When Garmin launched the premium Venu X1 last summer, it created a new top tier within the Venu family. Now, with the arrival of the round-faced Venu 4, buyers face a clear choice between two distinct design philosophies and feature sets within Garmin’s lifestyle-focused lineup.
This comparison breaks down the key differences to help you decide which model aligns with your priorities.
Quick Take: The Venu X1 is Garmin’s sleek, square-faced fashion statement with full-color maps, while the Venu 4 is the round, sportier all-rounder boasting superior GPS and a handy flashlight.
Design & Build: Square Chic vs. Round Sport
The most immediate difference is aesthetic. The Venu X1 features a square-faced, Apple Watch-inspired design that is notably sleek, with a case measuring just 7.9mm thick. It’s designed as a premium lifestyle statement.
In contrast, Garmin Venu 4 maintains the traditional round watch design familiar to the Venu series.
Its latest iteration features a full stainless steel case (an upgrade from the Venu 3’s plastic case), giving it a more robust, premium feel, though it is thicker at 12mm.
Both watches feature vibrant AMOLED touchscreens, but the Venu 4’s display is notably brighter, reaching up to 2,000 nits for excellent outdoor visibility.
Table: Design & Dimensions at a Glance
| Feature | Garmin Venu X1 | Garmin Venu 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Shape | Square | Round |
| Build Quality | Premium, sleek build | Full stainless steel case & bezel |
| Thickness | 7.9mm | 12mm |
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED, up to 2,000 nits brightness |
| Unique Hardware | – | Built-in LED flashlight |
| Buttons | – | Two physical buttons (one fewer than Venu 3) |
Health & Fitness Tracking: A High-Stakes Tie
Both watches are exceptionally capable health hubs, sharing Garmin’s latest advanced suite of 24/7 monitoring.
Core features like Body Battery, stress tracking, Pulse Ox, women’s health tracking, and the Gen 5 Elevate heart rate sensor are present on both.
The Venu 4 introduces newer software features like Health Status, which gives an overview of whether your key metrics are in normal ranges, and Lifestyle Logging, which allows you to tag daily behaviors (like caffeine or alcohol intake) to see their impact on your wellness metrics.
It’s worth noting that while the Venu X1 launched earlier, it runs on the same unified Garmin OS platform as the Venu 4, meaning it may receive similar software updates over time.
Sports & GPS Features: The Divergence
This is where a key performance difference emerges, favoring the Venu 4.
- For the Runner/Cyclist (Venu 4): The Venu 4 is a massive upgrade for sportier users. It inherits almost the entire training toolkit from the Forerunner 570, including Training Readiness, Training Status, and Daily Suggested Workouts. Crucially, it features multi-band/dual-frequency GPS, which provides superior accuracy in challenging environments like cities with tall buildings or dense forests.
- For the Explorer (Venu X1): The Venu X1’s standout feature is full-color, on-device maps. This is a significant advantage for hiking, trail running, or navigating in unfamiliar areas, a feature the Venu 4 lacks (it offers only breadcrumb navigation). However, its GPS system is the standard all-systems GNSS, not the more advanced multi-band found in the Venu 4.
Battery Life & Price
Battery Life: The Venu 4 has a slight edge. Reports indicate the Venu X1 lasts “up to 16 hours” with GPS, while the 45mm Venu 4 offers up to 20 hours in GPS-only mode and up to 12 days in smartwatch mode.
Price: Both watches occupy a premium price bracket. The Venu 4 starts at $549.99 / £469.99, which is already a $100 increase over the Venu 3.
The Venu X1 was positioned at $799.99 at launch but its sometimes on-special at Amazon, so expect its price to be at a slightly higher point.
Garmin Venu X1 vs Venu 4: Which one to Choose?
Choose the Garmin Venu X1 if:
- Your priority is a sleek, fashion-forward smartwatch that looks like a contemporary wearable.
- You need full-color maps for navigation on adventures.
- You prefer a lighter, thinner profile on your wrist.
Choose the Garmin Venu 4 if:
- You want the most accurate GPS tracking (multi-band) for running, cycling, or open-water swimming.
- You desire a comprehensive training tool with readiness scores, load tracking, and workout suggestions.
- You value practical features like a built-in flashlight for nighttime runs or camping.
- You prefer the classic look of a round watch with a brighter, more rugged stainless steel build.
Ready to dive deeper into one of these watches? Be sure to check out our detailed Garmin Venu 4 review for a complete breakdown of its day-to-day performance
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