Garmin - Venu 4

The Venue 4 everyone was waiting for it you all seem disappointed but you want more metric and a flashlight you have it I think it's an incredible versatile watch I don't qualify it at all as Life style

I have the same poor battery, I am at 44 hours and 8% - I charged to 100% when I took it out the box and eta was 12d...

I have the smallest wrists and just got a 41 mm Venu 4. The fit is great, and it has pretty much the same running features as the FR 570 without the bulky look!

I really like my Garmin watch, though the model I have (Vivoactive 6) doesn't have an altimeter. The Venu 4 has one though.

My venu 4 launched like a month ago for $550 and has 10 days of battery life. They have cheaper watches as well that completely blow any tier1 phone brand smartwatch out of the water when it comes to battery life.

I've actually used the middle button to bring up my voice assistant. Very handy because I'm a cyclist. So unless there's a way to map that to one of the other buttons, I would miss it. One of the reasons I'm really not interested in the Venu 4 is that the extra metrics all seem to be running based and I don't run.

I'm getting a Venu 4. It's 20 bucks less than the 570, and from what I can see, it's missing swim drills, which is something I don't use now. I also like the look of the Venu over the 570, though I wish Garmin would bring back copper/rose gold bezels/cases. I really liked that colour on my original Venu.

It’s nice. It has a stainless steel or aluminum body so it looks and feels premium. Now has a flashlight which is a very useful feature. Other than that I think it’s just going to be software upgrades. I would honestly just pick up the venu 3 on a sale if you don’t care about the flashlight.

I've owned a Vivoactive 4s for 5 years. I've picked up running this year and am training for a half marathon, so I wanted to treat myself to a new watch. Two weeks ago, I bought the Forerunner 570, and then four days after, the Venu 4 was announced. I was gutted! Venu 4 has everything the Forerunner 570 has, and it is prettier for an office job. So I bought both, compared, and am sticking with the Venu 4. This was a much needed upgrade for me for the training status and progress. I sweat a lot and am in humid MN, and I've not had issues with only touchscreen. My vivoactive 4s didn't have five buttons, so I'm also used to the two buttons and prefer it. The GPS is a little slower than the Forerunner because of the different tech, but I'm not running trails/a super serious runner, so this is fine for me. I thought the light was going to be a feature I didn't use, but I actually use it a lot. I run in the dark, and it's great there. I search for items at night without turning on lights. The lifestyle tracking is fine. Nothing other apps don't already track. I also LOVE the smaller size. My wrist is just under 6 inches, and even the 42mm Forerunner looked too big. All in all, I'm happy with the purchase and plan to have this for another 5 years, so the price was fine for me.

1 - for FR970 the main downsides are price/size/green accent - look at this recent post: https://old.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1no52ny/garmin_forerunner_970_vs_fenix_8_43_mm_white_on/ 2 - only downsides of Fenix 8 (small) are weight/thickness, price and older type of display 3 - Venu 4 (small) is probably a very good alternative, only downsides are lack of sapphire and lack of 5-buttons interface alternative to touch (which is super-important if you do a lot of swimming or for some people even if sweating a lot) 4 - FR570 (small) also is missing sapphire and has the 5-buttons interface but does not have the flashlight :(

Only thing stops me from buying garmin is value preposition. Old models from garmin were priced right. The newer models are priced insane when you also take into account the built quality and software experience. For example : a $1900 fenix 8 pro/fenix 8/forerunner 970 and 570 has a good build quality, but the software is very laggy, start the activity with maps and spotify running it will lag like anything…as per garmin support its expected because of low power cpu and ram. Again if you compare with apple watch ultra the ultra’s build quality is better, you can use full lte and with ultra3 you also get satellite support, fenix 8 pro only supports handful countries and the reception is poor because it uses a different technology and not exactly satellite communication… check YT reviews on this. There were reports where the bezel and “plastic” body of forerunner 979 … (a $750 watch) fell off and thankfully they were in warranty.. i wonder what happens of watch is out of warranty. Venu 4 construction also looks poor to me. Although they use mix of steel and plastic. AW on other hand are built of a single sheet of aluminum Or titanium… ultra which is cheaper than fenix 8 has better construction imo and will last longer. The sw experience with aw is also good. Buy a healthfit app and you get almost equal training insights as provided by garmin. Also i got to know by developer the are redesigning their health insights in the app which will be at next level. Andit costs just 6.99 one time payment. Additionally you also get true satellite, lte, fall detection etc. the list goes long. I don’t need to mention hr sensor accuracy and sleep tracking.. they are the at the top, you don’t need a chest strap even for hiit and gym workouts when using AW So yes today i feel garmin is lagging behind if you keep the battery life out of picture.

The format of that 2s looks like the perfect size imo. Doubt the 1mm higher sizing of the Venu4 would look much different. Probably your best bet as feature wise it's pretty much equal to the 570, with added ECG and flashlight, only lacking in the amount of buttons (really useful though when running) Can always go to a store and try a few out (if you have one near you with garmin watches).

I’ve used it like that too. But it has become troublesome. Now I‘ve integrated it with venu4.

I come from the Venu 3. I switched to the Venu 4 41mm Soft Gold. In addition to the more modern software, I find myself with advanced sports activity metrics such as training effect, training readiness or training status. I wanted to buy a Garmin Forerunner 265s to get this data that I can now have on my Venu 4. For music, the Venu 4 are not yet compatible with YouTube Music. Spotify and Deezer are available though. I loaded music on my Venu 4 from my computer with Garmin Express. The listening quality is really above the Venu 3. For that alone, the upgrade is worth it for me. Another positive point and that made me switch to the Venu 4: the LED lamp. I get up during the night, this feature is just perfect. For autonomy, and as my Venu 3 is two years old now, I think I am more or less the same thing, i.e. 1 week of autonomy with GPS tracking of 4 to 5 hours per week. I don't have enough hindsight though. Anyway, it's better than my Apple Watch which needs to be recharged every day anyway. In summary, I am completely satisfied with my upgrade from the Venu 3 to the Venu 4 41mm.

I suggest venu 3 or 4. Aesthetically pleasing but with all the functions you need (unless you a re a pro athlete).

