Garmin vivoactive 6 vs Garmin Venu 3
The Venu 3 has the edge: it lasts longer (14 days) and has a bigger screen. The vivoactive 6 still is lighter, so it's worth a look if that matters more to you.
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Key differences
-
Battery life
Venu 3 wins
The Garmin Venu 3 lasts up to 14 days against 11 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
-
Display
Venu 3 wins
Both are AMOLED, but the Garmin Venu 3's screen is bigger (1.4 in against 1.2 in).
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
-
Weight
vivoactive 6 wins
The Garmin vivoactive 6 is lighter: 23 g against 30 g.
Other differences
- Screen size Venu 3 wins
The Venu 3 has the bigger screen: 1.4 in against 1.2 in.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the vivoactive 6 if…
- You wear it to bed or have small wrists: it weighs 23 g.
- You follow your training closely: it adds training effect and race predictor.
- You want a quick GPS lock anywhere: it uses more satellite systems.
Choose the Venu 3 if…
- You hate charging: it's rated for up to 14 days in smartwatch mode.
- You want maps and stats easy to read: it has the bigger screen.
- You want heart-rhythm checks: it can record an ECG.
Full spec comparison
The vivoactive 6 leads on size and durability, while the Venu 3 leads on battery life.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Series | vívoactive | Venu |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Garmin |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| App store | Yes | Yes |
Display
The Venu 3 is ahead on the display.
It has a bigger screen, and the vivoactive 6 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.2 in | 1.4 in |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 | 454 x 454 |
| Pixel density | 325 ppi | — |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen | touchscreen |
Design & durability
The vivoactive 6 is ahead on size and durability.
It is lighter, and the Venu 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 42.2 mm | 45 mm |
| Case shape | Round | Round |
| Dimensions | 42.2 x 42.2 x 10.9 mm | 45 x 45 x 12 mm |
| Thickness | 10.9 mm | 12 mm |
| Weight (case) | 23 g | 30 g |
| Weight with band | 36 g | 47 g |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel material | anodized aluminum | Stainless steel |
| Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Band material | silicone | silicone |
| Band width | 20 mm | 22 mm |
| Band fitting | 20 mm quick release | 22 mm quick release |
| Fits wrists | 125-190 mm | 135-200 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Battery
The Venu 3 is ahead on battery life.
It lasts longer (14 days), and the vivoactive 6 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 11 days | 14 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 21 hours | 26 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 11 days; Always-on display: 5 days; Battery saver: 21 days; GPS: 21 hours; All satellite systems: 17 hours; Multi-band GPS + music: 8 hours | Smartwatch: 14 days; Always-on display: 5 days; Battery saver: 26 days; GPS: 26 hours; All satellite systems: 20 hours; All satellite systems: 11 hours |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | proprietary-plug |
GPS & navigation
The vivoactive 6 is ahead on GPS and navigation.
It uses more satellite systems, and the Venu 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| Navigation features | back-to-start | back-to-start |
Health & sensors
Both track much the same health data.
Heart rate, sleep and the extra sensors line up closely.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light | optical HR, ECG electrode, SpO2, skin temperature, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass, ambient light |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | Garmin Elevate |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| ECG | — | Yes |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Skin temperature | — | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep coaching | Sleep coaching |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Body Battery | Body Battery |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | Via phone | Via phone |
| Incident detection | Yes | Yes |
Training
The vivoactive 6 is ahead on training features.
It has more training metrics, and the Venu 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, HRV status | VO2 max, recovery time, HRV status |
| Adaptive coaching | Yes | — |
| Running dynamics | Yes | Yes |
| Wrist running power | — | Yes |
| Strength rep counting | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate broadcast | Yes | Yes |
| External sensors | ANT+, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights, golf club tags | ANT+, power meter, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights, golf club tags |
| Smart trainer control | — | Yes |
Smart features
Both offer much the same smart features.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Calls on the watch | — | Yes |
| Speaker | — | Yes |
| Microphone | — | Yes |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Payment service | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find my watch | Yes | Yes |
Diving, golf & more
Neither has a specialist edge here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 6 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist modes | golf, ski | golf |