Garmin Venu X1 Review: A truly modern fitness smartwatch

Finest Costs Right now: Garmin Venu X1

Extra so than another watch within the firm’s vary, the Garmin Venu X1 takes the battle on to the Apple Watch Extremely 2 with some improbable outcomes.

As a lot as I really like Garmin watches, I do assume that there’s a difficulty with the quantity of wearables the corporate presently places out. It’s totally different when you’re somebody who has their pulse on the most recent developments within the smartwatch world, however I’d think about that the typical particular person doesn’t know what it’s that makes the Forerunner, Vivoactive, Venu and Fenix ranges totally different from each other – it’s complicated, even for a tech journalist.

With that in thoughts, it’s at all times been difficult to advocate a selected Garmin watch over the remainder, in the best way that you may for the Apple Watch Collection 10 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, figuring out that they’re simply nice choices for most individuals. This time, Garmin has found out a strategy to place its newest watch as a extra direct competitor to the one wearable it needs to be frightened about: the Apple Watch Extremely 2.

After spending a couple of weeks testing the Venu X1, I can safely say that Garmin has lastly made the all-in-one system that I’ve been ready for.

Design & Construct

• Very light-weight on the wrist
• Robust, partial-titanium construct
• The slimmest Garmin watch but

In case you’re in any respect conversant in the Garmin Venu vary then you definitely’ll already know that the X1 doesn’t observe the identical design language as many of the different watches that bear the identical branding.

There’s no round chassis right here! As an alternative, the X1 has reverted to the square-like panel beforehand seen on the Garmin Venu Sq.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

This modification may not be to everybody’s style, however I’ve come to love it fairly a bit, principally due to the way it’s led to a successful mixture of a slimmer chassis in addition to a bigger show.

At simply 7.9mm thick, the Venu X1 is actually one of many slimmest smartwatches I’ve ever worn, and never as soon as have I needed to fear about it catching on my clothes. It virtually makes different Garmin watches really feel a bit too massive by comparability.

Even with the thinner body, the X1 doesn’t lose a lot in the best way of sturdiness as there’s a titanium backing (with bolstered polymer used elsewhere) and a sapphire crystal display, all of which assist to maintain the X1 secure from the weather. I’ve taken the watch swimming, on a dusty hike and right down to the health club, and it nonetheless appears as if it’s simply come out of the field.

There’s 5ATM water resistance, which suggests the watch can face up to depths of as much as 50 metres, though unusually there’s no official IP score, which is a disgrace.

There are simply two buttons on the right-hand facet, one to convey up the primary menu and the opposite to return a step. Whereas they’re responsive, the buttons are a bit on the quiet facet and I would like having an audible click on because it simply makes the expertise really feel a bit extra tactile.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

I additionally want that the colourways for the Venu X1 had been a bit extra thrilling. There are simply two choices obtainable – Black and Moss – and whereas I do love the contact of inexperienced that the latter brings to the desk, it could have been good to see one thing a bit extra consideration grabbing just like the orange watch bands that you may get with Apple’s equally priced system.

Nonetheless, it’s a really assured design general and one which makes Garmin really feel a bit extra fashionable within the present panorama.

Display & Audio

• 2-inch AMOLED show
• Simple to learn each indoors and outside
• Take calls and hearken to music through the built-in speaker

In comparison with the low-power show that was commonplace on Garmin watches (and may nonetheless be seen on the likes of the Garmin Enduro 3), the Venu X1’s massive 2-inch AMOLED show looks like one thing from an entire totally different period.

After all, with it being a sq. panel, it does really feel extra like utilizing an Apple Watch than another Garmin system I’ve examined, however given simply how vibrant the display is, to not point out how straightforward it’s to learn notifications and exercise knowledge, I’ve no trigger for complaints.

There may be an always-on mode obtainable for the show, however I’d advocate conserving the characteristic switched off because it takes a critical knock to the battery life in consequence (extra on that later).

I additionally want that the display was a bit sooner to wake if you elevate your wrist. There have been a couple of occasions the place I attempted to get a sly look on the time by twisting my wrist with out elevating it, and the X1 hadn’t fairly registered the motion. Nonetheless, it didn’t occur so typically as to massively impede my enjoyment of the system.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

There’s a built-in speaker on the X1 which can be utilized not solely to make and obtain calls without having to succeed in in your smartphone, however it’s also possible to play downloaded music and podcasts immediately from the watch itself.

On condition that it’s a lot extra environment friendly (and socially acceptable) to easily join a pair of earbuds as an alternative, I don’t actually know why you’d need to play music out of the watch’s audio system, however I’ll say that the audio high quality itself is a lot better than I anticipated it to be.

