June 12, 2025 • 19 mins
A chat based on reviewers' opinions of the newly launched Garmin Venu X1
Resources & Links:
- Buy one: https://geni.us/GarminVenuX1
- Detailed thoughts: https://the5krunner.com/2025/06/12/garmin-venu-x1-all-you-need-to-know-comparison-first-look-review/
- T3: https://www.t3.com/active/fitness-trackers/garmins-thinnest-smartwatch-just-dropped-and-it-has-the-biggest-screen-the-brands-ever-made
- Tom's Guide: https://www.tomsguide.com/wellness/smartwatches/garmin-takes-on-apple-watch-ultra-heres-the-first-look-at-the-garmin-venu-x1
- Tech Radar: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/garmin-venu-x1-revealed-meet-the-surprise-new-apple-watch-ultra-2-rival-with-garmins-biggest-display-yet
- Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewwilliams/2025/06/12/garmin-venu-x1-takes-smartwatches-in-an-unexpected-direction/
- DC Rainmaker: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garmin-venu-x1-details-hands-everything.html
- Apple: https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-watch-ultra-2/specs/
- Garmin: https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/1510465/
- Main Channel: https://the5krunner.com
My other channels: https://linktr.ee/the5krunner
—Credits: Content in this episode was generated using AI tools (NotebookLM) based on original content from @the5krunner, and other sources as cited.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the. Deep dive.
Today we're digging into a wholestack of sources about a really
surprising new piece of tech in the wearable space.
If you follow sites like, say, the 5K Runner or, you know, keep
tabs on experts like Rainmaker over D cranemaker.com, that's
pronounced DC Rainmaker. You've probably seen the
chatter. Oh yeah, definitely been making
(00:21):
waves, Garmin. You know, they've got their
serious athlete watches, the Forerunners, the Fenix line and
then the more lifestyle Venu series, but they've just dropped
something, well, unexpected, theVenu X1.
Right. The Venu line usually aims at,
let's say, recreational users. Yeah, basic tracking smartwatch
stuff. Exactly.
But the sources we've looked at,they're saying this X1 model
(00:43):
just kind of blows that up. It apparently tries to bridge
the gap, packing in features from their high end lines into a
totally different kind of body. And it seems pretty clear from
the commentary what Garmin's aiming for here.
This isn't just a minor update. No, not at all.
The sources position it as a real challenger, looking
straight at devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but, you
know, with that distinct Garmin flavour, focusing on the sports
(01:04):
side. OK, so let's get into these
sources. Then let's unpack what this Venu
X1 actually is, and more importantly, what the experts,
the reviewers, are saying about it.
Sounds good. Maybe start with the physical
stuff, because honestly, the design seems to be what struck
commentators first. It's different.
Absolutely. The thing everyone seems to
mention right off the bat is howincredibly thin it is, Yeah.
(01:24):
That's the headline feature. Physically speaking, Garmin is
calling it their thinnest watch ever.
Just 8 millimetres thick 8. Millimetres.
That's tiny for a GPS watch. It really is, and reviewers
immediately put that next to theApple Watch Ultra 2, which is
what, 14.4 millimetres? So significantly thicker.
One source actually said the Wiener X1 makes the Ultra Two
(01:45):
look like a beefcake. Gives you an idea that thinness
feels like a major design goal here.
Wow. OK, beefcake.
And then there's the screen. Also not typical Garmin, no.
It's massive and rectangular, A2inch AMOLED touchscreen, 448 by
486 pixels. The actual display area is huge,
a 1185 square millimetres. Which is what, bigger than the
(02:08):
Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen? Slightly, yeah.
The sources note the Ultra 2 is 1.93 inches, so the Venu X1
packs a bit more screen real estate.
One reviewer, apparently an Ultra 2 user, even describe the
X1 screen feeling like a wall mounted TV size display on their
wrist. Said they were still getting
(02:29):
used to it. It pushes right out to the
edges. Very little bezel.
So super thin, giant sharp screen.
What's it actually made of? Does it feel premium or just
light? It seems like a mix.
The main case is this lightweight fibre reinforced
polymer which helps keep the weight down, but then you get a
titanium case back which adds a more premium touch and the lens
(02:50):
is sapphire crystal, so good scratch resistance which you'd
expect at this kind of price point.
And the weight I saw slightly different numbers mentioned.
Yeah, there was a slight discrepancy in the sources.
Some said 34 grammes, others 40 grammes with the band.
But either way, it's noticeably lighter than the Venu 3, which
is around 47 grammes, and much lighter than the Apple Watch
Ultra 2 at over 61 grammes. The consensus seems to be it
(03:11):
feels light less bulky than other big smartwatches.
And it comes with that nylon strap of standard.
That's right, the Comfort Fit nylon band reviewers seem to
like how comfortable it felt, but you know, they also pointed
out the practical side fabric bands just stay wet longer after
a swim or shower than silicone does.
A minor point, but worth noting.OK.