I went from Venu 2S which I loved, but the altitude stopped working so I got a 3S which was basically the same as the 2S. Now I have the 4 and it is a huge upgrade to those two. I love it, I got the smaller one with gold and white and it is slightly bulkier than the 3 but because the body is metal, it looks good and I will be able to get different colored bands, which I couldn't do with the previous ones because the bezel matched the band. It also has a lot of the metrics that the Fenix has, which I need for differentiating different types of bike rides Mountain bike or gravel or road, etc. It brings in a ton more functionality for sports which I love and I haven't explored a ton yet. The flashlight is so cool, kind of a gimmick, but I love it! The only down side for me is the shortcuts. On the Venu 2 and 3 I could swipe right and get to whatever shortcut I wanted. I had put my timers there and loved how easy it was to set a timer. Now that functionality is gone. You can assign the buttons to be a shortcut, which is what I have done, but I have to train myself to get used to it. Otherwise, it is a HUGE upgrade and gives you everything in the 2 or 3 and a lot of the functionality of Fenix but at a good value. Again, it depends on what you are looking for in a Garmin, what your main use case is. For me it is mountain biking stats, health stats, timer, all in a watch I can wear everyday and now, Flashlight!

The fact that the Venu 4 lifestyle watch had a flashlight and the 570 doesn’t will baffle me till the end of time. Absolute blunder by Garmin there

The FR570 was exactly in my budget, as was the Venu 4. So I compared both and of course decided on the Venu 4It just irritated me that one of the two options seemed like such a worse choice.

Hello everyone, since many people seem to be interested in the new Venu 4 and there aren’t many user reviews yet, I thought I’d share my first impressions of this watch. I actually downgraded from a Forerunner 970. The FR970 is a fantastic watch in itself, but I initially had a massive ghost-touch problem that wasn’t fixed by updates even after several weeks. Garmin offered me a replacement, which solved the problem at first. However, on the replacement unit one of the buttons started to feel mushy and sticky after a few weeks, which really diminished my enjoyment of the watch (this might sound petty, but I pay close attention to details). The FR970 is quite bulky (not as much as a Fenix, but still pretty hefty on my thin wrists) and is clearly designed for very ambitious athletes. As much as I’d like to convince myself otherwise, I’m simply not part of that target group. Many of the advanced and impressive features ended up going unused in my daily life. All of this made me look for a new, lighter, and smaller watch that focuses more on the average person with a few moderate workouts per week, and the announcement of the Venu 4 came at just the right time. So here are my early, fairly superficial impressions after the first 48 hours: Functionality: Compared to the Venu 3, the Venu 4 has received a huge upgrade in sports metrics and now offers a lot of features that were previously reserved for the more expensive Forerunner or Fenix models: Training Status, Training Readiness and Load, Hill Score, PacePro, and more. A few highly specialized metrics are missing, such as Running Tolerance or Stamina, but overall the only noticeable software limitation for me is the lack of full maps. However, there is a breadcrumb-style navigation option that lets you load routes onto the watch and follow them during activities. That’s basically what I used on my FR970 about 90 % of the time anyway. I might occasionally miss the ability to create routes spontaneously on the watch or navigate comfortably back to my starting point, but I was aware of this beforehand. Navigation really is the key factor, anyone considering the Venu 4 should carefully decide whether they can live without full maps. If yes, the Venu 4 is very likely an excellent choice. Feature-wise, the built-in flashlight is a fantastic surprise. I used this constantly on the FR970 and can’t imagine owning a watch without one anymore. The Venu 4’s flashlight appears to be about as bright as the one on the FR970. I haven’t measured it scientifically, maybe there’s a 10 % difference, but the experience feels virtually the same. The latest heart-rate sensor, ECG, Multi-Band GNSS + SatIQ, and what seems to be the same bright display as the FR970 round out the package and set the Venu 4 apart from other watches in Garmin’s lineup (for example the Vivoactive 6 or Instinct 3, though the Instinct 3 also has Multi-Band and SatIQ). It’s also worth mentioning that the Venu 4 only has two buttons. For many that’s a deal-breaker, but since I’ve had bad experiences with Garmin buttons (not only on the FR970), I actually see this as a plus. Of course, that’s a personal preference. Build quality: Surprisingly, the Venu 4 somehow feels more premium than the FR970. That’s mainly because the case is largely made of stainless steel. It’s not a unibody design like an Apple Watch, though: the steel body is interrupted by a thin polymer ring, and the area between the lugs (the lugs themselves are steel, which should help durability) is also polymer. The back of the watch is polymer as well. Still, the Venu 4 uses significantly more metal than the FR970, and at first glance you basically only see stainless steel. You really have to see and hold it to appreciate how much this improves the feel. The steel is lightly brushed, which adds to the premium look. The two buttons have a crisp, well-defined click and feel consistent. The display glass is slightly curved, which makes it more prone to scratches. Since Garmin only uses Gorilla Glass 3 here, a screen protector is highly recommended. On the plus side, the curved glass and slim bezels make the display feel more immersive (the 45 mm Venu 4 has the same 1.4-inch display size as the 47 mm FR970). Unfortunately, just a few hours after unboxing I noticed a tiny nick on the bezel, even though I don’t recall bumping the watch against anything. Luckily it’s only visible in good light and if you look very closely, but it’s another reminder that Garmin bezels can be quite scratch-prone. Accuracy: My experience here isn’t very scientific, as I didn’t pair a chest strap for a true comparison. However, I did notice that sudden spikes in heart rate are detected quickly by the Venu 4. Since it uses the same sensor as the FR970, accuracy is likely very similar. One negative point is that blood-oxygen measurements are rather sluggish. That was the case with all my previous Garmin watches as well. Readings can also fluctuate from 96 % to 100 % within a few seconds. I wouldn’t put too much trust in those numbers, but SpO₂ probably isn’t that important for most people anyway. On the positive side, GNSS connection is established quickly—about seven seconds even in the middle of a residential area. Battery life: It’s hard to say much after only 48 hours. Based on my current usage, the advertised 12 days of average use seem realistic. I’ve lost 21 % battery in 48 hours, but that included initial setup, updates, and a lot of playing around because it’s new. I’ve also recorded about two hours of GNSS activities, which cost roughly 9 % of the battery. Performance/UI: The FR970 occasionally felt a bit stuttery—not terrible compared to some older Garmin watches, but not quite what you’d expect from a premium smartwatch. This lag is often justified by long battery life, but brands like Amazfit or Huawei manage both excellent endurance and smooth performance. Thankfully, the Venu 4 is noticeably smoother than the FR970. I’ve never had a Garmin watch this fluid. Huawei and Amazfit are still a bit smoother, but by Garmin standards the performance is great. The Venu 4 also features more polished, smartwatch-like graphics and animations. While the UI is essentially the same, the refreshed visuals are much nicer than on the FR970. It’s clear the Venu 4 is designed to compete more directly with Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch, placing greater emphasis on an aesthetically pleasing user experience. Other observations: The lower weight and smaller size compared to the FR970 make a big difference. Unlike the FR970, I barely feel the Venu 4 on my wrist and sometimes even forget I’m wearing it. It’s extremely comfortable. The strap is solid but thinner than the FR970’s and probably slightly lower quality, though still perfectly fine. The raise-to-wake gesture works quickly and reliably, whereas the FR970 occasionally had slight delays. I’ve encountered virtually no software bugs so far, very different from the FR970, which took weeks to become reasonably stable. When customizing activity profiles you can assign eight data fields per page, just like on the FR970 (anything less would have been ridiculous). The new health features (Health Snapshot and Lifestyle Logging) are built directly into the watch, which is handy since you don’t always need to pull out your phone. I can’t yet judge how effective these features are, but they look promising. Summary: My experience so far is very positive. This is probably the best first impression I’ve ever had with a Garmin watch. The Venu 4 feels like a well-rounded, solid package that meets all expectations so far. Of course, a lot can change, 48 hours is a short time, so don’t overvalue these impressions and wait for full reviews if you’re still unsure. P.S. I’m from Germany and spent my English classes staring out the window, so my language skills aren’t perfect. I wrote this text entirely in German and then had ChatGPT translate it into English. Please excuse any awkward phrasing.

