Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1: All-around quality or expensive, niche perks?
The mainline champ returns
Garmin unshackled the Venu 4 so as to add higher customized teaching, coaching load information, and GPS accuracy, whereas nonetheless designing it to be extra accessible, trendy, and health-focused than your typical Garmin watch. It is heavier and costlier than previous Venus, and does not have each Venu X1 perk, but it surely nonetheless arguably has the most effective worth of any Garmin watch.
Execs
- Higher dual-band GPS and SatIQ
- 2–4 extra days of battery life
- ECG readings
- Higher accessibility instruments
- New multisport Health Coach
Cons
- No built-in maps or Fenix-level coaching instruments
- A bit heavier regardless of smaller show
- No Sapphire crystal
- Pricier than the Venu 3
Skinny body, highly effective guts
The Garmin Venu X1 is not practically as well-rounded because the Venu 4, prioritizing a big, brilliant show and ultra-thin design on the expense of battery life — and costing considerably extra. It is also essentially the most snug Garmin watch we have ever worn, however you want extra justification to purchase it; double-check that you just want particular, unique perks like offline maps earlier than you pay further.
Execs
- Extra snug to put on
- Bigger, better-protected show
- Extra superior operating, biking, and golf instruments
- Full map suite as a substitute of breadcrumb navigation
Cons
- Prices considerably extra
- No dual-band GPS or ECG readings
- Shorter battery life
- No multisport Health Coach (but)
The Garmin Venu 4 prices $250 lower than the Garmin Venu X1 however nonetheless has a number of {hardware} upgrades and software program exclusives. Options like Well being Standing and Sleep Alignment ought to come to the Venu X1 inside a few months, however the Venu 4 will nonetheless have the sting for GPS accuracy and battery life.
The Venu X1 has its personal benefits, nevertheless! You get comparable software program perks to the pricier Fenix 8, most notably offline maps for climbing and golf, the place the Venu 4 falls quick. The Venu 4 can also be barely much less snug to put on, and when you can offset the load hole with a nylon strap or the smaller 41mm mannequin, you are still getting a a lot smaller show in change for a lower cost and a extra conventional watch look.
We have already damaged down the Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu 3 generational hole; now, let’s evaluate the Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1 that can assist you resolve which unique options you will actually care about.
|
Class |
Garmin Venu 4 |
Garmin Venu X1 |
|---|---|---|
|
Case colours |
Slate, Silver, Lunar Gold (41mm solely) |
Black with Slate Titanium, Moss with Titanium |
|
Supplies |
Stainless-steel and fiber-reinforced polymer case, metal bezel |
Fiber-reinforced polymer with titanium caseback, no bezel |
|
Strap |
22mm or 18mm silicone Fast Launch strap |
24mm Nylon ComfortFit Fast Launch strap |
|
Safety |
5ATM, Gorilla Glass 3 |
5 ATM, sapphire crystal |
|
Dimensions |
45 x 45 x 12.5mm, 56g w/ strap 41 x 41 x 12mm, 46g w/ strap |
41 x 46 x 7.9mm, 40g with nylon strap |
|
Buttons |
2 |
2 |
|
Show |
1.2-inch (390×390) or 1.4-inch (454×454) AMOLED touchscreen, 2,000 nits |
2-inch (448 x 486) AMOLED touchscreen, 2,000 nits |
|
Monitoring |
GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, SatIQ, All-Programs GNSS + Multi-Band |
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou, QZSS, All-Programs GNSS |
|
Sensors |
Elevate v5 HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, ECG, gyroscope, pores and skin temperature |
Elevate v5 HRM, SpO2, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, pores and skin temperature |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, NFC |
|
Storage |
✔️ 8GB (Music) |
✔️ 32GB (Maps, music) |
|
Mic & speaker |
✔️ (Calling, Telephone instructions, Watch instructions) |
✔️ (Calling, Telephone instructions, Watch instructions) |
|
Flashlight |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Battery life |
45mm: 12 days (4 w/ AOD), 20 GPS hours, 19 All-Programs GNSS hours, 18 multi-band GPS hours, 9 hours All-Programs GNSS w/ music 41mm: 10 days (3 w/ AOD), 15 GPS hours, 13 All-Programs GNSS hours, 12 multi-band GPS hours, 6 hours All-Programs GNSS w/ music |
8 days; 2 w/ AOD, 16 GPS hours, 14 All-systems GNSS hours, 7 hours All-Programs GNSS w/ music |
Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1: What’s the identical?