(03:32):
And a feature pulled straight from the rugged lines the
flashlight. Yep, it's got the built in LED
flashlight just like the Phoenixand epics.
It's on the top edge. Sources confirmed it has the
usual 4 white brightness levels and the one red level.
It's actually a really useful feature, not something you
typically see on these more lifestyle oriented watches.
(03:52):
Yeah, definitely handy, but here's big departure button
wise, especially for a watch with supposedly advanced
features. Oh yeah, this really stood out
in the reviews. Only two physical buttons.
Just two. Just two.
Which is, you know, fewer than the Venu 3 S 3 and way different
from the usual 5 buttons on Forerunners and Phoenix watches
that athletes use to navigate menus without touching the
(04:13):
screen. So it really forces you towards
using the touchscreen more. Exactly.
It leans hard into that smartwatch feel.
But as some sources pointed out,that does raise questions about
usability during really intense workouts.
You know when your hands are sweaty or you're wearing gloves?
Touch screens can be tricky then.
OK, so physically it sounds likesuper sleek, huge screen,
(04:34):
lightweight premium touches, butmaybe some usability questions
with the buttons. But the really interesting part
where the sources spend a lot oftime is the software, this blend
of worlds. Right.
This is the core story, isn't it?
How it tries to fuse the V news look and feel the UI with the
serious data heavy software engine from the Forerunner and
(04:54):
Phoenix lines. So the interface looks like AV
new but underneath. Underneath, it's packing heat.
The sources were genuinely surprised I think to see things
like full offline topo mapping. Not just bread crumbs, but
actual maps. Proper downloadable, routable
topographic maps right on the watch.
That's a huge feature usually reserved for the top tier
(05:15):
adventure watches. Which enables all the advanced
navigation stuff too, presumably.
Precisely. You get round trip routing, tell
it how far you want to go, it suggests routes you can navigate
to points of interest you've saved, and it does automatic
rerouting if you go off course. These are hardcore navigation
tools. And what about the training
metrics, the stuff athletes obsess over?
A lot of the big ones are there reviewers specifically called
(05:38):
out climb pro. You know for real time ascent
data training readiness score. That's huge telling you how
recovered you are based on sleepHRV load.
Super useful. Yeah, and training status.
Are you productive? Peaking, strained endurance
score, which measures your capacity for long efforts.
Hill score, assessing your uphill running power.
(05:59):
These are all pulled from the high end watches.
These aren't just simple summaries, are they?
They're analytical tools. Definitely, it also gets Strava
Life segments on the watch itself, which is great for
cyclists and runners chasing personal bests.
Cycling Power Guide for structured power based workouts,
Garmin Share for sending routes around, focus modes to cut down
distractions during activities, and the Real Time Stamina
(06:20):
feature helping you pace yourself during runs or rides.
OK, so it's got the navigation chops, the training analysis.
What about connecting to external sensors and stuff?
Does it go beyond the basics? Yeah, the sources confirmed it
supports a much wider range of sensors than a typical venue.
Things like extended display mode, using the watch screen for
your bike, computer data, Golf Club sensors, range finders.
(06:44):
Even in reach communicators. Yep, in reach support and
cycling tech like electronic shifting systems Shimano D2,
that ability to connect to a whole ecosystem of external gear
was highlighted as a key step up, letting serious users get
more detailed data all. Right.
So it's definitely got a serioussports brain transplant, but
does it still function well as an everyday smartwatch?
(07:06):
Does it keep those lifestyle features?
That seems to be the other half of the equation.
It keeps the built in speaker and microphone so you can take
calls on your wrist if your phone's connected.
And voice notes. I saw one source point out
that's actually a Phoenix 8 feature.
Not even on the latest 409 seventy.
That's right, you can record quick voice memos.
Pretty handy and it supports voice commands too, either for
watch functions or to access your phones assistant like IRI
(07:30):
or Google Assistant. Music is essential for a lot of
people. It's covered 32 gigs of internal
storage, plenty of space for downloading music and podcasts
from Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, whatever for phone free
listening, assuming you have thesubscriptions of course.
And the standard smartwatch stuff is all there.
Payments notifications. Yep, Garmin pay for contactless
(07:51):
payments is included and you getall your smart notifications,
emails, texts, app alerts, the sources noted.
Android users get a bit extra, like replying to texts with an
on screen keyboard or the GarminMessenger app, and even viewing
photos from notifications directly on that big screen.
Connectivity is the usual Bluetooth Ant plus Wi-Fi.
Standard stuff there, yes, and full access to the Connect IQ
(08:14):
store for downloading extra watch faces, data fields and
apps to customise it. Plus all the expected garment
health enrollments tracking. Absolutely it's got the 2147
monitoring heart rate respiration stress via HRV
status advanced sleep tracking with the sleep coach feature
body battery energy monitoring pulse ox though you know the
usual caveats about wrist based BO2 accuracy apply sure health
(08:37):
snapshot for getting a quick overview of key metrics nap
detection jet lag advisor redshift mode for easier night
viewing and it uses garmin's latest elevate Gen 5 optical
heart rate sensor and. I think I saw mention of a
couple of small, maybe unexpected additions.