I have used that function in London and it was quite useful.

I have the v4 and its metal build quality is better than the 970 besides the glass

I never had a problem with it and i went from a forerunner to a venu 4 . I love the simplicity of the v4 especially now with all the running data.

Its better if you count the flashlight

Its basically so cars can see you better

Venu 4 does not have pace pro a basic feature of forerunners for years

Hu there fenix is strong, i wish i had bigger wrist. My foreunner 970 is already big so cant imagine fenix on my tiny wrist lol. But both fenix and forerunners trully have real running metrics. I cant believe the venu 4 does not even have daily suggestions based on pac and only has them based on heart rate. A big no no for a runner targetting an specific distance and time. I have been rethibkibg to sell my 970 for a 570 due to the size of 43mm. But i may miss battery, flashlight, running tolerance and impact load more than size lol. Like my wife says you need to give up on something.  4 years ago i used to train daily on hills and fast runs too, so i injured myself like crazy. Thus the reasoning behind running tolerance as it would guide me to increase mileage in a safe manner.

I got mine waiting for me when I get to land, have never owned a smart watch and got this because i wanted good battery life, something truly waterproof, good health metrics for a general use guy specifically sleep, golf and HR, so I think I nAiled it with the venu 4, i see a lot of metrics on the watch faces, are you able to dumb it down a little so that every metric is t in your face all the time? Are you able to select the features it displays and notifies you about? Final question, cuz its not to late for me to trade for the 41mm, but might be by the time i get to receive it, does the 45mm get in the way or uncomfortable for yall who maybe couldnt decide between the two?

I love it, I upgraded from a forerunner 165. I run a lot so the extra running features are great. I also wear my watch every day to track health metrics so the style of it is so much nicer for a watch to wear every day to work etc. the flashlight is also a huge help, looking forward to using it more in the winter

I’m upgrading from a forerunner 255 to a Venu 4. Do you all think is a great upgrade?

Looking at the venu 4 on my wrist right now, I can confirm there is a max heart rate auto detection, as well as running threshold auto detection. Both can be toggled on or off.

Parallel, I said goodbye to epix pro gen 2, hello to venu 4

Love it. Very nice looking. It does have the torch (flashlight)! I wanted a regular looking watch after years of using a Fenix/epix.

As a venu 4 owner it's awesome, but I get 550 is pricey.

1) venu 4 doesn't have maps. 2) I hate using maps on any watch, they are just too small. Which is why I switched from an epix gen 2 pro to my venu 4.

Got mine yesterday, 41mm venu 4, coming from a 47mm epix pro gen 2. I wanted a more "stylish" less obvious of a fitness watch. A more normal size watch. That being said, ill probably keep my epix in case I ever do a longer more rugged outdoor activity. Unless someone wants to buy my epix for a good deal... It's great so far, i don't even feel it on my wrist. Got a 7 dollar nylon strap from amazon. Butter smooth scrolling, very pretty. The only thing that has raised my eyebrows is how dim the red led light is, it's much dimmer than compared to my epix. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, I'll have to wait and see when i use it when it's very dark. It might end up being okay, or even better. But the white led seems just as bright as my epix. Overall very happy. And very happy not paying a grand or two like I would for a fenix. Another thing I'm getting used to is only having two buttons. It's fine, and I dont think it will matter too much. The scrolling is great. But with 5 buttons I loved my shortcuts on my epix. You could have lots of them. you only get 3 with the venu 4, top, bottom, and both pushed together. Using the flashlight and changing the brightness was super fast with the buttons on epix. Now, you long press the bottom button on the Venu 4, but then you have to select the brightness by tapping or sliding the screen to change it. When before you could use the up and down buttons on my epix to change the brightness very fast without looking at the watch face. I'm sure I'll get used to it, and I'll only lose a second or so

It's definitely a change, but the scrolling is so smooth and intuitive that I'm not missing it. I get they are going for a sleek look. I'm just accepting it's a different family than my Epix, and that's what I wanted.

yes it has ecg

My venu 4 is great. If you're okay with the watch being running based the forerunner 165 is cheaper.

Coming from an Epix sapphire I'm definitely babying the venu 4 more. I ordered some screen protectors for it which I've never done before.

I'm coming from an epix gen 2 pro, it's definitely a change not having the buttons, but not one I miss (except for changing the flashlight brightness). The scrolling is butter smooth on the venu. Although I haven't used it when super sweaty or raining outside.

The venu 4 is the successor to the 3. And cousin to the 570.

Ok that makes sense. I haven't used it while it's been wet yet so hopefully it's still smooth scrolling. Maybe I'll try it in the shower later, I usually charge while showering.

I'm a 5 11 male with fairly below average wrist size. I got the 41mm. I wanted a more "normal" looking smart watch after coming from more bulky Garmin watches. It would be fine if you got the bigger one, 45 is still smaller than the medium 47 size of Garmins other watches. The only difference is a couple days battery life, which I don't care about because I charge every time I shower anyway. I'm not out doing ultramarathons or multi day treks. If I was, I would get a different watch. In summary I would get the 41. Oh and it's not the 4s, it's the 41mm 4. I'm glad they removed the S from their products.