Each the Garmin Venu 4 and Venu X1 have two buttons — not like the Venu 3’s three buttons — making them extra touch-dependent than the five-button Garmin Fenixes, Forerunners, or Instincts.
They each make the most of the fifth-generation Elevate sensor suite, which has remained unchanged since 2023. The Garmin Venu X1 carried out very properly in our accuracy assessments, and the Venu 4 ought to comply with swimsuit. In addition they share most of the identical sensors for navigation (compass), elevation monitoring (altimeter), wrist motion (gyroscope), and well being (pores and skin temp), plus the identical connectivity requirements for Bluetooth/ANT+ equipment.
Garmin gave the Venu X1 and Venu 4 a mic and speaker for voice instructions and Bluetooth calling, built-in white and pink LEDs with 4 depth ranges and strobe results, and the identical trendy Garmin OS UI discovered on its 2025 watches.
Whereas their two shows could not look extra totally different, they do each hit 2,000 nits of brightness, twice as brilliant as most Garmin AMOLED shows earlier than 2025. Their pixels per inch are additionally comparable: 324 on the Venu 4 and 330 on the Venu X1.
The Venu 4 software program suite is sort of just like the Forerunner 570’s, whereas the Venu X1 is corresponding to the Forerunner 970. We’ll focus extra on the software program variations beneath, however the Venu 4 and X1 share a lot of the identical sport profiles and tons of of core Garmin options throughout operating, climbing, biking, swimming, indoor exercises, coaching load, and sleep/restoration monitoring — far too many to listing right here.
Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1: Design & show
The Garmin Venu 4 is available in two sizes to accommodate totally different wrist sizes, however one of many most important Venu X1 upsides is that it is so gentle (40g) and thin (7.9mm) that it will work on any wrist with out compromise; it is supremely snug, particularly for hours-long actions.
The 1.2-inch Venu 4 41mm is just a little bit heavier than the X1, however with apparent show shrinkage. The 45mm mannequin is nearer, and you should buy a nylon strap to attempt to shut the load hole a bit.
One factor that makes the Venu 4 heavier is the chrome steel constructed into each the bezel and the case, giving it an aesthetic look. The Venu 4 45mm is barely thicker than its predecessor at 12.5mm, and appears cumbersome in comparison with the Venu X1, but it surely’s skinnier than most different Garmin watches. It is all relative, in different phrases.
The Venu X1 has a titanium caseback and buttons that add some shine, however the physique itself is generally manufactured from polymer, maintaining it gentle. Its skinniness and textured traces round its edge make the Venu X1 look much less “low-cost” and sportier than thicker, polymer-case Garmin watches, nevertheless.
It is the 2-inch show that is the actual Venu X1 standout. It could not have the Venu 4’s accessibility options, however the show leaves room to develop widgets and improve textual content measurement, so it is cumulatively way more readable. Maps, particularly, look implausible on the X1, making it enjoyable to make use of whereas on the golf course and climbing.
The opposite X1 benefit is that it makes use of sapphire glass for the most effective scratch safety, whereas the Venu 4 sticks to Gorilla Glass 3. It is a telltale instance of Garmin stopping its “mid-range” watches from getting the most effective options, regardless that nearly some other $500+ watch has sapphire glass or its equal.
Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1: {Hardware}, sensors, & battery life
Garmin does not promote processors, however the Venu 4 and X1 have comparable velocity in our testing. Likewise, the mic, audio system, flashlight, connectivity requirements, and sensors are largely the identical, together with the identical 5 international navigation satellite tv for pc methods (GNSS).