Yeah, kind of neat little things.
Reviewers mentioned a built in calculator app which actually
includes a tip calculator function.
(08:59):
Practical and also new options for adjusting the size on the
watch, which makes sense with that big display making
notifications easier to read. OK, so it genuinely sounds like
it packs a massive amount in pulling from both the venue and
forerunner FedEx playbooks. But there have to be trade-offs,
right? To get that thin design, that
huge screen, something's got to give.
What are the sources pinpoint asthe downsides or emissions?
(09:22):
Yeah, absolutely. And the biggest one mentioned
consistently across the board isbattery life, especially when
you compare it to other garments, even other Venus.
Right, the Venue 3 already had less battery than say, a
Phoenix. Exactly, so the Venu X1 is rated
for up to 8 days. In smartwatch mode, the Venu 3
could get up to 14 days. That's a pretty big drop.
(09:44):
Wow, almost half. And if you turn on the always on
display, which let's be honest, a lot of people will want to do
with that nice AMOLED screen, itdrops down to just two days.
Only two days. Yeah, compared to three days
always on for the Venu 3 GPS mode is rated up to 16 hours.
So the reviewers basically said,look, this is the price you pay
for that big bright screen and thin design.
(10:06):
It pushes it much closer to Apple Watch territory in terms
of charging frequency rather than that classic Garmin multi
week battery life. OK, battery is a big one.
What else? Water resistance.
That's another area where it doesn't quite match up to the
top tier rugged watches or even the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
It's rated Swim 5 ATM, so good for surface swimming showering
(10:27):
rated to 50 metres. But the sources pointed out this
means no advanced swim metrics, no diving features like you get
on a Phoenix 8 and it's way lessthan the Ultra twos 100 metre
rating and proper 40 metre dive certification.
So maybe not the best choice forserious water sports athletes.
Probably not, no. And despite grabbing so many
(10:48):
advanced training features, it seems it actually misses a
couple of the very latest ones that just landed on the
Forerunner 970. Oh, interesting.
Like what? Specifically, some reviewers
focused on running noted the lack of running tolerance.
That's also called impact load, basically analysing the physical
stress from your runs and also running economy, which measures
how efficiently you run. Minor omissions for some, maybe,
(11:10):
but for data-driven runners, those are becoming key metrics.
And what about the GPS? For a watch with full mapping,
you'd expect top to your GPS, right?
You would, wouldn't you? But it doesn't have multi band
or dual frequency GPS, right? At that price.
Yeah. Now sources like Rainmaker over
at DC, Rainmaker gave some important context here.
He mentioned that Garmin's non dual frequency GPS can still be
(11:33):
very accurate, sometimes even better than competitors dual
frequency implementations. But still for a $799 watch
that's pushing its mapping and outdoor capabilities, not having
multiband was called a quirky omission.
The feeling was it might be lessreliable and really tough signal
areas, deep canyons, dense cities compared to watches that
(11:55):
do have it. Bit of a head scratcher and.
Any limitations on the health sensor side?
The main thing noted was the lack of ECG capability.
It can't take an electrocardiogram reading.
This suggests it doesn't have the specific hardware needed for
that, which is a feature found on the Apple Watch and some
other premium smartwatches becoming kind of table stakes in
this price range. Right.
And finally, there's some commentary on the name itself.
(12:16):
Yeah, universally reviewers seemto find the name Venu X1 a bit
weird. Weird how?
Well, some said it sounded like something from a hunting gear
line. Maybe confusing but mostly the
feeling was it just doesn't clearly communicate what the
watch is. This premium feature packed
hybrid, something like VNU Pro or even a whole new name might
(12:38):
have made more sense, according to the sources.
OK, so it sounds like Garmin definitely made some conscious
choices here. They prioritise that super thin
design and the big screen and the trade-offs were battery life
compared to their usual standards, top end water
resistance, a couple of niche running metrics and maybe the
very best GPS and health sensor tech.
Yeah, what do these choices makeit stack up against other
(13:01):
watches? Let's start inside Garmin's own
house versus the Venu 3. Yeah, the comparisons really
help place it against the Venu 3.
It's clear the X1 isn't just an iterative update, it's almost a
different category wearing the same family name.
Also, well, the X1 is way thinner, like we said, 8
millimetre versus over 12 millimetres for the Venu 3.
It has that much larger rectangular 2 inch screen versus
(13:22):
the Venu 3 is 1.4 inch round one.
And the massive difference is the software.
The X1 gets all those advanced training metrics and full
mapping, which the Venu 3 completely lacks.
But the Venu three wins on battery.
Big time, up to 14 days versus 8days for the X1.
Plus the Venu 3 has that third button and it's significantly
cheaper, around $450 compared tothe X1's $800 price tag.
(13:44):
So the sources basically framed it as they serve different
users. X1 is for someone who wants
those high end features and mapsin a sleeker body and is willing
to pay more and charge more often.