Apparantly asking the question is answering it. When you are not really into sporting (which could change) and no need for supporting training build metrics, the Venu 3 is great (my watch). But if within budget, I’d go for the Venu 4, because you might enter once into training, running etc..and it’s a great (albeit imo overpriced) watch.

Compared to the Venu 3 it has those supporting training build metrics (also to be found on the FR265 and further, as well as the later Fenix series) like Training readiness and components. The Venu 3 is very limited in this respect: only the Recovery item.

I’d go for the Venu 4 which basically is a FR570 but with both LED flashlight and ECG, but with only 2 buttons instead of 5. Dc.rainmaker about the FR570: combination of FR265+ Venu 3. FR570 although with latest HR sensor Elevate 5, no ECG.

When Garmin, make sure the watch you chose has the latest HR sensor, the Elevate 5 on board. For instance: Venu 3 or 4. Or Fenix 8, FR 570 (but has no ECG), FR 965/970. Not the Vivocative 5/6 ones.

Or for people who don’t like a big bulky watch. Except for the lack of buttons and maps the venu 4 misses nothing from the Fenix.

But for much more money. The comparison doesn’t make any sense, smartwatch top class against fitness watch middle class. I would still chose a venu 4 over and Apple Watch any time.

I gotta say - I'm leaning towards the Venu 4 myself. I had both PW1 and PW2, the battery is the killer here. The advertised battery life is usually worse in every day use. Aside from that, I turned off AOD and it still couldn't make it through the day after I had it for awhile. The battery gets worse pretty quickly (months) I'm over different chargers every Gen and then having to charge it daily. They being said I'm going to wait for reviews for both but I'm likely moving on.

Do you like the PW3? That's probably the biggest indicator since you already have a lot of experience there. The pixel watch 4 has upped their game in terms of fitness - dual band GPS, better sleep tracking, and I'm excited by the future AI coach feature. Garmin's AI is a joke (and a subscription, but Google's probably will be too).  Pixel Watch still probably has a slight edge over Garmin for heart rate monitoring but it might not be a meaningful gap anymore. The Gen 4 sensors from Garmin were a generation behind Google but the Venu 4 comes with their newer sensors. Better sleep tracking for Google might mean more meaningful results in the metrics though (like cardio load).  If you don't use a lot of the smart features of the pixel watch, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Venu 4. Better battery life and a more fitness oriented. Either way, aside from the battery life, I don't think it'd make too big of a difference for you since you don't pay too much attention to the metrics (which I think is kind of a good thing)

I use Garmin's training load. it's ok, but it's mostly oriented also around cardio so paired with the mediocre heart rate monitor, my mostly strength training doesn't make training load particularly useful for me either. It's fine for getting a general idea of where my overall workload is historically but I don't find it more helpful than that really. What other metrics are you interested in?

Those buttons matter for runners, trying to touch screen in the rain or bad weather is horrible. Also I prefer the larger screen size to the venu4. The 570 is widely available in my country so much so that getting retailers to price match is much easier. I got a retailer to price match and beat by 10% my 570 from a Garmin 25% discount, effectively the same price as a 265 rrp. Would I pay full rrp for a 570 hell no!

I just picked mine up at REI. My venu’s battery was degrading to the point it felt like I had an AW. I had dividends at REI an and with the additional ones I earned purchasing it there , if you apply some “girl math”, I got it cheaper than the venu 3 launch price.

I made the switch 4 weeks ago after having an Apple Watch for 5+ years. DO IT. I thought I’d miss the ecosystem but I don’t. Lots of gimmicks. Garmin is more “neat” in what it offers, and offers it well. I love the battery and the more in-depth info it offers. Don’t get me wrong, the first week I was like oh no, I can’t get used to this. Now, I’d never look back and now my partner wants to change her Apple Watch after seeing mine. I have the Venu 4 and find it’s a brilliant inbetween of a smart watch with a great screen but putting health data first. Also, all the info sends over to Apple Health, including the sleep data. Edit: are you in the UK?

Go with the Garmin. They are primarily fitness watches and it sounds like that’s what you want. The battery life alone is far superior than an AW.

What’s even more annoying is the Venu 4 has the metal case but only gorilla glass while the 970 has the plastic case with sapphire glass. Other wise they are so similar the only difference being the 5 buttons on the 970 vs 2 on V4 and maps on the 970 but not on V4. I too have heard the V4 runs very smooth and faster than the 970. It’s insane that it feels like you are compromising on some front with either watch. The Venu and Forerunner line really should just be merged at this point and do like Apple does have a base watch and can pay more for the metal or sapphire glass but otherwise the watch is the same.

I got mine in saturday and i am so happy! My Apple Watch 5 was outdated, so i finally decided to get a Garmin😃 I have the 41mm with the purple band & It looks so nice! 🥹

I currently have a Venu Sq that I love, but it was uh... run over by a bunch of skiers last winter, has a cracked screen and some dead pixels, but is still truckin along. I posted about it after the incident, and since then, more pixels have died on me. But it has been a good watch! I am not much of a runner, but I play competitive adult softball, enjoy distance biking, hiking, and long walks. I also strength train and feel like Garmin was a huge upgrade from my Fitbit Charge 3 and 4. I was impatiently waiting for the Venu 4 to come out to purchase a new watch, but I am so disappointed! I like the look of it, but It is WILDLY expensive and doesn't feel like it offers much to support that price point. I am super bummed about this. Not sure where to go from here. The Vivoactive is an option, I guess, or I could order another older Venu Sq or SQ2 (mine was a refurb and is still working well, I get 7 days to a charge). I don't know. I'm just disappointed.

If you don't care for maps and are more into lifestyle tracking, I think the Venu 4 is the best bang for the buck watch. If you're a runner and maps are important to you, then probably the 970. Personally, I'm going to wait another 5 weeks to buy the Venu 4 with my 20% off code from the Optimity app.

"apple watches and oura have been tested and rank higher... " can you back this up with links? I'm also quite interested in sleep tracking (among other things) and am considering a V4 and coming from a Fitbit Sense. The rings are a non-starter for me - I'm a climber and I've stopped wearing rings, including my wedding ring, altogether.

I've been waiting for the Venu 4 to release to replace my Fitbit Sense and am also quite interested in sleep tracking accuracy but am also interested in the other fitness stats that Garmin offers. Kinda underwhelmed by the Venu 4 release - $100 more than the Venu 3 and no sapphire screen :( I'm a climber so I tend to beat up watches - my Sense is pretty scratched but it is still working and usable after nearly 4 years but not sure I want to spend $550 on a beautiful watch that I'm just gonna beat up.

