Head-to-head · Best Smartwatches

Garmin Venu 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

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 (4.4 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Health-conscious users wanting long battery life — read the strengths below before deciding.

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 →

Ranked #5 in Best Smartwatches

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

4.2

4 sources$452.7as of Jul 31

PCMag's Andrew Gebhart liked the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for its elegant design and high-quality tactile elements, especially the rotating bezel and the smooth One UI Watch interface. Comfort is where it comes apart. Andy Boxall, a Reddit user, and other reviewers all described a disproportionate shape and an awkward fit; one said it failed to become part of the wrist and was practically impossible to wear comfortably all day. The large size and weight also rule out overnight sleep tracking. Battery life is solid, but comfort and ergonomics remain major drawbacks for many users.

Strengths

— Polished finishing with silver-and-white color scheme that is striking yet classy
— Rotating bezel provides tactile joy with perfectly dampened clicks
— One UI Watch is smooth, slick, and fast to respond

Watch-outs

— Uncomfortable fit due to short and low lugs, flat case back, and tall bezel making it feel like an obstinate wart on the wrist
— Large dimensions make it annoying under cuffs and difficult to wear overnight for sleep tracking

$452.7 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic stands out with its rotating bezel and elegant design, but it's significantly less comfortable than the OnePlus Watch 3, which offers a better fit despite similar size. Unlike the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it lacks ruggedization and outdoor-specific features, and while it has a polished UI, it doesn't match the Apple Watch Series 11 in terms of performance and health tracking capabilities.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Garmin Venu 3	Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
Display	1.4-inch AMOLED	1.9-inch Super AMOLED
Battery	Up to two weeks	—
Water Resistance	5 ATM	5ATM
Health Features	Elevate V5 sensor	heart rate, and temperature sensor
Processor	S9 System in Package (SiP)	Exynos W940
Connectivity	LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3
Weight	—	49.7g
Dimensions	—	9.4 x 3 x 1.2 in

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