Garmin Venu X1

Ray Maker from DC Rainmaker highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a unique hybrid smartwatch that blends features from the Forerunner 970, Fenix 8, and Venu 3 series, offering a pro-level experience within the Venu lineup. He praises its large, bright AMOLED display—the largest Garmin currently offers—and the unified software codebase shared across these models, which simplifies user experience. However, he expresses clear reservations about the Venu X1’s battery life, which struggles to last beyond two days with always-on display and drains rapidly during GPS use, making it unsuitable for extended outdoor activities. The review also notes the absence of ECG hardware and fewer physical buttons compared to its siblings, which may impact usability preferences. Despite these drawbacks, the Venu X1 delivers strong GPS and heart rate accuracy and shares nearly all sport profiles and features with the higher-end models. Ultimately, Ray recommends the Venu X1 for those prioritizing design and display but suggests the Fenix 8 for users needing longer battery life and advanced features like diving support.

Conor Allison from Wareable highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a strikingly beautiful and ultra-thin smartwatch that redefines Garmin’s design ethos, delivering unmatched comfort and a vibrant AMOLED display. Praising its lightweight titanium build and accurate core sports tracking, Allison emphasizes the watch’s appeal to users seeking style without sacrificing essential fitness features. However, he also points out significant compromises: notably, the drastically reduced two-day battery life with always-on display, the absence of Multi-Band GPS and ECG sensors, and a lack of standout smart features like LTE connectivity. While the Venu X1 excels as a sleek, everyday wearable for Garmin loyalists who prioritize aesthetics, it falls short for hardcore athletes and smartwatch power users craving advanced tracking or seamless phone integration. Ultimately, Allison frames the Venu X1 as a fascinating but flawed middle ground—a premium, design-led sports watch that balances form and function but demands trade-offs that may not suit all buyers.

Matt Evans from TechRadar highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as Garmin’s most innovative watch in years, positioning it as a genuine rival to the Apple Watch Ultra. He praises its sleek, slender design, comfortable fit, and stunning full-color AMOLED display, especially for viewing detailed maps. The watch impresses as a versatile daily driver and workout companion, excelling in comfort and sleep tracking thanks to its lightweight profile. However, Evans notes some drawbacks, including a battery life compromised by the always-on display and a redesigned operating system that can feel laggy and less intuitive compared to Apple’s interface. Despite these issues, the Venu X1’s extensive features, such as Garmin’s advanced training metrics, offline music, and a useful LED torch, make it a compelling choice for serious athletes and Android users. Overall, Evans conveys genuine enthusiasm tempered by measured critiques, concluding that while the watch nearly matches Apple’s polish, it still needs interface refinements to fully realize its potential.

Thomas Deehan from Tech Advisor highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a confident and well-rounded fitness smartwatch that directly challenges the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Praising its super slim design, large and bright 2-inch AMOLED display, and intuitive user interface, Deehan appreciates how Garmin has modernized its approach while maintaining top-tier fitness tracking accuracy, especially in heart rate monitoring. Unique features like the built-in torch and improved speaker quality add practical value beyond typical smartwatches. However, he notes some drawbacks, including limited color options, a slightly slow raise-to-wake response, and single-band GPS that may affect accuracy in dense environments. Battery life is strong at up to eight days but drops significantly with always-on display enabled, making it less ideal for ultra-endurance users. Overall, Deehan finds the Venu X1 a compelling, reasonably priced alternative to pricier competitors, combining Garmin’s fitness expertise with a sleek, modern design that should appeal to fitness enthusiasts seeking a versatile all-in-one wearable.

Michael Sawh from Trusted Reviews highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a compelling option for Android users seeking a premium square smartwatch comparable to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, while also appealing to iPhone owners wanting better battery life. Praising its large, vibrant 2-inch AMOLED display and lightweight, slim design, Sawh appreciates the watch’s strong sports tracking capabilities, improved storage, and useful features like detailed mapping and voice notes. However, he notes the design lacks distinctiveness compared to rivals, and the battery life—especially in always-on display mode—falls short of Garmin’s own Venu 3 and some competitors. The review acknowledges missing advanced features such as dual-band GPS, ECG support, and LTE connectivity, which limit its appeal for those wanting the absolute latest tech. Overall, Sawh finds the Venu X1 a solid, well-rounded smartwatch that balances fitness tracking and everyday use, making it a strong contender in its price range, particularly for Android users craving an Apple Watch alternative.

