Smartphones
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Garmin Venu X1
Garmin Venu X1 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are premium fitness smartwatches, but they solve different problems. Venu X1 is slimmer, lighter, and better for longer battery life, while Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the stronger iPhone smartwatch with cellular, ECG, satellite safety, and deeper app integration.
Last updated: June 28, 2026
Apple
Apple Watch Ultra 3
A rugged iPhone smartwatch built for cellular connectivity, safety features, bright outdoor visibility, health tracking, and adventure workouts.
VS
Garmin
Garmin Venu X1
A slim premium Garmin smartwatch built for fitness tracking, offline maps, health insights, a large AMOLED display, and longer battery life.
Not enough votes yet
Be the first to cast your vote above!
↑ Cast your vote to help build the results
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Apple Watch Ultra 3 — Pros
✓Built-in GPS + Cellular with 5G and LTE support.
✓Emergency SOS, Messages, and Find My via satellite are available when off-grid in supported regions.
✓Brighter display with up to 3000 nits peak brightness.
✓Includes ECG app, Blood Oxygen app, temperature sensor, sleep apnea notifications, and hypertension notifications.
✓Supports recreational scuba diving to 40m with a dive computer app from the App Store.
✓Better smartwatch app ecosystem for iPhone users.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 — Cons
✕Battery life is much shorter than Garmin Venu X1 in normal smartwatch use.
✕Only works with iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26 or later.
✕Heavier and thicker than Garmin Venu X1.
✕Costs the same premium tier while still needing more frequent charging.
✕Overkill if you only want fitness tracking, sleep tracking, and long battery life.
Garmin Venu X1 — Pros
✓Much lighter than Apple Watch Ultra 3.
✓Thinner case makes it easier to wear all day and overnight.
✓Battery life is rated up to 8 days in smartwatch mode.
✓Large 2-inch AMOLED display is easy to read for maps, workout stats, and health widgets.
✓Works with both iPhone and Android phones.
✓Includes Garmin training, recovery, sleep, HRV, Body Battery, and mapping tools without needing an Apple-only setup.
Garmin Venu X1 — Cons
✕No cellular model, so it relies more on your phone for connected features.
✕No ECG app listed for Venu X1 on Garmin's official product positioning.
✕No built-in satellite emergency messaging like Apple Watch Ultra 3.
✕Not a dive computer watch like Apple Watch Ultra 3 with Oceanic+ support.
✕Garmin's app ecosystem is smaller than Apple's App Store watch ecosystem.
Best used for
✦Run outdoors with precision dual-frequency GPS, custom workouts, Race Route, Pacer, and advanced running metrics.
✦Use cellular and 5G to call, message, stream, and receive notifications without your iPhone nearby.
✦Use Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, crash detection, fall detection, and siren features for safety.
✦Track hikes with Compass waypoints, Backtrack, elevation alerts, offline maps, and national park topographic maps in the U.S.
✦Use ECG, Blood Oxygen, sleep apnea notifications, hypertension notifications, temperature sensing, and sleep tracking.
✦Use Oceanic+ as a dive computer for recreational dives to 40 meters.
✦Pay with Apple Pay, use Siri, control Apple apps, and run third-party watchOS apps from the App Store.
✦Pair with iPhone, AirPods, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Maps, Messages, and Find My.
Best used for
✦Track outdoor runs with Garmin Coach, training readiness, HRV status, recovery time, and wrist-based heart-rate metrics.
✦Use preloaded maps on hikes, city walks, and new running routes without depending on a constant phone screen.
✦Check workout stats on a large 2-inch AMOLED display during gym sessions, runs, cycling, and walks.
✦Wear the watch overnight for sleep score, sleep stages, Body Battery, stress, respiration, and recovery tracking.
✦Use the built-in LED flashlight for early-morning runs, night walks, camping, and low-light transitions.
✦Make and take phone calls from the watch when paired with a compatible smartphone.
✦Use Garmin Pay for contactless payments where supported.
✦Go several days between charges instead of charging every day or every other day.