The primary distinction is that the Venu 4 provides the identical dual-band (L1 + L5 sign) GPS as different prime Garmin watches, in addition to SatIQ mode, which defaults to GPS-only to avoid wasting battery however switches to higher system(s) if the sign is disrupted. The Venu X1 will be the solely Garmin watch this costly to stay to All-Programs GNSS, doubtless resulting from restricted house and battery life; it nonetheless does fairly properly for accuracy, however the Venu 4 is a greater match in the event you usually work out in city canyons or mountain forest areas.
Subsequent, the Venu 4 provides ECGs to detect atrial fibrillation points, whereas the Venu X1 doesn’t. Once more, this has to do with the X1’s distinctive design, as Garmin’s ECG resolution depends on a metallic ring and a button design that it was too skinny (and sq.) to accommodate. Remember that no Garmin watches have passive irregular coronary heart rhythm detection; it’s a must to actively verify.
The third key distinction, after all, is battery life. Relying on whether or not you select the Venu 4 41mm or 45mm, it’s going to final 2 or 4 days longer than the Venu X1, or 1 or 2 days extra with AOD. When it comes to exercises, the 45mm Venu 4 is rated to final 4 hours longer in All-Programs mode, whereas the 41mm Venu is rated for one hour much less.
The hole is not as vast because it may need been, because the Venu 3 lasts longer than the Venu 4; the two,000-nit show enhance cuts into its capability. Nonetheless, even when the Venu 4 is not as long-lived because the Intuition 3 or Fenix 8, it is nearer to the Garmin customary you are used to.
Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1: Software program and options
|
Class |
Garmin Venu 4 |
Garmin Venu X1 |
|---|---|---|
|
Well being & Wellness |
Physique Battery, All-day stress, Sleep Coach, Nap Detection, Sleep alignment, Sleep consistency, Good Wake alarm, Respiratory variations, Well being Snapshot, Well being Standing, Life-style logging |
Physique Battery, All-day stress, Sleep Coach, Nap Detection, Good Wake alarm, Respiratory variations, Well being Snapshot |
|
Accessibility |
Wheelchair mode, coloration filters, spoken watch face |
None |
|
Exercises |
Premade: Cardio, HIIT, Multisport, Pilates, Power, Wheelchair, Yoga Customized: Every day prompt exercises for operating, biking, strolling, and health |
Premade: Cardio, HIIT, Multisport, Pilates, Power, Yoga Customized: Every day prompt exercises for operating and biking |
|
Teaching |
Garmin Working Coach, Biking Coach, Power Coach, Health Coach |
Garmin Working Coach, Biking Coach, Power Coach, Triathlon Coach |
|
Coaching |
Depth minutes, HRV Standing, VO2 Max, exercise profit, restoration time, coaching standing, coaching load focus / ratio, coaching impact, coaching readiness, warmth/ altitude acclimation |
Depth minutes, HRV Standing, VO2 Max, exercise profit, restoration time, coaching standing, coaching load focus / ratio, coaching impact, coaching readiness, warmth/ altitude acclimation, real-time stamina, Hill/ Endurance scores, Garmin/ Strava Stay Segments |
|
Working |
Working dynamics, operating energy, efficiency situation, grade-adjusted tempo, lactate threshold, Pacepro, race predictor |
Working dynamics, operating energy, efficiency situation, grade-adjusted tempo, lactate threshold, Pacepro, race predictor, operating tolerance, operating financial system |
|
Programs |
Again to start out, TracBack, downloadable programs, breadcrumb navigation, Up Forward |
Again to start out, TracBack, downloadable programs, breadcrumb navigation, Up Forward, preloaded street and path maps, GPS coordinates, NextFork, ClimbPro, Sight ‘N Go |
|
{Golfing} |
Yardage, digital scorecard, Autoshot, inexperienced view, hazards |
Yardage, digital scorecard, Autoshot, inexperienced view, hazards, 43,000 predownloaded programs, customized targets, playslike distance with wind velocity |
Garmin categorizes the Venu X1 alongside the Fenix 8 and different flagship fashions, that means it’s going to obtain common updates — just like the August 2025 replace with operating tolerance — with the most effective new options for the subsequent yr or two. We point out this as a result of it is truthful to imagine the Venu 4’s unique software program will finally come to the Venu X1.