Venu 3 is for the more casual user, prioritising battery and
simplicity. Makes sense?
OK, what about against Garmin's actual high end sports watches,
the Forerunner 970 or Phoenix 8?This is where that bridging the
(14:05):
gap idea comes in. The Venu X1 basically borrows
the core sports and mapping software from those watches.
You get largely the same data, same navigation, but but it
presents it through that Venu style touch interface with only
two buttons, not the five buttoncontrol athletes often prefer on
the Forerunner Phoenix. It's much thinner and lighter
than either of those. It does get the voice notes
(14:27):
feature like the Phoenix 8, which is interesting, but it
gives up things like the Phoenix8's 100 metre water rating and
dive features, some of those newest running metrics from the
970 and crucially the multi bandGPS that's available on the
higher end versions of both those lines.
So you get most of the capability, but not the extreme
ruggedness or the traditional button control.
Exactly. You trade some of that hardcore
(14:49):
edge for the slimmer, perhaps more stylish design.
That seems to be the deal all. Right now, the big one, the
comparison multiple sources madeexplicitly the Apple Watch Ultra
2. Yeah, this felt like the key
rivalry everyone was looking at,especially since they launched
the exact same $799.99 price point and both have these large
(15:09):
premium displays. Hardware wise, the X1 seems to
have the edge on paper for size and weight.
Definitely consistently highlighted the X1 is
significantly thinner 8 millimetre versus 14.4
millimetres and lighter around 40 gam versus over 61 Jim, even
though it's screen is slightly bigger, 2 inches versus 1.93.
However, one source made an interesting comment.
(15:31):
They said despite the specs, theVenue X1 feels absolutely
nothing like it in hand comparedto the Ultra 2.
Oh, what do they mean by that? They didn't fully elaborate, but
it suggests maybe a difference in perceived density or build
quality, perhaps even though both use premium materials.
Titanium case back on the X1, Full titanium case on the altar
2. Something about the feel was
(15:53):
apparently quite different. Interesting nuance, Yeah.
OK. Feature wise, this is where the
Apple versus Garmin philosophiesreally show, right?
That's the commentary was prettyclear.
Garmin with the V new X1 goes far further than Apple does in
terms of those sporty features. Things like the depth of
training, load analysis, recovery metrics, the built in
mapping, those are areas where the X1 is seen as much more
advanced rathle. Whereas the Apple Watch Ultra 2
(16:14):
has strengths elsewhere. Right.
The Ultra 2 is seen as stronger on the broader health front with
its certified ECG, temperature sensing for cycle tracking, the
proper depth gauge and dive computer functions, plus it's
deeper integration to the whole Apple ecosystem and of course
built in cellular connectivity which the X1 lacks.
Battery life, though, remains a clear garment advantage, even
(16:36):
with the X1's reduced numbers. Oh for sure, the X1's up to 8
days or two days. Always on still blows away the
Apple Watch Ultra 2's standard up to 36 hours.
Yes, the Ultra 2 has that low power mode that can stretch
things out to 72 hours, but it cuts off a lot of features.
So for anyone wanting to charge less often or track multi day
activities without worry, the reviewer saw the garment is
(16:57):
having the clear edge there. But the flip side is durability
and connectivity. Correct the Venue X1 five ATM
water resistance, sapphire crystal, the Apple Watch Ultra
2100 metre water resistance, proper dive certification EN
13318 up to 40 metres IP6X dust proofing and mill STD 810 H
(17:17):
Tested for ruggedness. Plus it has cellular built in
standard and that customizable action button.
So the takeaway seems to be the Ultra 2 is the tougher, more
connected, more health certifieddevice.
Overall, the Venue X1 is sleeker, lighter with deeper
built in sports science and mapping different priorities.
OK, so summing up the sources, view the venue X1 is this really
(17:37):
unexpected watch. Super thin, huge screen.
Manages to cram in a lot of Garmin's top end sports
features, making it a direct lifestyle focus competitor to
the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But it achieves this by making
specific trade-offs. Less battery than other
garments, lower water rating, missing ECG and multiband DPS,
Focusing instead on that design and the core athletic tracking.
That captures the consensus pretty well.
(17:59):
I think. It's a genuinely new kind of
product for Garmin, filling a gap maybe they didn't even know
they had. And there was one final thought
from the sources about its long term prospects.
Something about software support?
Yeah, that was an important point raised by Rainmaker at DC
Rainmaker. He noted that while the hardware
and the initial feature set are impressive, the real test for
the Venue X1, especially for theserious users it seems to
(18:21):
target, will be Garmin software update strategy.
Meaning historically the Venue line just hasn't received the
same kind of ongoing major feature updates after launch
that the Forerunner and Phoenix lines get.
They tend to be more static. So the question is, will Garmin
treat this premium $800 Venue X1like a true high end device and
(18:42):
keep adding significant new features via software updates
like they do for Forerunner Fenix?
Or will it follow the typical venue pattern that can really
determine its long term appeal? That's a really crucial point.
