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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Venu 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2
Time to compare Garmin Venu 3 with Apple Watch Ultra 2. We will cover the essentials so you can buy with confidence.
Ratings: 4.5★ vs 4.7★
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Garmin Venu 3
★4.5
(5,399)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:45mm x 45mm x 12mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Stainless steel bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3
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Apple Watch Ultra 2
★4.7
(1,082)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS
Case Size:49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D)
Case Material:Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish)
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Comparison: Garmin Venu 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2
Garmin Venu 3
★4.5(5,399)Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra 2
★4.7(1,082)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Venu 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(5,399)Amazon | ★4.7(1,082)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) | iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later |
Operating System | Garmin OS (Proprietary) | watchOS |
Case Size | 45mm x 45mm x 12mm | 49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D) |
Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Stainless steel bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish) |
Display Type | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available | Always-On Retina LTPO2 OLED (flat sapphire crystal display) |
Display Size | 1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter | 1185 sq mm display area |
Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 410 x 502 pixels (326 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (optional) | Yes |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof | 100 m (ISO 22810); 40 m recreational high-speed water sports (EN13319) |
Durability | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens; Stainless steel bezel | IP6X dust resistant; tested to MIL-STD 810H (altitude, high/low temp, temperature shock, immersion, freeze/thaw, ice/freezing rain, shock/vibration) |
GPS | GPS; GLONASS; Galileo (Single-band GNSS) | Precision dual-frequency GPS: L1 and L5 (GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi | LTE and UMTS (Cellular is standard); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip |
NFC Payments | Garmin Pay | Apple Pay |
Sensors | Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor (ECG hardware); Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor | Electrical heart sensor (ECG app); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; temperature sensing; depth gauge (±1 m accuracy); water temperature sensor; compass; always-on altimeter; high-g accelerometer; high dynamic range gyroscope; ambient light sensor; blood oxygen sensor (feature availability subject to US patent rulings) |
Health Features | Sleep Coach; Nap Detection; ECG App (FDA cleared); HRV Status; Body Battery; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot; Women’s Health; Meditation | ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Sleep tracking with stages; Sleep apnea notifications; Vitals app; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; Noise app |
Workout Modes | Wheelchair Mode (pushes, weight shifts); Strength; HIIT; Yoga; Pilates; Running; Cycling; Swimming (Pool); Golf; Tennis; Pickleball; and 30+ others | Customizable Action Button for instant workout start; Advanced running metrics (stride length, ground contact time); Multisport; Swimming; Hiking; Diving (Oceanic+ app required for dive computer functions) |
Storage | 8GB | 64GB |
Speaker Mic | Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Calls) | Dual speakers (40% louder than Series 8); Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation |
Calls | Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone) | Yes (Cellular, Wi-Fi, and iPhone tethering) |
Battery | Smartwatch mode: Up to 14 days (5 days always-on); Battery Saver: Up to 26 days; GPS-Only GNSS: Up to 26 hours; All-Systems GNSS: Up to 20 hours | Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode) |
Charging | Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-C cable included) | Fast charging capable (0–80% in approx. 1 hour); USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable included |
Weight | 47 g (with included band); 30 g (case only) | 61.4 g (Natural Titanium); 61.8 g (Black Titanium) [case only] |
Band Sizes | Fits wrists 135–200 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with standard 22mm Quick Release bands | Trail Loop (S/M, M/L); Alpine Loop (S, M, L); Ocean Band (One Size); fits 130–210mm wrists depending on selection |
Extras | Voice Assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby via phone); Wheelchair mode specialized metrics; On-screen muscle maps; Photos in notifications (Android only) | S9 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Precision Finding for iPhone 15/16 lineup; 86-decibel Siren; Night Mode (Modular Ultra face) |
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Garmin Venu 3
Rating:★4.5(5,399)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:45mm x 45mm x 12mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer case; Stainless steel bezel; Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Display Type:AMOLED; Always-On Mode available
Display Size:1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter
Resolution:454 x 454 pixels
Always On Display:Yes (optional)
Water Resistance:5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof
Durability:Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens; Stainless steel bezel
GPS:GPS; GLONASS; Galileo (Single-band GNSS)
