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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerGarmin Venu 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Garmin Venu 3 is the premium option here, but the Apple Watch Ultra 3's rugged design and display brightness make it a game changer. The key difference? The Apple Watch Ultra 3 boasts a class-leading 3,000-nit display, which is a no-brainer for outdoor enthusiasts. In real-world usage, the Garmin Venu 3 offers an impressive 14-day battery life, which crushes the Apple Watch Ultra 3's 72-hour low power mode. If you're someone who hates frequent charging, the Venu 3's longevity is a significant perk, especially in 2026's fast-paced lifestyle.
⚖️ Weight: 1.66 oz vs 2.18 oz💽 Storage: 8 GB vs 64 GB💧 Water Resistance: 50m vs 100m
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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 3
★4.7
(425)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later (incl. iPhone SE 2nd gen+) 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)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Garmin Venu 3
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Garmin Venu 3
1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter
Apple Watch Ultra 3
1245 sq mm display area
Resolution
Garmin Venu 3
454 x 454 pixels
Apple Watch Ultra 3
422 x 514 pixels (326 ppi)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Garmin Venu 3
8GB
Apple Watch Ultra 3
64GBWinner
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Garmin Venu 3
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
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode)
Design2 specs
Weight
Garmin Venu 3
47 g (with included band); 30 g (case only)Winner
Apple Watch Ultra 3
61.8 g
Water Resistance
Garmin Venu 3
5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof
Apple Watch Ultra 3
100 m (ISO 22810); EN13319 recreational scuba diving to 40 m (130 ft)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Garmin Venu 3
Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Apple Watch Ultra 3
watchOS
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Garmin Venu 3
Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
Apple Watch Ultra 3
LTE and UMTS; Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; U2 Ultra Wideband chip
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Garmin Venu 3 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3
Garmin Venu 3
★4.5(5,399)Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra 3
★4.7(425)Amazon
| Criterion | Garmin Venu 3 | Apple Watch Ultra 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(5,399)Amazon | ★4.7(425)Amazon |
Compatibility | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) | iPhone Xs or later (incl. iPhone SE 2nd gen+) 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) |
Display Type | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available | Always-On Retina display (LTPO3 OLED) with flat sapphire crystal |
Display Size | 1.4 in (35.4 mm) diameter | 1245 sq mm display area |
Resolution | 454 x 454 pixels | 422 x 514 pixels (326 ppi) |
Always On Display | Yes (optional) | Yes |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 50 meters); Swimproof | 100 m (ISO 22810); EN13319 recreational scuba diving to 40 m (130 ft) |
Durability | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens; Stainless steel bezel | IP6X dust resistance; MIL-STD 810H tested |
GPS | GPS; GLONASS; Galileo (Single-band GNSS) | Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi | LTE and UMTS; Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; U2 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 (ECG), optical heart (Gen 3), temperature (body/water), blood oxygen, depth gauge, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope |
Health Features | Sleep Coach; Nap Detection; ECG App (FDA cleared); HRV Status; Body Battery; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot; Women’s Health; Meditation | ECG, Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate zones, Sleep Tracking/Apnea notifications, Vitals app, Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates |
Workout Modes | Wheelchair Mode (pushes, weight shifts); Strength; HIIT; Yoga; Pilates; Running; Cycling; Swimming (Pool); Golf; Tennis; Pickleball; and 30+ others | Multisport, Running (Advanced Metrics), Hiking (Topographic Maps), Ocean Diving, Swimming, Cycling |
Storage | 8GB | 64GB |
Speaker Mic | Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Calls) | Dual speakers; three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation; 86dB Siren |
Calls | Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone) | Yes (via Cellular or Wi-Fi) |
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 (0–80% in approx. 1 hour) with USB-C Magnetic Fast Charger |
Weight | 47 g (with included band); 30 g (case only) | 61.8 g |
Band Sizes | Fits wrists 135–200 mm (Silicone band included); Compatible with standard 22mm Quick Release bands | Fits 130–210mm wrists (Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band) |
Extras | Voice Assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby via phone); Wheelchair mode specialized metrics; On-screen muscle maps; Photos in notifications (Android only) | S10 SiP, Double Tap gesture, On-device Siri, Precision Finding for iPhone, Flashlight/Night Mode, Crash Detection, Fall Detection |
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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 3
Rating:★4.7(425)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later (incl. iPhone SE 2nd gen+) 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)
Display Type:Always-On Retina display (LTPO3 OLED) with flat sapphire crystal
Display Size:1245 sq mm display area
Resolution:422 x 514 pixels (326 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:100 m (ISO 22810); EN13319 recreational scuba diving to 40 m (130 ft)
Durability:IP6X dust resistance; MIL-STD 810H tested
GPS:Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5)
Connectivity:LTE and UMTS; Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; U2 Ultra Wideband chip
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart (ECG), optical heart (Gen 3), temperature (body/water), blood oxygen, depth gauge, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope
Health Features:ECG, Blood Oxygen, Heart Rate zones, Sleep Tracking/Apnea notifications, Vitals app, Cycle Tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
Workout Modes:Multisport, Running (Advanced Metrics), Hiking (Topographic Maps), Ocean Diving, Swimming, Cycling
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Dual speakers; three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation; 86dB Siren
Calls:Yes (via Cellular or Wi-Fi)
Battery:Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charging (0–80% in approx. 1 hour) with USB-C Magnetic Fast Charger
Weight:61.8 g
Band Sizes:Fits 130–210mm wrists (Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band)
Extras:S10 SiP, Double Tap gesture, On-device Siri, Precision Finding for iPhone, Flashlight/Night Mode, Crash Detection, Fall Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Class-leading 3,000-nit display brightness
- • Rugged titanium build with 100m water resistance
- • Excellent battery life relative to category (up to 72h low power)
- • Precision dual-frequency GPS ideal for outdoor sports
✗ Cons:
- • Large 49mm case may be too bulky for smaller wrists
- • High price point
- • Exclusive to iPhone ecosystem
- • Minimal design changes from previous generation
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the better buy for most people - its 3,000-nit display crushes the Garmin Venu 3. That said, grab the Venu 3 if you want a lighter watch with a 14-day battery life - it's lighter.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Garmin Venu 3 if: you want long battery life of 14 days, prefer a lighter watch at 1.66 oz, or if you make a lot of wrist calls.
Choose the Apple Watch Ultra 3 if: you need a super bright display for outdoor use, want a rugged design with 100m water resistance, or plan to use cellular capabilities for calls.
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
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 3 is better if you prioritize class-leading 3,000-nit display brightness. 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.
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