The initial package is one thing, but ongoing value is key
at this price. So that leaves us with a
question for you, the listener, thinking about this venue X1,
the $800 price. This very specific, maybe
(19:03):
surprising mix of deep training features and mapping, but packed
into this incredibly thin body with a massive screen.
And considering those trade-offs, the battery hit
compared to other Garmin's, the five ATM water rating, no ECG,
no multiband GPS. Does this device hit the sweet
spot for you? Is this kind of hybrid taking
the guts of a serious sports watch and putting them in a
sleeker? More lifestyle friendly.
(19:25):
Package the future direction forpremium smartwatches?
Or is it more of a niche experiment for a very particular
user? Definitely something to Mull
over.
Welcome to the. Deep dive.
Today we're digging into a wholestack of sources about a really
surprising new piece of tech in the wearable space.
If you follow sites like, say, the 5K Runner or, you know, keep
tabs on experts like Rainmaker over D cranemaker.com, that's
pronounced DC Rainmaker. You've probably seen the
chatter. Oh yeah, definitely been making
(00:21):
waves, Garmin. You know, they've got their
serious athlete watches, the Forerunners, the Fenix line and
then the more lifestyle Venu series, but they've just dropped
something, well, unexpected, theVenu X1.
Right. The Venu line usually aims at,
let's say, recreational users. Yeah, basic tracking smartwatch
stuff. Exactly.
But the sources we've looked at,they're saying this X1 model
(00:43):
just kind of blows that up. It apparently tries to bridge
the gap, packing in features from their high end lines into a
totally different kind of body. And it seems pretty clear from
the commentary what Garmin's aiming for here.
This isn't just a minor update. No, not at all.
The sources position it as a real challenger, looking
straight at devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but, you
know, with that distinct Garmin flavour, focusing on the sports
(01:04):
side. OK, so let's get into these
sources. Then let's unpack what this Venu
X1 actually is, and more importantly, what the experts,
the reviewers, are saying about it.
Sounds good. Maybe start with the physical
stuff, because honestly, the design seems to be what struck
commentators first. It's different.
Absolutely. The thing everyone seems to
mention right off the bat is howincredibly thin it is, Yeah.
(01:24):
That's the headline feature. Physically speaking, Garmin is
calling it their thinnest watch ever.
Just 8 millimetres thick 8. Millimetres.
That's tiny for a GPS watch. It really is, and reviewers
immediately put that next to theApple Watch Ultra 2, which is
what, 14.4 millimetres? So significantly thicker.
One source actually said the Wiener X1 makes the Ultra Two
(01:45):
look like a beefcake. Gives you an idea that thinness
feels like a major design goal here.
Wow. OK, beefcake.
And then there's the screen. Also not typical Garmin, no.
It's massive and rectangular, A2inch AMOLED touchscreen, 448 by
486 pixels. The actual display area is huge,
a 1185 square millimetres. Which is what, bigger than the
(02:08):
Apple Watch Ultra 2 screen? Slightly, yeah.
The sources note the Ultra 2 is 1.93 inches, so the Venu X1
packs a bit more screen real estate.
One reviewer, apparently an Ultra 2 user, even describe the
X1 screen feeling like a wall mounted TV size display on their
wrist. Said they were still getting
(02:29):
used to it. It pushes right out to the
edges. Very little bezel.
So super thin, giant sharp screen.
What's it actually made of? Does it feel premium or just
light? It seems like a mix.
The main case is this lightweight fibre reinforced
polymer which helps keep the weight down, but then you get a
titanium case back which adds a more premium touch and the lens
(02:50):
is sapphire crystal, so good scratch resistance which you'd
expect at this kind of price point.
And the weight I saw slightly different numbers mentioned.
Yeah, there was a slight discrepancy in the sources.
Some said 34 grammes, others 40 grammes with the band.
But either way, it's noticeably lighter than the Venu 3, which
is around 47 grammes, and much lighter than the Apple Watch
Ultra 2 at over 61 grammes. The consensus seems to be it
(03:11):
feels light less bulky than other big smartwatches.
And it comes with that nylon strap of standard.
That's right, the Comfort Fit nylon band reviewers seem to
like how comfortable it felt, but you know, they also pointed
out the practical side fabric bands just stay wet longer after
a swim or shower than silicone does.
A minor point, but worth noting.OK.
(03:32):
And a feature pulled straight from the rugged lines the
flashlight. Yep, it's got the built in LED
flashlight just like the Phoenixand epics.
It's on the top edge. Sources confirmed it has the
usual 4 white brightness levels and the one red level.
It's actually a really useful feature, not something you
typically see on these more lifestyle oriented watches.
(03:52):
Yeah, definitely handy, but here's big departure button
wise, especially for a watch with supposedly advanced
features. Oh yeah, this really stood out
in the reviews. Only two physical buttons.
Just two. Just two.
Which is, you know, fewer than the Venu 3 S 3 and way different
from the usual 5 buttons on Forerunners and Phoenix watches
that athletes use to navigate menus without touching the
(04:13):
screen. So it really forces you towards
using the touchscreen more. Exactly.