Ok so this update is substantial and amazing. I love this and will probably make me scrap the FR 965 and Apple Watch that I wear and can never decide which I like more. This watch looks great and introducing advanced training metrics like readiness and status is a game changer! And the new health metrics and all that is amazing I’ll wait and see if those trickle down to 965 but probably dive into Venu 4 before any update would ever come

I guess to throw it out there. 970 has the same sensors and ecg right? If so then for like $100 more you’re getting better battery life as well. Personally I like the button navigation more since getting the 965. I always had AW before so didn’t think I’d care for button navigation but I use it way more actually. And for OP maybe one day you’ll want the added training features? For me I probably won’t honestly but it’s there if I ever do. But the Venu 4 battery is solid and training metrics you’re getting very close to 970. You get the main things which is sweet like training readiness training load and status which is new to Venu this year. I assume 970 will get the new sleep features from Venu 4 in time. So feature wise they will be very similar overall. 970 will give you sapphire lens better battery button navigation maps (don’t use them ever) and I guess more advanced training/running features. If the look is very important than venu4 will win there but personally I love the look of the Fenix and forerunner type watches a lot. So that’s preference for sure

Except that Garmin is now attempting to compete with Apple and Android. If you look at the new releases like the Venu X1, Venu4, the Fenix 8 Pro, the batteries are getting fewer days than their predecessors. The VenuX1 is rated for 2 days with AOD, the Fenix8 pro MicroLed is rated for 4 days with AOD both in Smartwatch mode. To get the battery life users are accustom to you need to turn off features.

I did not - did you actually read the whole post or just skip parts of it because someone stated facts you didn't like about Garmin? I used Garmin for many years, they were a great brand at one time. Further the Fenix 8 pro MicroLED is still a Fenix 8 pro - get over yourself.

I don't use Garmin watches anymore but I am still in the ecosystem. My last watch was the FR265, I am also a petite woman, my wrist is 150-55cm depending on the swelling and the day. I had no issues with the larger sized FR265. Having looked at the new Venu4 (overpriced though in my opinion) it has almost all the running data and comes in 2 sizes it might meet your needs. The Fr265 comes in 2 sizes as well. If you are willing to look at other brands I have a Suunto Race S and it is essentially the FR965 with better software/hr sensor and cheaper.

There is no point to buy any top of the line 9xx forerunner as you don't run outdoor. For your requirements, you should consider Venu 4 (or Venu 3 for the most value or even a cheaper Vivoactive 6) instead.

Venu 3 likely won’t get the advanced training features in updates. Venu 4 adds them and keeps the sleeker look, while the 570 leans sportier with better buttons. Stick with 3 if you’re fine as is, go 4 for style + training metrics, or 570 if performance matters most

I feel you man, integration between Peloton and Garmin is still pretty basic. Upgrading to **Venu 4** could help with sleep, health metrics, and giving you more data overall, but it won’t magically make Peloton work deeper with Garmin. If your goal is just richer metrics and better tracking, Venu 4 is a good upgrade over Venu 2. But if you were hoping for seamless Peloton syncing or special features for classes, it won’t give you that (yet).

The Forerunner 970 is a beast for training, tons of sport metrics, race readiness, etc. But it leans *very* sporty. Venu 4 gives you 90–95% of what you need, with a more refined, dress-watch look, and it's cheaper. If you don’t use all the smart features now, Venu 4 might give you just enough without going overboard. If it were me and I only used lifestyle + fitness, I’d lean Venu 4. But if that extra performance data actually helps you train smarter, go 970. Don’t overpay just for features you won’t use

If you hate daily charging, go Garmin. Venu 4 will last *days* (weeks, depending on mode), while Apple Watch Series 11 is still an all-day device that needs daily top-ups. Both track sleep and health well; Apple’s ECG is baked in and easy to use, Garmin added ECG on some newer models but availability can vary by region. If you mainly want battery and weekly wear, Venu 4 is the less annoying option

I feel,the **Forerunner 955** is still a great pick as it’s basically a flagship-level Garmin without the premium Fenix price tag. It has Training Readiness, Morning Report, stamina tracking, and full mapping, so it checks all the boxes you’re after. It’s also very accurate, has excellent battery life, and still gets firmware updates. That said, if you want something newer, the **Forerunner 970** is its natural upgrade, same idea, but with a more polished interface, better sensors, and a flashlight. The **Venu 4** looks great and has strong health tracking, but it’s more lifestyle-focused, not as deep in training metrics or endurance features. If you’re leaning toward running and structured training, the **955** (or 970 if you don’t mind spending more) is the better long-term tool. You’ll get all the advanced training insights and data interpretation you want and with your HRM and sleep monitor setup, it’ll feel like a big upgrade without losing what you already like about the Fenix:)

Venu 4 does have a multisport option where it switches between each activity automatically if that’s what you mean..?

Get the vivoactive 6 if you are not so serious with training and want that lifestyle type of watch. If you are serious but still want the lifestyle type of watch can go for the venu 4. FR265 is a great entry training watch. Fenixs only for hardcore athletes, FR970 is a mini fenix but better off getting a fenix 7. Epix Pro Gen2 is a great watch also but have been discontinued and wont be getting any new updates. FR570 better off with FR265 Apple watch has terrible battery life, even if you are using apple’s ecosystem I still wouldnt recommend it if you value battery life. Feel free to ask me anything, I did all my research since I was also planning on getting a watch

I'm a very satisfied Venu 2s owner and was looking at the 265 or 570 before the Venu 4 was announced, because of the lack of adnvanced running training features on the Venu 3. But now the 4 has those. I like the cleaner look and smaller form factor without the extra buttons of the Venu. So my vote goes to the Venu 4. I am going to wait another year or so for a price drop and then I'll buy one myself.

You can just use the buttons during activities, except for switching between data screens.There's isn't much difference between the two watches really. You get ECG on Venu but in reality it is very limited as it is only designed to detect AF. You will lose some running features if you switch to a Venu 3. I think swimming features are the same. You would gain more features by switching to Venu 4 if you like the size and style.

I bought it while having my fenix 7 pro. They are basically the same thing except Venu 4 is more suitable for daily use in terms of its simplistic design and its light weight. And Venu 4 is missing the map but I got fenix 7 pro to hit on the trail. I dont like the UI/UX desing that Venu 4 brings in, which is kind of new. The design lacks of some consistency while sometimes you can use bottons to operate sometimes you cannot. The aesthetic is inconsistent with some old interfaces that Garmin has. And the color/icon just feel a bit weird to me on Venu 4. But overall I am very happy with it/

I’ve just bought the Venu 4 after a foolish, but brief, dalliance with an Apple Watch. Very good, has lots of the Fenix level stats but in a smarter package. Context: my Fenix 7 died so decided to try the Apple, having to charge it every 1.5 days started to wind me up. Currently on my 10th day with the Venu - 4 x 5k walks and 3 x 5k runs, with headphones playing music - it’ll probably need a charge after tomorrow’s walk.

