Family Setup — for $150 less than the Series 11.

Crash and fall detection

Emergency SOS, fall detection, and Crash Detection give real safety value even without premium health sensors.

Aluminium in four colours

Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED with a wide range of Apple Watch-compatible bands.