It leans hard into that smartwatch feel.
But as some sources pointed out,that does raise questions about
usability during really intense workouts.
You know when your hands are sweaty or you're wearing gloves?
Touch screens can be tricky then.
OK, so physically it sounds likesuper sleek, huge screen,
(04:34):
lightweight premium touches, butmaybe some usability questions
with the buttons. But the really interesting part
where the sources spend a lot oftime is the software, this blend
of worlds. Right.
This is the core story, isn't it?
How it tries to fuse the V news look and feel the UI with the
serious data heavy software engine from the Forerunner and
(04:54):
Phoenix lines. So the interface looks like AV
new but underneath. Underneath, it's packing heat.
The sources were genuinely surprised I think to see things
like full offline topo mapping. Not just bread crumbs, but
actual maps. Proper downloadable, routable
topographic maps right on the watch.
That's a huge feature usually reserved for the top tier
(05:15):
adventure watches. Which enables all the advanced
navigation stuff too, presumably.
Precisely. You get round trip routing, tell
it how far you want to go, it suggests routes you can navigate
to points of interest you've saved, and it does automatic
rerouting if you go off course. These are hardcore navigation
tools. And what about the training
metrics, the stuff athletes obsess over?
A lot of the big ones are there reviewers specifically called
(05:38):
out climb pro. You know for real time ascent
data training readiness score. That's huge telling you how
recovered you are based on sleepHRV load.
Super useful. Yeah, and training status.
Are you productive? Peaking, strained endurance
score, which measures your capacity for long efforts.
Hill score, assessing your uphill running power.
(05:59):
These are all pulled from the high end watches.
These aren't just simple summaries, are they?
They're analytical tools. Definitely, it also gets Strava
Life segments on the watch itself, which is great for
cyclists and runners chasing personal bests.
Cycling Power Guide for structured power based workouts,
Garmin Share for sending routes around, focus modes to cut down
distractions during activities, and the Real Time Stamina
(06:20):
feature helping you pace yourself during runs or rides.
OK, so it's got the navigation chops, the training analysis.
What about connecting to external sensors and stuff?
Does it go beyond the basics? Yeah, the sources confirmed it
supports a much wider range of sensors than a typical venue.
Things like extended display mode, using the watch screen for
your bike, computer data, Golf Club sensors, range finders.
(06:44):
Even in reach communicators. Yep, in reach support and
cycling tech like electronic shifting systems Shimano D2,
that ability to connect to a whole ecosystem of external gear
was highlighted as a key step up, letting serious users get
more detailed data all. Right.
So it's definitely got a serioussports brain transplant, but
does it still function well as an everyday smartwatch?
(07:06):
Does it keep those lifestyle features?
That seems to be the other half of the equation.
It keeps the built in speaker and microphone so you can take
calls on your wrist if your phone's connected.
And voice notes. I saw one source point out
that's actually a Phoenix 8 feature.
Not even on the latest 409 seventy.
That's right, you can record quick voice memos.
Pretty handy and it supports voice commands too, either for
watch functions or to access your phones assistant like IRI
(07:30):
or Google Assistant. Music is essential for a lot of
people. It's covered 32 gigs of internal
storage, plenty of space for downloading music and podcasts
from Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, whatever for phone free
listening, assuming you have thesubscriptions of course.
And the standard smartwatch stuff is all there.
Payments notifications. Yep, Garmin pay for contactless
(07:51):
payments is included and you getall your smart notifications,
emails, texts, app alerts, the sources noted.
Android users get a bit extra, like replying to texts with an
on screen keyboard or the GarminMessenger app, and even viewing
photos from notifications directly on that big screen.
Connectivity is the usual Bluetooth Ant plus Wi-Fi.
Standard stuff there, yes, and full access to the Connect IQ
(08:14):
store for downloading extra watch faces, data fields and
apps to customise it. Plus all the expected garment
health enrollments tracking. Absolutely it's got the 2147
monitoring heart rate respiration stress via HRV
status advanced sleep tracking with the sleep coach feature
body battery energy monitoring pulse ox though you know the
usual caveats about wrist based BO2 accuracy apply sure health
(08:37):
snapshot for getting a quick overview of key metrics nap
detection jet lag advisor redshift mode for easier night
viewing and it uses garmin's latest elevate Gen 5 optical
heart rate sensor and. I think I saw mention of a
couple of small, maybe unexpected additions.
Yeah, kind of neat little things.
Reviewers mentioned a built in calculator app which actually
includes a tip calculator function.
(08:59):
Practical and also new options for adjusting the size on the
watch, which makes sense with that big display making
notifications easier to read. OK, so it genuinely sounds like
it packs a massive amount in pulling from both the venue and
forerunner FedEx playbooks. But there have to be trade-offs,
right? To get that thin design, that
huge screen, something's got to give.
What are the sources pinpoint asthe downsides or emissions?
(09:22):
Yeah, absolutely. And the biggest one mentioned
consistently across the board isbattery life, especially when
you compare it to other garments, even other Venus.