Connectivity:Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
NFC Payments:Garmin Pay
Sensors:Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor (ECG hardware); Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor
Health Features:Sleep Coach; Nap Detection; ECG App (FDA cleared); HRV Status; Body Battery; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot; Women’s Health; Meditation
Workout Modes:Wheelchair Mode (pushes, weight shifts); Strength; HIIT; Yoga; Pilates; Running; Cycling; Swimming (Pool); Golf; Tennis; Pickleball; and 30+ others
Storage:8GB
Speaker Mic:Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Calls)
Calls:Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone)
Battery:Smartwatch mode: Up to 14 days (5 days always-on); Battery Saver: Up to 26 days; GPS-Only GNSS: Up to 26 hours; All-Systems GNSS: Up to 20 hours
Charging:Garmin proprietary plug charger (USB-C cable included)
Weight:47 g (with included band); 30 g (case only)
Band Sizes:Fits wrists 135–200 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with standard 22mm Quick Release bands
Extras:Voice Assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby via phone); Wheelchair mode specialized metrics; On-screen muscle maps; Photos in notifications (Android only)
✓ Pros:
- • Bright 1.4" AMOLED display with refined, lifestyle-friendly UI
- • Built-in speaker and microphone for wrist calls and voice assistants
- • Latest Elevate Gen 5 sensor supports FDA-cleared ECG app
- • Dedicated Wheelchair Mode tracks pushes rather than steps
- • Excellent 14-day battery life significantly outperforms Apple/Samsung
✗ Cons:
- • Lacks Multi-Band GPS (found in similarly priced Forerunner 265)
- • Plastic case body feels less premium than metal-bodied competitors
- • No LTE option available (phone required for calls/safety)
- • Gorilla Glass 3 is older tech compared to Sapphire or newer Gorilla Glass
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Apple Watch Ultra 2
Rating:★4.7(1,082)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS
Case Size:49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D)
Case Material:Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish)
Display Type:Always-On Retina LTPO2 OLED (flat sapphire crystal display)
Display Size:1185 sq mm display area
Resolution:410 x 502 pixels (326 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:100 m (ISO 22810); 40 m recreational high-speed water sports (EN13319)
Durability:IP6X dust resistant; tested to MIL-STD 810H (altitude, high/low temp, temperature shock, immersion, freeze/thaw, ice/freezing rain, shock/vibration)
GPS:Precision dual-frequency GPS: L1 and L5 (GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou)
Connectivity:LTE and UMTS (Cellular is standard); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart sensor (ECG app); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; temperature sensing; depth gauge (±1 m accuracy); water temperature sensor; compass; always-on altimeter; high-g accelerometer; high dynamic range gyroscope; ambient light sensor; blood oxygen sensor (feature availability subject to US patent rulings)
Health Features:ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Sleep tracking with stages; Sleep apnea notifications; Vitals app; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; Noise app
Workout Modes:Customizable Action Button for instant workout start; Advanced running metrics (stride length, ground contact time); Multisport; Swimming; Hiking; Diving (Oceanic+ app required for dive computer functions)
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Dual speakers (40% louder than Series 8); Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
Calls:Yes (Cellular, Wi-Fi, and iPhone tethering)
Battery:Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charging capable (0–80% in approx. 1 hour); USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable included
Weight:61.4 g (Natural Titanium); 61.8 g (Black Titanium) [case only]
Band Sizes:Trail Loop (S/M, M/L); Alpine Loop (S, M, L); Ocean Band (One Size); fits 130–210mm wrists depending on selection
Extras:S9 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Precision Finding for iPhone 15/16 lineup; 86-decibel Siren; Night Mode (Modular Ultra face)
✓ Pros:
- • Brightest Apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility
- • Excellent battery life for an Apple Watch (up to 36 hours standard, 72 hours low power)
- • Rugged titanium build with sapphire crystal and 100m water resistance
- • Fast S9 SiP allows for Double Tap gesture and on-device Siri
- • Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) offers accurate tracking in dense environments
✗ Cons:
- • Large 49mm x 14.4mm casing is bulky on smaller wrists
- • Blood Oxygen feature is disabled on units sold by Apple in the US (post-Jan 2024)
- • Requires an iPhone to function; no Android compatibility
- • Expensive entry price compared to standard Series models
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Which one is better?
Overall, Apple Watch Ultra 2 delivers better satisfaction. Garmin Venu 3 is still a quality option with specific strengths worth considering.
Who should buy each?
For performance and polish: Garmin Venu 3 (Bright 1.4" AMOLED display with refined, lifestyle-friendly UI, Built-in speaker and microphone for wrist calls and voice assistants)
For value or versatility: Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Brightest Apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility, Excellent battery life for an Apple Watch (up to 36 hours standard, 72 hours low power))
Conclusion
Garmin Venu 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Garmin Venu 3 excels if you value bright 1.4" amoled display with refined, lifestyle-friendly ui. Apple Watch Ultra 2 is better if you prioritize brightest apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
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