I foolishly had an affair with Apple for 6 months when my Fenix 7 died after a tough life. Bought a Venu 4 last week, Apple Watch gone.

Oh sure, not saying someone \*\*should\*\* choose the AWU, just not sure why that's the comparisons. I would 100% choose a Venu 4 over an AWU if that price was the main concern, but for me - someone who historically using an AWU and moved to a Tactix 8 - the activities I do with my watch would either break a Venu 4 or not even be possible (e.g., diving). Hence...very weird comparison to me haha.

While I switched from AWU2 to a Tactix 8, this doesn’t shock me. A Venu is a much more mid-level watch compared to an AWU or Tactix 8. I really don’t understand the comparison OP is making. Completely different audiences.

Just got mine and set it up. Looks awesome. Coming from Fitbit Versa2 so its not even in the same league. It will take time to adapt - been with fitbit for 11 years. Hope I enjoy the experience.

Even the 570 basically has the same features as the Venu 4. Just no ECG. The 970 gives you sapphire face, and maps. The maps are useless for me, but the sapphire is something I’d want. Also, I think the 970 is a great looking watch as well. It’s only that it’s not formal or dressy at all.

I’d personally get the 970, but it really depends on what you want. For a runner who wants to track fairly standard metrics on typical runs around their own neighbourhood, the 970 > Venu 4 > 570 A Venu 4 is a 570 with ECG and flashlight (the 570 has neither), but it only has 2 buttons. It also looks classier and sleeker, partly because it only has 2 buttons. In this case, having only 2 buttons is OK. A Venu 4 is also just a 970 without the sapphire face or maps. Sapphire is always desirable, but maps aren’t a necessity for most joggers who jog around known streets and paths. Personally, I feel the 570 is the worst product of the bunch, but it does have 5 buttons. No EVG, but it tracks heart rate, which is the most important thing. The 970 is the best product, but only comes as a 47mm (not a problem IMO), and includes maps that most people do not need. Do you want to pay more for a watch with maps you may never use? The 570 and Venu come in a smaller size, if that’s an issue.

Lucky for OP, the Venu 4 would be just as accurate as the 570.

My battery is lasting about 4 days between charges on Venu 4

If you can live without the back up of the buttons go with the Venu 4. If you can live without the maps go with the 570.0if you need the buttons and the maps go with the 965.

I switched from a Pixel Watch 2 to the Venu 3s. The big draw for me was the battery life because my watch is primarily an activity tracker for me and charging the Pixel Watch every day was annoying me. The smart watch functions I used were limited to the watch buzzing when I got a phone call or a notification, which the Venu 3s can do just fine. If you want proper smart watch features where it's an extension of your phone, I don't think the Venu is it. I somewhat miss voice assistant - it doesn't work on the Venu. And I was able to control my lights and other smart devices from the watch directly, which was nice, which I also slightly miss but is outweighed by the Venu being better for the activity/fitness tracking stuff. Nothing about the Venu 4 appeals to me as it seems like the big difference is the features for running and I'm not that into running. I'm very casual about it, I don't race, I don't particularly aim for PRs, I'm not fussed about achieving a particular pace for specific runs, so I basically just use it to track that I ran and that's it. I otherwise mostly strength train and run to make sure my cardio fitness doesn't lag too far behind.

I custom ordered the silver case with a light gray silicone band. I went with the 41mm.

I have been in this ongoing debate of Apple Watch Ultra 3 versus Garmin venu 4 (releases sept 22). I currently have an Apple Watch, and I do use the features of cellular texting without my phone near me, music changing songs, phone calls answering from my watch etc. However I am training for a marathon, as well as the dopey challenge in January. My current struggle is Apple Watch battery life, the only way I can get through my runs (20 miles+) with my current watch is low power mode. I love my Apple Watch for the usage of my iPhone with connection, hate that Garmin does not allow me to reply to texts from the watch itself, as well as the music playlist option. I love that Garmin sleep features as well as the battery life. I need some help advice tips etc!!

All running features and stats! I was missing that lately on my Venu 3 and was hoping on Venu 4-and…there it is!

On Venu 4 you can have four data screens, but every screen with 8 data fields… 32 stats during activity is pretty good ^^

In the first minutes different, but after first feeling it is very comfortable

Sorry, didn‘t read it correct ^^ Indeed, mine are gone too, but I didn’t use them anyhow. Maybe they need some time to update for the newer OS? I only miss my app from lord of the rings where I counted my steps … but it might come as well later into the store again for V4

Had a Venue 3 now have a 4. Display is much brighter and very nice. Can't speak to exercise/coaches additions as I am laid up right now with foot injury. One feature I LOVE is the flashlight. Thought it was a gimmick, but I use that thing all the time. Have not stressed it but it is known battery life will be slightly less than Venue 3. First impressions are this is great watch, but those with Venue 3s might want to wait for Venue 5. There is not a right answer just what is right for you. The first detailed reviews of Venue 4 are appearing on Youtube which highlight changes between 3 and 4 and compare it to Apple watch.

I'm partial to the Venue series. I think it is very well rounded. Very good fitness-health-wellness-sleep watch with tons of features. Absolute beautiful bright display (especially Venue 4). Wonderful battery life. Many smart watch features. Doesn't feel like you're wearing an anchor. It is compromised - not an elite fitness watch, not in class of smart watches compared to Apple/Samsung, and not cheap. Venue 4 versus Venue 3. Having both, while I love the 4, the 3 is really almost as good and cheaper. Venue 3 also manages to squeeze a couple of more days of battery life than a 4. It all depends on wallet. Concern: Garmin Connect. Worried Garmin is going to gut it and put all the good features/history into a subscription-based Garmin Connect Plus ecosystem.

I have a Venue 4 and think it will meet your needs, but since you're a day watch only user you may want to look elsewhere for something cheaper. It has a lot of sleep stuff you won't use. Has the training widgets you desire and decent amount of smart phone items. It is not an elite fitness watch, but the OLED is beautiful in all day and night conditions. At your training level you would get a solid 8-9 days of life before needing a charge. I thought the flashlight was a gimmick, but I use that thing daily. Venue 3s are dropping in price quite a bit, have a slightly dimmer (but very nice) display, almost the same exercise features, no flashlight, and longer battery life.