Right, the Venue 3 already had less battery than say, a
Phoenix. Exactly, so the Venu X1 is rated
for up to 8 days. In smartwatch mode, the Venu 3
could get up to 14 days. That's a pretty big drop.
(09:44):
Wow, almost half. And if you turn on the always on
display, which let's be honest, a lot of people will want to do
with that nice AMOLED screen, itdrops down to just two days.
Only two days. Yeah, compared to three days
always on for the Venu 3 GPS mode is rated up to 16 hours.
So the reviewers basically said,look, this is the price you pay
for that big bright screen and thin design.
(10:06):
It pushes it much closer to Apple Watch territory in terms
of charging frequency rather than that classic Garmin multi
week battery life. OK, battery is a big one.
What else? Water resistance.
That's another area where it doesn't quite match up to the
top tier rugged watches or even the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
It's rated Swim 5 ATM, so good for surface swimming showering
(10:27):
rated to 50 metres. But the sources pointed out this
means no advanced swim metrics, no diving features like you get
on a Phoenix 8 and it's way lessthan the Ultra twos 100 metre
rating and proper 40 metre dive certification.
So maybe not the best choice forserious water sports athletes.
Probably not, no. And despite grabbing so many
(10:48):
advanced training features, it seems it actually misses a
couple of the very latest ones that just landed on the
Forerunner 970. Oh, interesting.
Like what? Specifically, some reviewers
focused on running noted the lack of running tolerance.
That's also called impact load, basically analysing the physical
stress from your runs and also running economy, which measures
how efficiently you run. Minor omissions for some, maybe,
(11:10):
but for data-driven runners, those are becoming key metrics.
And what about the GPS? For a watch with full mapping,
you'd expect top to your GPS, right?
You would, wouldn't you? But it doesn't have multi band
or dual frequency GPS, right? At that price.
Yeah. Now sources like Rainmaker over
at DC, Rainmaker gave some important context here.
He mentioned that Garmin's non dual frequency GPS can still be
(11:33):
very accurate, sometimes even better than competitors dual
frequency implementations. But still for a $799 watch
that's pushing its mapping and outdoor capabilities, not having
multiband was called a quirky omission.
The feeling was it might be lessreliable and really tough signal
areas, deep canyons, dense cities compared to watches that
(11:55):
do have it. Bit of a head scratcher and.
Any limitations on the health sensor side?
The main thing noted was the lack of ECG capability.
It can't take an electrocardiogram reading.
This suggests it doesn't have the specific hardware needed for
that, which is a feature found on the Apple Watch and some
other premium smartwatches becoming kind of table stakes in
this price range. Right.
And finally, there's some commentary on the name itself.
(12:16):
Yeah, universally reviewers seemto find the name Venu X1 a bit
weird. Weird how?
Well, some said it sounded like something from a hunting gear
line. Maybe confusing but mostly the
feeling was it just doesn't clearly communicate what the
watch is. This premium feature packed
hybrid, something like VNU Pro or even a whole new name might
(12:38):
have made more sense, according to the sources.
OK, so it sounds like Garmin definitely made some conscious
choices here. They prioritise that super thin
design and the big screen and the trade-offs were battery life
compared to their usual standards, top end water
resistance, a couple of niche running metrics and maybe the
very best GPS and health sensor tech.
Yeah, what do these choices makeit stack up against other
(13:01):
watches? Let's start inside Garmin's own
house versus the Venu 3. Yeah, the comparisons really
help place it against the Venu 3.
It's clear the X1 isn't just an iterative update, it's almost a
different category wearing the same family name.
Also, well, the X1 is way thinner, like we said, 8
millimetre versus over 12 millimetres for the Venu 3.
It has that much larger rectangular 2 inch screen versus
(13:22):
the Venu 3 is 1.4 inch round one.
And the massive difference is the software.
The X1 gets all those advanced training metrics and full
mapping, which the Venu 3 completely lacks.
But the Venu three wins on battery.
Big time, up to 14 days versus 8days for the X1.
Plus the Venu 3 has that third button and it's significantly
cheaper, around $450 compared tothe X1's $800 price tag.
(13:44):
So the sources basically framed it as they serve different
users. X1 is for someone who wants
those high end features and mapsin a sleeker body and is willing
to pay more and charge more often.
Venu 3 is for the more casual user, prioritising battery and
simplicity. Makes sense?
OK, what about against Garmin's actual high end sports watches,
the Forerunner 970 or Phoenix 8?This is where that bridging the
(14:05):
gap idea comes in. The Venu X1 basically borrows
the core sports and mapping software from those watches.
You get largely the same data, same navigation, but but it
presents it through that Venu style touch interface with only
two buttons, not the five buttoncontrol athletes often prefer on
the Forerunner Phoenix. It's much thinner and lighter
than either of those. It does get the voice notes
(14:27):
feature like the Phoenix 8, which is interesting, but it
gives up things like the Phoenix8's 100 metre water rating and
dive features, some of those newest running metrics from the
970 and crucially the multi bandGPS that's available on the
higher end versions of both those lines.
