ZDNET Highlights
- The Garmin Venu X1 is available in two color options for $599 (on sale).
- The large 2-inch display is great, the LED flashlight is fantastic, the slim case and light band make it a pleasure to wear, and the calculator now has a tip button.
- Always-on mode significantly reduces battery life, the watch is expensive, and dual-band GPS is not installed.
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June/2025
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I’ve been using Garmin sports watches for over a decade and have clear expectations for when new models will be released, but I was completely caught off guard by its announcement. garmin venu x1 During summer.
This is unique to Garmin, but it clearly looks like a fairly direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra.
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The Garmin Venu offers far more screen real estate than the Watch Ultra 2, making room for up to eight data fields during workouts. outcome? Clear, easy-to-read statistics at a glance, even for old eyes like mine.
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I’ve worn Venu models before, but usually only for a month or two before switching back to the Fenix, Enduro, Instinct, or Forerunner for my daily use. The main reason was that the Venu series relies heavily on a touchscreen with only two hardware buttons, and after getting used to Garmin’s five-button setup, the UI required some adjustment.
As noted, the Venu was the first Garmin watch with an AMOLED display, and the X1 takes things to the next level with this new, larger form factor.
Like the Fenix 8 series, the Venu
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Three shortcuts can be assigned to two buttons, letting you get quick access to routine functions without swiping or tapping on the display. I’ve set them to voice commands, flashlight, and alarm, which gives me more utility right away.
Speaking of the LED flashlight, Garmin has positioned one on the top right side on the Venu X1, and it has the same four white levels and one red light level that appear on the display after activation. Strobe and other advanced LED light controls can be enabled on the Venu X1 during activities, and I’ve found them to be quite bright and useful when out at night or in dark environments.
The Venu X1 (top) is much thinner than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (bottom).
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
One little feature of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 that I use regularly is the handy tip calculator found in the Calculator app. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Garmin included a tip button on the calculator, and these little functions help ease the transition from the Apple Watch to the Venu X1.
One of the key features of the Venu X1 compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is its longer battery life. If you turn off the Always-On Display mode, you can expect up to eight days of battery life. Luckily, the twist-to-turn-on works flawlessly, so I’m not missing the always-on mode.
In fact, I found that the always-on display reduced the Garmin’s battery life by about two days, which is reminiscent of the Apple Watch Ultra’s limited battery life. With a full charge, the GPS tracking mode should provide 14-16 hours of activity tracking.
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Despite the large display size, the watch is very light at just 40 grams thanks to the incredibly light and comfortable new ComfortFit fabric band. The Venu X1 is also only 7.9mm thin, making it an even better watch for sleep tracking. However, due to the thin form factor and larger screen I may have to compromise on battery life compared to other Garmin devices.
Due to its customizable data fields, native support for more activities, and long battery life, the Garmin Venu however lacks cellular connectivity, which would have been beneficial for security reasons similar to the older Forerunner 945 LTE.
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This new watch isn’t actually a successor to the Venu, but a slimmer, sleeker Fenix with a larger square display. The lack of multi-band GPS and ECG support is a bit of a bummer at this price point, but the thin form factor may have limited internal space, and I’m willing to give up those specs for this form factor.
Hardcore Garmin users may not like it, but it’s a great transition device for Apple Watch Ultra (and other wearables) fans.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
Many of us were surprised by the launch of garmin venu x1And it remains somewhat polarizing because of its large screen, limited battery life, and high price. However, after testing it for several months, it has been a big surprise.
For those looking for a more capable wearable device similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, the Venu X1 is a welcome addition to Garmin’s lineup. The large display, slim form factor, and extensive Garmin customization options that people have come to love are all found in this attractive smartwatch.
The Garmin Venu X1 received ZDNET’s Editors’ Choice award for its fresh functional design, numerous health and fitness features, and long-lasting battery life. “This is the Garmin version of the Apple Watch Ultra I was hoping for,” says ZDNET wearables expert Matthew Miller. It ticks most of the boxes of the Fenix 8 AMOLED at a lower price, has a more comfortable form factor, and has an LED flashlight that’s ideal for outdoor activities and security purposes.
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