Does anyone use it for serious swim ? I am really afraid to have just 2 buttons

yes and no. I totally agree that one does not need much button pressing in 80% cases, but sometimes the remaining 20% matter. For example, I often swim with a specific pace alert, and then, between activities, while being still in the water, I want to change this alert to a faster pace. This can not be preprogrammed in the drill; I have to do it manually. And I am not sure I can do it in the pool with Venu, since my hands will be wet. Sometimes I want to switch to the "recovery heart rate" screen while having a pause in an activity. This also requires some buttons. In a multihour open water swim, sometimes I want to change the data screen just to see the time of the day or the map. In any case I think Venu is an amazing watch...

I'm actually really happy with what I see here. Was scared that they're gonna go bananas with price like with Fenix or Venu X1, but price seems fair. Was considering Epix 2 Pro or Fenix e, but they felt a bit too pricey and this one got few features I wanted from them (like flashlight or better workout plans) and is still cheaper.

You are not vastly overweight, but smart to get in shape Re: recommendation- so many options between $120 (vivosmart 5 on Amazon sometimes) and $1200+. See the Garmin website. Without knowing what your aesthetic is, I would guess either Venu 4 or Instinct E. You get a lot of value from an Instinct E, if you like the looks. Venu has a different style and also suggested daily workouts for walking. Tracking the ‘training status’ on that and higher end watches is motivating too. Warning- Garmin does not make it easy to use incline % with treadmill workouts. Not sure about Apple https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/p1oux5/is_there_a_way_to_log_treadmill_inclines/ If you are someone who is good at charging a watch every day, an Apple Watch might be better for you- Garmin is not as good for weightlifting or swimming, in my experience. Might be close call for sleep (debatable). Among iPhone users, Garmin is better for (1) people who insist on decent battery life (me) (2) training for running, biking, triathlon. Also golfers. Better GPS if you are wanting that for hiking. If you like to walk outside it is probably a wash. (3) Apple fitness might be really great in your situation, which (obvi) is way better with an Apple Watch than a Garmin

I came from a Venu 3 and have had my Venu 4 for a couple days now (bought it at launch). The screen is much brighter. Even at lowest settings. I’m sitting at 11 days battery life which is more than enough for me but some Garmin fanboys might be upset. I love that it has far more in depth training metrics. I suddenly have Training Load, Training Readiness etc. I can’t wait to get out there and use those metrics. The flashlight is already proven useful. The OS is nicely presented and I like the layout and the stacked/combined information reports. It looks nice. I got the silver with the citrus band. I don’t use notifications from my phone or use it for music or calls etc so I can’t speak to any of those. Did I need to upgrade? Not really, my Venu 3 was fine. But I was already looking for more in depth training metrics and was about to upgrade to potentially a Forerunner or Fenix. I am very happy with my upgrade. This is entirely my personal opinion. I run, hike, swim (pool), play ice hockey and do yoga. It tracks all of these very well so far.

The Venu 4 has two buttons instead of three. I don’t miss the middle button at all.

Thanks just my honest opinion so far! I like it. It looks premium and sporty but classy enough for the office too which is a bonus.

The Forerunner 970 is much better and more complete than the Venu 4

I'm wondering were you got the numbers from, regarding AOD battery life reduction. Looking at the Fenix 8 (47 mm), you go from 16 days to 7. On the Venu 4 (41 mm) you go from 10 days to 3. That's way more than a 20-25% reduction. Which makes me really doubt the 10% reduction you claim Suunto has, that seems way too low a number.

Easy answer. Fenix 7x if you like exactly what the watch does and you like the battery life. If you want to do expeditions, hiking, mapping, and don't pretend to want any newer features, the 7x pro is a hard watch to beat. The venu 4 if you're ok with shorter batter but want more features and desire a watch that will be updated with new activities/services but doesn't quite have the mapping/expedition/battery of the fenix 7x. The 7x still receives bug fixes, but it won't get new features if that matters to you. The Venu 4 is brand spanking new and runs the latest watch OS and will get bug fixes and potential new features being it runs the new watch OS I used the 7x pro for a while and recently upgraded to 8pro mostly for LTE/Sat tracking and safety on top of the mapping that i used (i go hiking during the summers). Venu 4 is great for my wife who wants a fitness tracker and doesn't care for trail maps and routes and planning.

Garmin 570, 970, Fenix 8 and Fenix 8 Pro as well as Venu 4 are all "next generation" and ones i'd suggest. 570 is great for fitness Venu 4 is great for all-round activity and tracker 970/fenix 8 depend on your budget and if you will use the maps and such. If you are pushing for marathon distance, do hiking and other activites or want the enhanced running metrics provided from a Garmin 600 chest strap, then the 970/Fenix is your best bet. The rest of the watches all work great, but won't get new features. They just get continued product support and fixes.

I tried the flashlight out on my new venu 4 last night, and I can see it's going to be really handy. Totally bright enough for moving around inside in the dark etc. It wasn't a major factor for me, but now I can see that it likely will be when I next upgrade. Just have to remember it's there!

Really? I looked it up online, and they said that while the Venu 3 has a mic, it can not store audio recordings on the watch. There may be an option when connected with your phone using voice commands to take notes, but the phone has to be present. Can you confirm that? It's actually the only reason I didn't hop on the watch. Im a football official and want to record the fouls but can not have my phone on me

Venu 4 is the first Venu to have DSW, but it only supports heart rate for DSW, not pace and heart rate like the 570.

I went from an Instinct 2X Whitestone to a Venu 4 all black 45mm. My main reasons were; Newer and better sensor, V5 vs old V4, (i was hoping it would have the V6 by now but that doesnt seem to be coming any day soon) ECG, Smart Wake Alarm, Habit tracking, Sleeker design, The Instinct was quite bulky and doesn't really 'dress up' very well. An OLED with touchscreen takes a bit getting used to. I still much prefer the MIP screens of old. Better visible in sunlight, use a lot less battery and are always on. Having to tap or lift the OLED watch is really gonna take some getting used to. Compared to the Instinct it feels a bit 'dainty' but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I seem to be getting around 12 days on 100% so that's enough. Obviously not as much as the Instinct but more than enough to never be caught short. So far i really like it. The Watch can do more, it shows more details when you go into stuff like sleep or hrv. The colours are nice and the display is pretty bright. I do worry a little bit about keeping the screen nice. I guess time will tell how it holds up durability wise. Really glad to have kept the flashlight! Something that i did notice that was a pleasant surprise is that it seems to charge noticeably faster than my instinct did. I'll need more Time to really get a feel for it but it seems to be extremely rich in features. I wanted the latest sensor and all the latest features, without spending a grand on a fenix. Venu 4 is the awnser

Is ECG enabled on Venu 4?