So you get most of the capability, but not the extreme
ruggedness or the traditional button control.
Exactly. You trade some of that hardcore
(14:49):
edge for the slimmer, perhaps more stylish design.
That seems to be the deal all. Right now, the big one, the
comparison multiple sources madeexplicitly the Apple Watch Ultra
2. Yeah, this felt like the key
rivalry everyone was looking at,especially since they launched
the exact same $799.99 price point and both have these large
(15:09):
premium displays. Hardware wise, the X1 seems to
have the edge on paper for size and weight.
Definitely consistently highlighted the X1 is
significantly thinner 8 millimetre versus 14.4
millimetres and lighter around 40 gam versus over 61 Jim, even
though it's screen is slightly bigger, 2 inches versus 1.93.
However, one source made an interesting comment.
(15:31):
They said despite the specs, theVenue X1 feels absolutely
nothing like it in hand comparedto the Ultra 2.
Oh, what do they mean by that? They didn't fully elaborate, but
it suggests maybe a difference in perceived density or build
quality, perhaps even though both use premium materials.
Titanium case back on the X1, Full titanium case on the altar
2. Something about the feel was
(15:53):
apparently quite different. Interesting nuance, Yeah.
OK. Feature wise, this is where the
Apple versus Garmin philosophiesreally show, right?
That's the commentary was prettyclear.
Garmin with the V new X1 goes far further than Apple does in
terms of those sporty features. Things like the depth of
training, load analysis, recovery metrics, the built in
mapping, those are areas where the X1 is seen as much more
advanced rathle. Whereas the Apple Watch Ultra 2
(16:14):
has strengths elsewhere. Right.
The Ultra 2 is seen as stronger on the broader health front with
its certified ECG, temperature sensing for cycle tracking, the
proper depth gauge and dive computer functions, plus it's
deeper integration to the whole Apple ecosystem and of course
built in cellular connectivity which the X1 lacks.
Battery life, though, remains a clear garment advantage, even
(16:36):
with the X1's reduced numbers. Oh for sure, the X1's up to 8
days or two days. Always on still blows away the
Apple Watch Ultra 2's standard up to 36 hours.
Yes, the Ultra 2 has that low power mode that can stretch
things out to 72 hours, but it cuts off a lot of features.
So for anyone wanting to charge less often or track multi day
activities without worry, the reviewer saw the garment is
(16:57):
having the clear edge there. But the flip side is durability
and connectivity. Correct the Venue X1 five ATM
water resistance, sapphire crystal, the Apple Watch Ultra
2100 metre water resistance, proper dive certification EN
13318 up to 40 metres IP6X dust proofing and mill STD 810 H
(17:17):
Tested for ruggedness. Plus it has cellular built in
standard and that customizable action button.
So the takeaway seems to be the Ultra 2 is the tougher, more
connected, more health certifieddevice.
Overall, the Venue X1 is sleeker, lighter with deeper
built in sports science and mapping different priorities.
OK, so summing up the sources, view the venue X1 is this really
(17:37):
unexpected watch. Super thin, huge screen.
Manages to cram in a lot of Garmin's top end sports
features, making it a direct lifestyle focus competitor to
the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But it achieves this by making
specific trade-offs. Less battery than other
garments, lower water rating, missing ECG and multiband DPS,
Focusing instead on that design and the core athletic tracking.
That captures the consensus pretty well.
(17:59):
I think. It's a genuinely new kind of
product for Garmin, filling a gap maybe they didn't even know
they had. And there was one final thought
from the sources about its long term prospects.
Something about software support?
Yeah, that was an important point raised by Rainmaker at DC
Rainmaker. He noted that while the hardware
and the initial feature set are impressive, the real test for
the Venue X1, especially for theserious users it seems to
(18:21):
target, will be Garmin software update strategy.
Meaning historically the Venue line just hasn't received the
same kind of ongoing major feature updates after launch
that the Forerunner and Phoenix lines get.
They tend to be more static. So the question is, will Garmin
treat this premium $800 Venue X1like a true high end device and
(18:42):
keep adding significant new features via software updates
like they do for Forerunner Fenix?
Or will it follow the typical venue pattern that can really
determine its long term appeal? That's a really crucial point.
The initial package is one thing, but ongoing value is key
at this price. So that leaves us with a
question for you, the listener, thinking about this venue X1,
the $800 price. This very specific, maybe
(19:03):
surprising mix of deep training features and mapping, but packed
into this incredibly thin body with a massive screen.
And considering those trade-offs, the battery hit
compared to other Garmin's, the five ATM water rating, no ECG,
no multiband GPS. Does this device hit the sweet
spot for you? Is this kind of hybrid taking
the guts of a serious sports watch and putting them in a
sleeker? More lifestyle friendly.
(19:25):
Package the future direction forpremium smartwatches?
Or is it more of a niche experiment for a very particular
user? Definitely something to Mull
over.
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