⚖️
Our Verdict
Apple Watch Ultra 3 is usually the better fit if you are an iPhone user who wants the strongest smartwatch experience: cellular, 5G, satellite safety, ECG, Blood Oxygen, a brighter display, third-party apps, Apple Pay, Siri, and deeper Apple integration. Garmin Venu X1 is usually the better fit if you want a premium fitness watch that is lighter, thinner, easier to sleep with, and much better for multi-day battery life. It gives you Garmin's health, recovery, training, mapping, and fitness tools without locking you into an iPhone. The real decision is iPhone adventure smartwatch versus fitness watch. Pick Ultra 3 if safety, apps, cellular, and Apple health features matter more. Pick Venu X1 if battery, comfort, and Garmin training matter more.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Apple Watch Ultra 3 if...
→You use an iPhone and want the best Apple Watch experience.
→You want cellular, 5G, and the ability to stay connected without your iPhone nearby.
→You want Emergency SOS, Messages, and Find My via satellite in supported regions.
→You want ECG, Blood Oxygen, sleep apnea notifications, and hypertension notifications.
→You want the brighter 3000-nit display for outdoor visibility.
→You want a true watchOS app ecosystem with Apple Pay, Siri, Apple Music, Maps, and third-party apps.
→You want recreational dive support to 40m with a compatible app.
→You are fine charging more often for stronger smartwatch features.
Choose Garmin Venu X1 if...
→You want longer battery life than Apple Watch Ultra 3.
→You want a lighter and thinner watch for sleep tracking and all-day wear.
→You use Android or want a watch that works outside Apple's ecosystem.
→You care more about Garmin training, recovery, maps, Body Battery, and HRV tools than smartwatch apps.
→You do not need cellular connectivity on the watch.
→You do not need ECG, satellite messaging, or a dive computer app.
→You want a large AMOLED display in a slimmer case.
→You prefer fewer daily charging habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Garmin Venu X1 or Apple Watch Ultra 3 better?
A: Garmin Venu X1 is better for battery life, comfort, and Garmin fitness tracking. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is better for iPhone users who want cellular, safety features, ECG, apps, and the most complete smartwatch experience.
Q: What is the main difference between Garmin Venu X1 and Apple Watch Ultra 3?
A: Garmin Venu X1 is a slim fitness smartwatch with longer battery life and Garmin training tools. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is a rugged iPhone smartwatch with cellular, satellite safety, ECG, apps, and adventure features.
Q: Which has better battery life?
A: Garmin Venu X1 has better everyday battery life. Garmin rates it up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, while Apple rates Ultra 3 up to 42 hours of normal use or 72 hours in Low Power Mode.
Q: Which is better for runners?
A: Garmin Venu X1 is better if you want Garmin-style training, recovery, HRV, and multi-day battery life. Apple Watch Ultra 3 is better if you want cellular runs, Apple Music, Race Route, Pacer, and iPhone integration.
Q: Which is better for hiking?
A: Apple Watch Ultra 3 is stronger for safety because it includes satellite features, siren, Backtrack, and emergency tools. Garmin Venu X1 is still excellent for maps, battery life, and lightweight comfort on longer walks and hikes.
Q: Does Garmin Venu X1 have ECG?
A: No ECG app is listed for Garmin Venu X1 in the checked official product positioning. Apple Watch Ultra 3 includes the ECG app, along with Blood Oxygen, sleep apnea notifications, and hypertension notifications.
Q: Does Apple Watch Ultra 3 work with Android?
A: No. Apple Watch Ultra 3 requires iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26 or later. Garmin Venu X1 is the better choice if you use Android or want flexibility across phone platforms.
Q: Which watch has better maps?
A: Both support maps, but they do it differently. Garmin Venu X1 focuses on Garmin preloaded maps and fitness navigation. Apple Watch Ultra 3 supports offline maps, custom routes, Compass waypoints, Backtrack, and U.S. park topographic maps.
Q: Which is better for swimming and diving?
A: Apple Watch Ultra 3 is better for diving because it supports recreational scuba diving to 40m with a compatible app. For normal pool and open-water swim tracking, both watches cover the basics well.
Q: Which should I buy in 2026?
A: Buy Apple Watch Ultra 3 if you use an iPhone and want cellular, safety, health sensors, apps, and Apple ecosystem features. Buy Garmin Venu X1 if you want battery life, comfort, Garmin fitness tools, and Android compatibility.
Sources & References
Prices, features and specifications in this comparison were verified from official sources.
Community (0)
Share your experience with Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Garmin Venu X1
💬
No opinions shared yet
Be the first to share your experience with Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Garmin Venu X1
Related Comparisons
More Smartphones comparisons you might find useful