Garmin Venu X1 Review: A truly modern fitness smartwatch

Best Prices Today: Garmin Venu X1

More so than any other watch in the company’s range, the Garmin Venu X1 takes the fight directly to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with some fantastic results.

As much as I love Garmin watches, I do think that there is an issue with the amount of wearables the company currently puts out. It’s different if you’re someone who has their pulse on the latest developments in the smartwatch world, but I’d imagine that the average person doesn’t know what it is that makes the Forerunner, Vivoactive, Venu and Fenix ranges different from one another – it’s confusing, even for a tech journalist.

With that in mind, it’s always been tricky to recommend a specific Garmin watch over the rest, in the way that you can for the Apple Watch Series 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, knowing that they’re just great options for most people. This time, Garmin has figured out a way to position its latest watch as a more direct competitor to the one wearable it should be worried about: the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

After spending a few weeks testing the Venu X1, I can safely say that Garmin has finally made the all-in-one device that I’ve been waiting for.

Design & Build

• Very lightweight on the wrist
• Tough, partial-titanium build
• The slimmest Garmin watch yet

If you’re at all familiar with the Garmin Venu range then you’ll already know that the X1 doesn’t follow the same design language as most of the other watches that bear the same branding.

There’s no circular chassis here! Instead, the X1 has reverted to the square-like panel previously seen on the Garmin Venu Sq.

one of the slimmest smartwatches I’ve ever worn

This change might not be to everyone’s taste, but I’ve come to like it quite a bit, mostly because of how it’s led to a winning combination of a slimmer chassis as well as a larger display.

At just 7.9mm thick, the Venu X1 is honestly one of the slimmest smartwatches I’ve ever worn, and not once have I had to worry about it catching on my clothing. It almost makes other Garmin watches feel a bit too large by comparison.

Even with the thinner frame, the X1 doesn’t lose much in the way of durability as there’s a titanium backing (with reinforced polymer used elsewhere) and a sapphire crystal screen, all of which help to keep the X1 safe from the elements. I’ve taken the watch swimming, on a dusty hike and down to the gym, and it still looks as if it’s just come out of the box.

There’s 5ATM water resistance, which means the watch can withstand depths of up to 50 metres, although strangely there’s no official IP rating, which is a shame.

There are just two buttons on the right-hand side, one to bring up the main menu and the other to go back a step. While they are responsive, the buttons are a bit on the quiet side and I would prefer having an audible click as it just makes the experience feel a bit more tactile.

I also wish that the colourways for the Venu X1 were a bit more exciting. There are just two options available – Black and Moss – and while I do love the touch of green that the latter brings to the table, it would have been nice to see something a bit more attention grabbing like the orange watch bands that you can get with Apple’s similarly priced device.

Still, it’s a very confident design overall and one that makes Garmin feel a bit more modern in the current landscape.

Screen & Audio

• 2-inch AMOLED display
• Easy to read both indoors and outdoors
• Take calls and listen to music via the built-in speaker

Compared to the low-power display that used to be commonplace on Garmin watches (and can still be seen on the likes of the Garmin Enduro 3), the Venu X1’s large 2-inch AMOLED display feels like something from a whole different era.

Of course, with it being a square panel, it does feel more like using an Apple Watch than any other Garmin device I’ve tested, but given just how bright the screen is, not to mention how easy it is to read notifications and workout data, I have no cause for complaints.

There is an always-on mode available for the display, but I’d recommend keeping the feature switched off as it takes a serious knock to the battery life as a result (more on that later).

I also wish that the screen was a bit faster to wake when you raise your wrist. There were a few times where I tried to get a sly glance at the time by twisting my wrist without raising it, and the X1 hadn’t quite registered the movement. Still, it didn’t happen so often as to massively impede my enjoyment of the device.

There’s a built-in speaker on the X1 which can be used not only to make and receive calls without needing to reach for your smartphone, but you can also play downloaded music and podcasts directly from the watch itself.

Given that it’s so much more efficient (and socially acceptable) to simply connect a pair of earbuds instead, I don’t really know why you’d want to play music out of the watch’s speakers, but I will say that the audio quality itself is much better than I expected it to be.