For now, the Venu 4 provides distinctive well being instruments similar to Well being Standing, which establishes a baseline of your resting HR, HRV, SpO2, pores and skin temperature, and different stats with a purpose to detect any outliers and warn you of worrying well being indicators or the results of overtraining.
The Venu 4 additionally added Life-style Logging to log particular moments in your day in order that Garmin can affiliate adjustments in your physiology along with your way of life. And for sleep monitoring, the Venu 4 will choose your “sleep consistency” after seven days of monitoring and choose how your sleep habits match along with your circadian rhythm.
With the Venu X1, the largest distinction is having access to maps, the place the Venu 4 is caught with downloadable programs and breadcrumb navigation.
The Venu 4 has most core Garmin options, however the Venu X1 goes the additional mile. For runners, it’s going to choose the biomechanical load of overtraining in your muscle tissue, plus present your real-time stamina throughout lengthy runs; for cyclists, you get superior biking dynamics and MTB Grit & Move; for swimmers, you get Pool Swim exercises and Pacing alerts; and for golfers, course maps and higher interactivity to put customized gap targets and gauge wind situations.
The ultimate key distinction between these watches comes right down to exercises and training. Each watches supply each day prompt exercises for operating and biking, however the Venu 4’s exercises are solely “coronary heart rate-based,” whereas the X1 exercises counsel each “tempo and coronary heart price” for extra specificity.
The Venu 4 additionally provides strolling suggestions, just like the Vivoactive 6, in addition to common “health” suggestions throughout a wider vary of outside and indoor actions, together with HIIT and yoga.
When you desire a extra structured exercise plan, each watches supply Garmin Run Coach, Biking Coach, and Power Coach. However (to date) solely the Venu 4 provides a Health coach with multisport plans focusing on extra indoor athletes, whereas the Venu X1 has a Triathlon Coach for specialised outside athletes.
Garmin Venu 4 vs. Venu X1: Which must you purchase?
The Garmin Venu 4 represents a fusion between Venu and Forerunner software program packed into an understated and trendy design. It is an important possibility for conventional Garmin followers who dislike the button-heavy look of a Forerunner however nonetheless need a round watch. For these sorts, the sq., Apple-esque X1 with “solely” every week of battery may not match their desires.
The Garmin Venu X1 is not actually competing with the Venu 4 as a lot because the Fenix 8, or rival flagships just like the Apple Watch Extremely 3 and Galaxy Watch Extremely, that are a lot bulkier. It is an unconventional design for Garmin, however you may be stunned how a lot you will love how gentle it’s and the way it makes the dense Garmin UI simpler to learn, each throughout and after exercises.
Neither watch is very inexpensive, however the Venu 4 continues to be the higher all-around choose in the event you do not want maps, whereas the Venu X1 is the ritzy choose for somebody keen to pay further for area of interest perks and implausible consolation.
Garmin’s finest mid-ranger
Select the Garmin Venu 4 for a well-rounded software program expertise with Forerunner instruments restricted from the Venu 3, with new perks like a flashlight and Health Coach combined in with previous favorites like ECGs and a mic & speaker. Skip it in the event you want offline maps or desire a bigger show.
A fitter Fenix
Select the Garmin Venu X1 in order for you the very best show and luxury, with acquainted Fenix 8 coaching instruments and maps for a worth that is a lot nearer to the previous Fenix 7. Skip it if you cannot afford its excessive value, want the most effective GPS accuracy, or are accustomed to weeks of battery life.
