Head-to-head · Best Smartwatches

Apple Watch Ultra 2 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.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Venu 3 score essentially the same (4.4 vs 4.4). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #1 in Best Smartwatches

Apple Watch Ultra 2

4.4

4 sources$729.96as of Jul 31

The Ultra 2 is Apple's rugged watch: a titanium case to MIL-STD 810H, 100 meters of water resistance, dual-frequency GPS and a programmable Action Button with a siren. PCMag rated it 4 out of 5 and singled out the display, which peaks at 3,000 nits. OutdoorGearLab scored it 4.6 overall but 4.2 on battery — about 36 hours of ordinary use, and roughly 12 hours with GPS running.

Strengths

— MIL-STD 810H certified for rugged durability
— Flat display design for enhanced protection
— Action Button offers customizable functionality and emergency siren

Watch-outs

— Roughly 12 hours of battery with GPS running, far short of dedicated endurance watches
— Full navigation still depends on a paired iPhone
— The 49 mm titanium case is large and heavy on a small wrist

$729.96 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #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 Ultra 2

Against a Garmin Fenix 8 the Ultra 2 loses badly on endurance and wins on software, notifications and everything that follows from being an Apple Watch. Against the Series models it buys ruggedness, a brighter screen and the Action Button for a lot more money. It is only worth considering for someone already carrying an iPhone.

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 Ultra 2	Garmin Venu 3
Display	Flat	1.4-inch AMOLED
Processor	S9 System in Package (SiP)	S9 System in Package (SiP)
Battery	Up to 36 hours of normal use	Up to two weeks
Water Resistance	100 meters	5 ATM
Connectivity	LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3	LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3
Health Features	ECG, heart rate monitoring, and blood oxygen saturation	Elevate V5 sensor
Weight	61.4g	—
Dimensions	1.93 x 1.73 x 0.47 in	—

← See the full ranking of best smartwatches