Playing CKY’s 96 Quite Bitter Beings (one of my go-to gym tracks), I was impressed to hear almost every instrument given its due, and plenty of weight afforded to the vocals as well. It can get quite loud, too, so if you do ever forget to bring your earbuds with you on a run, you have a backup option.

Software & Features

• Garmin’s revamped UI feels great to use
• The first torch to appear on a Garmin Venu watch
• Offline music playback and NFC payments

Last year, Garmin made a huge overhaul to its proprietary software simplifying the user experience, making it easier to get from one feature to another.

I will admit that if you’ve become used to Garmin’s older software, then it does take a bit of time to adjust to what’s on offer, but once you do acclimatise to it, everything feels far more intuitive than before.

Now, when you’re on the main watch face, it’s a swipe down to see your notifications, a swipe up to see key points of information like your fitness levels and the weather, while a swipe to the left brings up the main menu.

If you’ve ever used a Garmin watch before, then you’ll know that when it comes to apps, devices like the Venu X1 don’t have the same level of third-party support as you’ll find on Wear OS or any Apple Watch, but there are a few key quality-of-life features that are present.

Over the course of my review, an official Google Maps app made its way to the Garmin IQ store, although the feature is currently only available to Android users, and was a bit finicky to set up when I took it out for a spin. What works far better (and is available to all users) is offline playback via Spotify for some musical motivation, and wireless payments via Garmin Pay for a cheeky post-run drink.

The feature that I love more than anything, however, is the built-in torch (I know!). It’s a staple of the Fenix and Enduro ranges, but this is the first time that the torch has found its way to a Venu watch.

Just hold the back button for a few seconds and the torch that’s housed in the top-portion of the chassis, switches itself on, wherein you have four levels of intensity and the option to toggle a red light.

Whether it’s been needed when taking the bins out at night or when running through the park before dawn, the torch has been immensely helpful, and that’s before considering the safety applications it could have if you get lost on a trail run and need a means of signalling your location to passersby.

On a lighter note, you can use the built-in microphone to capture voice notes on the go. It’s not the type of feature I would personally make use of, but for the more productive among you who are constantly jotting down ideas, you may appreciate the functionality.

Fitness & Health Tracking

• Detailed post-workout information
• Excellent heart rate tracking data
• Good emphasis on rest and recovery

As with any Garmin watch, the fitness tracking is always going to be the main star of the show and it’s much the same here.

Even with the redesign, the Venu X1 hasn’t forgotten about its main objective of helping people on their fitness journey and develop better habits that lead to a healthier lifestyle.

There are tons of workouts to track, with everything from indoor rowing to backcountry skiing. If there’s a particular way that you like to exercise, then chances are that it can be tracked on the Venu X1.

In the time that I’ve spent with the watch, I’ve taken it for hikes, runs, stints on the elliptical machine and even weightlifting at the gym.

one thing I cannot fault the Venu X1 for is its heart rate tracking data

I will say that all Garmin watches fare a bit better when it comes to cardio workouts, as you can see your heart rate zones in real-time and receive alerts if things are getting too intense.

Weightlifting, on the other hand, is a mixed bag. The automatic rep recognition software is definitely better than it used to be, but I found myself always already having to correct the count at the end of each set, which is why I tend to ignore all of that and just have it record an entire weightlifting session as a single set.

Still, one thing I cannot fault the Venu X1 for is its heart rate tracking data. When paired with the Polar H10 chest-worn heart rate monitor, Garmin’s watch was able to stay almost exactly in line with its results. On both the elliptical machine and the treadmill, the Venu X1 was only ever 1BPM away from the same results recorded by the Polar H10 which, for a wrist-worn tracker, is outstanding.

The accuracy of its heart-rate data is a huge boon as it then factors into the X1’s understanding of how much effort you’ve exerted over the course of a day and how much sleep you need before you’re able to tackle another workout.

Having this emphasis on recovery does make the Venu X1 (and most of Garmin’s wearables) feel like a great all-in-one device for staying on top of your fitness, and the breakdowns of your workouts are succinctly worded so you’ll always understand exactly how your body has benefited from each one.