Ali Ball from Runner’s World (UK) highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as Garmin’s most lifestyle-friendly running watch yet, successfully blending a premium 2-inch AMOLED display with advanced training features and full-colour, offline mapping. Praising its lightweight design and comprehensive suite of over 100 sports modes, Ball emphasizes the watch’s strong appeal for runners and adventurers who want a stylish smartwatch without sacrificing serious fitness and navigation capabilities. Unique insights include real-world testing during a 100km ultramarathon and multi-day hikes, showcasing reliable GPS accuracy and useful features like Pacepro and Climbpro. However, the review notes limitations such as the absence of Multi-Band GPS and battery life that falls short for extreme multi-day events, making it less ideal for hardcore ultra runners. Overall, Ball conveys genuine enthusiasm for the Venu X1’s balance of smartwatch smarts and running watch functionality, positioning it as a compelling alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2—if the premium price is within reach.

Michael L Hicks from Android Central highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a uniquely polarizing smartwatch that defies traditional expectations. While its $799 price and design—evoking Apple Watch Ultra aesthetics—may alienate both Garmin loyalists and Apple fans, Hicks finds the Venu X1 exceptionally comfortable and impressively lightweight for its size. He praises its large, bright 2-inch display, ideal for detailed maps and fitness data, and notes its nearly full feature set comparable to higher-end models like the Fenix 8, but at a lower cost. However, he criticizes the watch’s relatively short battery life, laggy map performance, and lack of popular smartwatch apps and voice assistants, which may frustrate new users and hardcore Garmin fans alike. Ultimately, Hicks sees the Venu X1 as a niche device—too advanced and pricey for casual users, yet compromised for power users—but one that will strongly appeal to those who prioritize comfort and rich data display in a sleek form factor.

Matt Kollat assesses the Garmin Venu X1 as a bold and sleek departure from Garmin’s traditional rugged designs, aiming to attract Apple Watch users with its premium styling and large 2-inch AMOLED display. He highlights the watch’s impressive fitness tracking capabilities, including advanced sensors like ECG and skin temperature, alongside excellent GPS accuracy and multi-day battery life that outperforms many competitors. The Venu X1’s lifestyle features, such as animated workouts and detailed sleep tracking, further enhance its appeal. However, Kollat remains cautiously measured about the watch’s value, noting its high price point compared to the Apple Watch and some minor usability quirks like menu lag and a confusing interface. Ultimately, he sees the Venu X1 as a compelling but niche option—ideal for fitness enthusiasts seeking a stylish, long-lasting smartwatch with Android compatibility, but potentially a tough sell for casual users due to its premium cost.

Nick Harris-Fry from Tom’s Guide highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a surprising and distinctive addition to Garmin’s lineup, blending a strikingly large and bright 2-inch AMOLED display with a remarkably thin and comfortable design. Praising its premium build—featuring a sapphire crystal lens and titanium back—he emphasizes the watch’s standout offline maps and enhanced training analysis, which elevate it beyond previous Venu models. However, Harris-Fry notes some notable omissions, such as the lack of dual-band GPS and certain advanced running metrics found in Garmin’s higher-end watches, which feel like missed opportunities given the $799.99 price. Battery life is a clear trade-off, with just two days on a charge, shorter than other Garmin devices. While the Venu X1 targets smartwatch users, especially those considering the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Harris-Fry suggests Garmin still needs cellular connectivity and a broader app ecosystem to fully compete. Overall, the review conveys cautious enthusiasm, appreciating innovation but acknowledging key limitations.

Graham Averill from Outside highlights the Garmin Venu X1 as a sleek, stylish smartwatch that successfully blends Garmin’s robust health and navigation features with an understated design reminiscent of the Apple Watch. He praises its lightweight titanium case, durable sapphire crystal screen, and bright, large display, which make it comfortable and versatile for everyday wear. The Venu X1 excels in health tracking, offering detailed metrics like Body Battery and Sleep Score, alongside useful navigation tools including offline topo maps and an “Explore” feature for finding local amenities. However, Averill notes some compromises: the touchscreen-only navigation can be frustrating during sweaty or wet conditions, and the battery life—while better than many competitors—is insufficient for extended multi-day adventures, falling short of Garmin’s traditional adventure watch standards. Overall, the Venu X1 is positioned as a compelling choice for Apple Watch users seeking Garmin’s functionality with a more polished look, though it sacrifices some of Garmin’s rugged practicality in the process.