Your English is perfect. Very good summary. I just wish to add some points. 1. Track back to starting point exists. 2. Endurance score and Hill score appear to be missing. I received mine only yesterday and am still testing. Here in Oz, I cant see ECG yet. Battery depletion at 2/3 brightness, AOD, BT checking out different watch faces, torch, calls etc was around 2.5% per hour while testing.

What data do you think you're missing? Some of the alternatives may offer the data you're looking for. I'd rather get the Venu 4 than the FR 570 but both are overpriced imo. You can get the FR 965 on sale for less and it has way more features. The 955 has a lot more features and it's way cheaper. If size is an issue, the 265 is cheaper and has basically all the sports features of the 570. Same for the even cheaper 255. Both are available in 42mm or 41mm size. I'd make sure to compare the differences line by line because 570 is not an obvious improvement compared to the other options.

Yes, that's why I asked. The Venue 4 has more features than the FR 570. >FR 255 seems fine... but with Garmin fast dropping support and updates for older watches, I'd prefer getting something newer? The problem with this is that it'll happen with newer models too, so you have to get a device for what they currently offer. There's no future-proving with Garmin. If the 255 gives you everything you want, the watch will continue to work fine for a long time. It won't receive new features, only the necessary support to keep running. Do a head to head comparison so you know what you get or miss with each model.

>A garmin is for someone who doesn't want/ need a smartwatch, but likes to have a device for running. Uh, I beg to differ. I have a Garmin Venu 4 and I have everything. (Granted, it's expensive.)

I just switched from a Galaxy Watch 5 after 3 years of usage to a Garmin Venu 4 silver. The Venu 4 has a nice look, it's sleek for a sports watch and the thing that I immediately realized is the battery life. And it's not even about having to charge everyday. If you charge it at night or when you take a shower it's okay. But any kind of endurance activity with GPS will kill the battery of a normal smartwatch especially over years. I reached a point with my old GW that an hour of GPS running would drastically lower the battery life for the day, enough to not reach the evening. Also it's perfect when I want to go for a weekend trip somewhere, I don't have to bring the stupid dedicated charger. I realized I don't use "smart" features that much on watches. So I rather use it for sports. Also over years, battery will degrade even more. If you are happy with the AW it's fine, but the battery life on the Garmin is really good.

The Venu 3 or 4 is the closest Garmin make to an Apple Watch (non-LTE but does have mic & speaker for calls), but the Fenix 8 Pro is the only one that has LTE and is thus independent of a phone. But the F8Pro costs a lot more than the AWU3 and needs a Garmin subscription to use the LTE and satellite communication features. Garmin Pay works exactly the same as Apple Pay but is useless in my country as no banks support it (it's nothing to do with the retailers).

I use a Garmin Venu watch and get about 5-7 days between charges. Not much gps tracking, but if you actually use it to track a run or bike ride every day you'll still get 3-4 days.

I’m the first one to answer, incredible! :) Well, I am wearing my Garmin Venu watch since 2019/2020 nonstop! I use it daily. It is the perfect companion, very durable and I bought one of these metallic arm braces so that it looks more „office worthy“ [metallic braces](https://share.google/tq9XG0FDMVUHklYxK) It is super stylish and handy, and even though the battery is slowly dying on me (sadly🥲) if I ever have to get another watch, I will buy one of the Garmin Venu versions, because I just love it and the qualities insane… for like 350 bucks ( in 2019) I got a good watch for six years without problems It has all necessary features and is of course waterproof (which was important to me because back than I swam a lot) Now I use it mostly for tracking my sleep and my steps and my workouts just to reinforce the mindset of: „ Iwear a fitness watch, because I am a healthy person and fitness and wellbeing is important to me“

I would personally always take a Forerunner over the Venu series, as I am pretty serious about my fitness. I don't really care much about smart watch features, just need a bare minimum. And the venu series seems to take tradeoffs with fitness features to accommodate the increase in smart features.

Garmin lasts about 2 weeks without charging. Venu line.

It is beat with the Garmin Venu line.

Most people coming from apple go vivo active or venue. Venue being closest to a smart watch. Personally, I'm a instinct guy. Although I'm wearing a Fenix today since I didn't charge my Instinct for 2 weeks and it died before bed. I've swam tens of thousands of meters (more like hundreds but..) in pool, open and salt water with my Garmins. Done free diving (only to about 40ft, I'm not very good) and press the buttons regularly sub surface. I've also done cliff jumping with every watch, and haven't lost a garmin to water intrusion. I would definitely select a 100m rated model for water sports. Any watch can fail but I've had 6 garmins and none have. I also had a bunch of Casio and Timex over the years and not one failure.

Been wearing the same Garmin for 5 years now. Sometimes the splurge is worth it. If you can wait, there will probably be some deals for the upcoming holidays and Black Friday, but that is a bit away. Personally I do like an all in one smart watch for fitness tracking and phone syncing.

Garmin Venu series are comparable to an Apple Watch. Garmin’s GPS tracking for outdoor activity is a little bit better/accurate. That’s something to consider if you want to log hikes, bike rides, walking, running etc. I use an iPhone and just download the Garmin Connect app, that’s where all the data is stored. The Venu series are more fashionable. The first Venu model has the basic sleep tracking. I know the newer ones have some other updated features. I do find the sleep tracking, body battery, active/resting calories data to be pretty accurate based on how I feel.

Depending on the types of weights you utilise in your training, you may want to consider a Garmin with Sapphire Glass. It's pretty much bulletproof (I have hit mine with a 24kg kettlebell more times than I care to mention). That said the Venue range is great if you are not juggling kettlebells.

If you want a watch that leans more towards the social side in appearance, go with one of the Venu series that fits your budget. If you want a watch that leans more towards the sporty side in appearance, go with one of the Forerunner series that fits your budget. Both will fit your requirements.

From what you have written, budget is not a constraint for you. I'd go for a watch. Tracking sleep is very useful. I am implementing small changes to improve sleep and the data from the watch is helpful. Eventhough it's not perfect. If i could afford it, I'd buy a Garmin Venue right now. Also, while a chest strap may be a tad bit more accurate for heart rate tracking, it is not something you want to wear for hours at a stretch every day. There a watch is useful.