Head-to-head · Best Smartwatches

Apple Watch Series 11 vs Garmin Venu 3

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Garmin Venu 3 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Health-conscious users wanting long battery life — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Smartwatches

Apple Watch Series 11

4.3

5 sources$299.99as of Jul 31

The Apple Watch Series 11 refines what came before it, with a brighter display and more performance from the S9 SiP chip. PCMag's Andrew Gebhart called it a 'small but meaningful step forward' rather than a redesign. CNET's reviewer named it a 'goldilocks pick' while noting it's getting harder to recommend against newer models. Health monitoring stays strong, with enhanced ECG capabilities and an improved always-on display, but nothing here separates it sharply from previous generations.

Strengths

— Improved brightness with up to 2,000 nits peak brightness for better visibility in sunlight
— Enhanced always-on display functionality with improved readability
— Faster S9 SiP chip delivering better performance and efficiency

Watch-outs

— No significant design changes from Series 10
— Still lacks standalone cellular connectivity in entry-level models

$299.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Smartwatches

Garmin Venu 3

4.4

2 sources$364.9as of Jul 31

The Garmin Venu 3 is a health-first watch that happens to have smartwatch manners. Battery life runs to weeks rather than days, the Elevate V5 sensor and multi-GNSS positioning are dependable, and the sleep stack goes deeper than most rivals with full staging, nap detection and a morning report. The trade-offs are a thin third-party app catalogue and no cellular option, so it leans on a paired phone for anything beyond fitness. Buy it for the data and the runtime; skip it if you want a phone on your wrist.

Strengths

— Impressive battery life (up to two weeks)
— Accurate GPS and heart rate/HRV sensors
— All-day health and sleep tracking, including nap detection and morning reports

Watch-outs

— Limited third-party app selection and slow app downloads
— No LTE version available

$364.9 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Apple Watch Series 11

The Apple Watch Series 11 improves upon its predecessor with a faster S9 chip and enhanced display brightness, but unlike the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it lacks rugged durability and specialized outdoor features. Compared to the Apple Watch SE, it offers more advanced health monitoring and a premium feel, though it doesn't provide the budget-friendly value that the SE delivers. It's a refined upgrade for existing Apple Watch users but doesn't break new ground in terms of design or functionality.

Garmin Venu 3

The Garmin Venu 3 offers unmatched battery life compared to the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, but it lacks the app ecosystem and smart features of the Apple models. Unlike the OnePlus Watch 3, it doesn't have a large, high-resolution display or LTE support, and it's not as durable or water-resistant. It's a strong choice for health-focused users who prioritize long battery life over smart connectivity.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Apple Watch Series 11	Garmin Venu 3
Display	1.9-inch always-on Retina	1.4-inch AMOLED
Processor	S9 SiP	S9 System in Package (SiP)
Battery	Up to 24 hours	Up to two weeks
Water Resistance	50 meters	5 ATM
Connectivity	5G	LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3
Health Features	ECG app, heart rhythm monitoring	Elevate V5 sensor
Weight	37g (46mm), 30g (42mm)	—
Dimensions	9.4 x 3 x 1.2 in	—

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