Taking part in CKY’s 96 Fairly Bitter Beings (one in every of my go-to health club tracks), I used to be impressed to listen to virtually each instrument given its due, and loads of weight afforded to the vocals as nicely. It may well get fairly loud, too, so when you do ever overlook to convey your earbuds with you on a run, you’ve gotten a backup possibility.

Software program & Options

• Garmin’s revamped UI feels nice to make use of
• The primary torch to seem on a Garmin Venu watch
• Offline music playback and NFC funds

Final yr, Garmin made an enormous overhaul to its proprietary software program simplifying the person expertise, making it simpler to get from one characteristic to a different.

I’ll admit that when you’ve change into used to Garmin’s older software program, then it does take a little bit of time to regulate to what’s on provide, however when you do acclimatise to it, all the things feels way more intuitive than earlier than.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Now, if you’re on the primary watch face, it’s a swipe right down to see your notifications, a swipe as much as see key factors of data like your health ranges and the climate, whereas a swipe to the left brings up the primary menu.

In case you’ve ever used a Garmin watch earlier than, then you definitely’ll know that on the subject of apps, gadgets just like the Venu X1 don’t have the identical degree of third-party help as you’ll discover on Put on OS or any Apple Watch, however there are a couple of key quality-of-life options which might be current.

Over the course of my evaluation, an official Google Maps app made its strategy to the Garmin IQ retailer, though the characteristic is presently solely obtainable to Android customers, and was a bit finicky to arrange after I took it out for a spin. What works much better (and is on the market to all customers) is offline playback through Spotify for some musical motivation, and wi-fi funds through Garmin Pay for a cheeky post-run drink.

The characteristic that I really like greater than something, nevertheless, is the built-in torch (I do know!). It’s a staple of the Fenix and Enduro ranges, however that is the primary time that the torch has discovered its strategy to a Venu watch.

Simply maintain the again button for a couple of seconds and the torch that’s housed within the top-portion of the chassis, switches itself on, whereby you’ve gotten 4 ranges of depth and the choice to toggle a crimson gentle.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Whether or not it’s been wanted when taking the bins out at evening or when working by way of the park earlier than daybreak, the torch has been immensely useful, and that’s earlier than contemplating the security purposes it may have when you get misplaced on a path run and want a method of signalling your location to passersby.

On a lighter word, you should utilize the built-in microphone to seize voice notes on the go. It’s not the kind of characteristic I’d personally make use of, however for the extra productive amongst you who’re consistently jotting down concepts, you might recognize the performance.

Health & Well being Monitoring

• Detailed post-workout data
• Wonderful coronary heart charge monitoring knowledge
• Good emphasis on relaxation and restoration

As with all Garmin watch, the health monitoring is at all times going to be the primary star of the present and it’s a lot the identical right here.

Even with the redesign, the Venu X1 hasn’t forgotten about its major goal of serving to individuals on their health journey and develop higher habits that result in a more healthy life-style.

There are tons of exercises to trace, with all the things from indoor rowing to backcountry snowboarding. If there’s a specific means that you just wish to train, then likelihood is that it may be tracked on the Venu X1.

Within the time that I’ve spent with the watch, I’ve taken it for hikes, runs, stints on the elliptical machine and even weightlifting on the health club.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

I’ll say that each one Garmin watches fare a bit higher on the subject of cardio exercises, as you’ll be able to see your coronary heart charge zones in real-time and obtain alerts if issues are getting too intense.

Weightlifting, then again, is a blended bag. The automated rep recognition software program is certainly higher than it was, however I discovered myself at all times already having to appropriate the depend on the finish of every set, which is why I are inclined to ignore all of that and simply have it report a complete weightlifting session as a single set.

Nonetheless, one factor I can not fault the Venu X1 for is its coronary heart charge monitoring knowledge. When paired with the Polar H10 chest-worn coronary heart charge monitor, Garmin’s watch was in a position to keep virtually precisely according to its outcomes. On each the elliptical machine and the treadmill, the Venu X1 was solely ever 1BPM away from the identical outcomes recorded by the Polar H10 which, for a wrist-worn tracker, is excellent.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

The accuracy of its heart-rate knowledge is a large boon because it then elements into the X1’s understanding of how a lot effort you’ve exerted over the course of a day and the way a lot sleep you want earlier than you’re in a position to sort out one other exercise.

Having this emphasis on restoration does make the Venu X1 (and most of Garmin’s wearables) really feel like an awesome all-in-one system for staying on prime of your health, and the breakdowns of your exercises are succinctly worded so that you’ll at all times perceive precisely how your physique has benefited from each.