GPS tracking is also very reliable here. I took the Garmin Venu X1 with me during a 25K charity walk and tracked the entire journey. Not only did it accurately show the path I took but it also had the right distance logged by the end of it (if slightly over).

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as accurate as what you’ll find on some rivals (including cheaper options) as there’s no dual-band support. It worked fine in my testing but if you do a lot of runs in places like forests, it could be more of an issue.

With all this in mind, I know that I’m going to be using the Garmin Venu X1 as my primary fitness tracker for the foreseeable future.

Battery Life & Charging

• Up to 8 days of use
• Only 2 days with the always-on display
• Fairly quick to recharge

Garmin watches have already managed to run rings around the competition where battery life is concerned, and whilst that’s still technically the case with the Venu X1, the lead isn’t quite as pronounced.

This time around, you can expect up to eight-days of use on a single charge which certainly outdoes the two-day stint of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Pixel Watch 3, but is behind the 14-day longevity of the Garmin Venu 3.

It’s a trade-off for having a smaller chassis, and while this will make the Venu X1 less appealing for ultramarathon runners who need as much battery life as possible, it’s a concession I’m happy to make.

After all, the ability to get through three workouts over four days, two of which involved offline music playback, and still have 51% battery left in the tank is a big win, particularly as I’ve had plenty of smartwatches over the years that required charging at least once a day.

A less happy stat is how battery life plummets to just two days when the always-on display is active. As someone who has spent more time with the Apple Watch SE (2022) than any other smartwatch, I’m used to raising my wrist to wake the display, but it is a shame for anyone who would rather have access to key bits of information at all times.

At the very least, you won’t be waiting long to charge up the Garmin Venu X1. 

Starting a charge at 5%, the battery was able to leap back up to 66% after just 40 minutes, which is more than enough to get you through a few days at least. It took a bit longer to reach 100%, clocking in at a 90-minute charge, but given just how infrequently you need to charge the X1, it’s hardly the worst thing.

If you are in a rush however, you can get about 46% of the way there from just a 30-minute charge. On a final note, the Venu X1 still utilises the same proprietary charging cable that Garmin has used on its other watches for years now.

Price & Availability

Compared to the amount of money that you could spend at this end of the market, I think that the Garmin Venu X1 is reasonably priced.

In the UK, the Garmin Venu X1 will set you back £679.99. The watch is also available in the US and Australia, where it’s priced at $799.99 and $1,499, respectively.

The X1’s closest competitor is the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which has a heftier price tag of £799/$799, while the Wear OS-toting Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a bit cheaper at £599/$649.99 although it can regularly be found with a discount attached.

Even though the standard Garmin Venu 3 is more affordable at £399.99/$449.99, I’d argue that the Venu X1 has more in common with the pricier Garmin Fenix 8 which has a starting price of £869.99/$1099.99.

With these options factored in, the Venu X1 is well placed to be a better value pick against Apple’s premium wearable, whilst also offering top-shelf Garmin features without the high-end price tag that tends to go with them.

Check out our chart of the best smartwatches to see our current top 10.

Should you buy the Garmin Venu X1?

If you’ve been tempted by the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but you want a larger display, better battery life and a more well-rounded fitness tracking experience, then the Garmin Venu X1 is just too good to pass up.

The fact that it’s cheaper than Apple’s high-end wearable, and includes a few quality of life extras like a built-in torch, just makes the X1 a great pick for any fitness enthusiast.

The diminished battery life, particularly against other Garmin watches, is sure to make the Garmin Venu 3 and even the Vivoactive range a better option for those who value longevity above all else, but as a device that’s finally combined Garmin’s top-tier fitness tracking with a genuinely modern design, the Venu X1 has done exactly what it needed to do.

Specs

• 2-inch AMOLED display
• 32GB storage
• iPhone and Android compatible
• Up to eight day battery life
• Fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium caseback
• 5ATM water resistance
• 41 x 46 x 7.9mm

Best Prices Today: Garmin Venu X1