GPS monitoring can also be very dependable right here. I took the Garmin Venu X1 with me throughout a 25K charity stroll and tracked your complete journey. Not solely did it precisely present the trail I took but it surely additionally had the suitable distance logged by the tip of it (if barely over).

Sadly, it’s not fairly as correct as what you’ll discover on some rivals (together with cheaper choices) as there’s no dual-band help. It labored wonderful in my testing however when you do quite a lot of runs in locations like forests, it may very well be extra of a difficulty.

With all this in thoughts, I do know that I’m going to be utilizing the Garmin Venu X1 as my major health tracker for the foreseeable future.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Battery Life & Charging

• As much as 8 days of use
• Solely 2 days with the always-on show
• Pretty fast to recharge

Garmin watches have already managed to run rings across the competitors the place battery life is anxious, and while that’s nonetheless technically the case with the Venu X1, the lead isn’t fairly as pronounced.

This time round, you’ll be able to anticipate as much as eight-days of use on a single cost which definitely outdoes the two-day stint of the Apple Watch Extremely 2 and Pixel Watch 3, however is behind the 14-day longevity of the Garmin Venu 3.

It’s a trade-off for having a smaller chassis, and whereas this can make the Venu X1 much less interesting for ultramarathon runners who want as a lot battery life as attainable, it’s a concession I’m pleased to make.

In spite of everything, the flexibility to get by way of three exercises over 4 days, two of which concerned offline music playback, and nonetheless have 51% battery left within the tank is a giant win, significantly as I’ve had loads of smartwatches over time that required charging a minimum of as soon as a day.

A much less pleased stat is how battery life plummets to only two days when the always-on show is energetic. As somebody who has spent extra time with the Apple Watch SE (2022) than another smartwatch, I’m used to elevating my wrist to wake the show, however it’s a disgrace for anybody who would somewhat have entry to key bits of data always.

On the very least, you received’t be ready lengthy to cost up the Garmin Venu X1. 

Beginning a cost at 5%, the battery was in a position to leap again as much as 66% after simply 40 minutes, which is greater than sufficient to get you thru a couple of days a minimum of. It took a bit longer to succeed in 100%, clocking in at a 90-minute cost, however given simply how sometimes it’s worthwhile to cost the X1, it’s hardly the worst factor.

In case you are in a rush nevertheless, you may get about 46% of the best way there from only a 30-minute cost. On a closing word, the Venu X1 nonetheless utilises the identical proprietary charging cable that Garmin has used on its different watches for years now.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Worth & Availability

In comparison with the sum of money that you can spend at this finish of the market, I feel that the Garmin Venu X1 in all fairness priced.

Within the UK, the Garmin Venu X1 will set you again £679.99. The watch can also be obtainable within the US and Australia, the place it’s priced at $799.99 and $1,499, respectively.

The X1’s closest competitor is the Apple Watch Extremely 2, which has a heftier price ticket of £799/$799, whereas the Put on OS-toting Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely is a bit cheaper at £599/$649.99 though it may repeatedly be discovered with a reduction hooked up.

Despite the fact that the usual Garmin Venu 3 is extra inexpensive at £399.99/$449.99, I’d argue that the Venu X1 has extra in widespread with the pricier Garmin Fenix 8 which has a beginning worth of £869.99/$1099.99.

With these choices factored in, the Venu X1 is nicely positioned to be a greater worth choose towards Apple’s premium wearable, while additionally providing top-shelf Garmin options with out the high-end price ticket that tends to go together with them.

Take a look at our chart of one of the best smartwatches to see our present prime 10.

Do you have to purchase the Garmin Venu X1?

In case you’ve been tempted by the Apple Watch Extremely 2, however you need a bigger show, higher battery life and a extra well-rounded health monitoring expertise, then the Garmin Venu X1 is simply too good to cross up.

The truth that it’s cheaper than Apple’s high-end wearable, and features a few high quality of life extras like a built-in torch, simply makes the X1 an awesome choose for any health fanatic.

The diminished battery life, significantly towards different Garmin watches, is certain to make the Garmin Venu 3 and even the Vivoactive vary a greater possibility for many who worth longevity above all else, however as a tool that’s lastly mixed Garmin’s top-tier health monitoring with a genuinely fashionable design, the Venu X1 has carried out precisely what it wanted to do.

Specs

• 2-inch AMOLED show
• 32GB storage
• iPhone and Android suitable
• As much as eight day battery life
• Fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium caseback
• 5ATM water resistance
• 41 x 46 x 7.9mm