The Garmin Venu X1 is the thinnest, most smartwatch styled watch Garmin has made, and it was clearly built to tempt people who would otherwise buy an Apple Watch Ultra. It pairs a huge 2 inch AMOLED screen with Garmin’s full training toolkit and multiday battery life. Here is what it offers, what it costs in the US in October 2026, and how it compares with Apple’s rugged flagship.
What the Garmin Venu X1 is
Garmin announced the Venu X1 on June 12, 2025. Most premium Garmin watches, like the Fenix line, are round, chunky adventure watches with five physical buttons. The Venu X1 breaks that pattern with a rectangular case that has rounded corners, a full touchscreen and a case about 8 millimeters thick. It comes in one size and uses a 24mm quick release ComfortFit nylon band.
Under the slim design it keeps the features that Garmin fans expect: detailed sleep tracking, HRV status, training readiness, training status, Pulse Ox and a morning report that summarizes how recovered you are. It also adds lifestyle touches that older Garmins lacked, such as a speaker and microphone for taking calls through your phone.
Garmin Venu X1 specs
| Spec | Garmin Venu X1 |
|---|---|
| Display | 2 inch AMOLED touchscreen, 448 by 486 pixels, optional always on mode |
| Build | Fiber reinforced polymer case, titanium caseback, sapphire crystal lens |
| Weight | 34 g, or 40 g with the ComfortFit band |
| Battery, smartwatch mode | Up to 8 days, about 2 days with always on display, up to 11 days in Battery Saver |
| Battery, GPS | Up to 16 hours GPS only, 14 hours all systems, 7 hours all systems with music |
| Storage | 32 GB for maps and music |
| Water rating | 5 ATM, swim friendly |
| Extras | LED flashlight, Garmin Pay, built in maps, speaker and mic for calls via phone |
| Cellular | None, it relies on your paired phone |
Garmin quotes these battery figures under its own test conditions, and real results depend heavily on screen brightness, the always on setting and how often you record GPS workouts.
US price and status in October 2026
The Venu X1 launched at $799.99 in black and moss colors. In January 2026 Garmin added a Soft Gold version with a French Grey band and lowered the list price to $699.99 for all three colors. Garmin’s US store lists the watch at $699.99 as of October 2026. The hardware has not changed since launch, and the X1 remains Garmin’s current ultrathin model.
Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple’s current rugged watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, launched in September 2025 at $799 in natural or black titanium. On paper the two watches target the same buyer, but they make very different tradeoffs.
| Feature | Garmin Venu X1 | Apple Watch Ultra 3 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $699.99 | From $799 |
| Thickness | About 8 mm | 12 mm |
| Battery | Up to 8 days | Up to 42 hours, 72 hours in Low Power Mode |
| Cellular | No | 5G RedCap and LTE |
| Emergency | No satellite messaging | Emergency SOS via satellite |
| Water | 5 ATM | 100 m, recreational dives to 40 m |
| Phones | iPhone and Android | iPhone only |
The Garmin wins on battery, weight, Android support and training analysis. The Apple wins on connectivity, safety features, the app ecosystem and water sports. If you own an Android phone, the decision is already made, because the Ultra 3 only works with an iPhone.
Who should buy the Venu X1
- Runners and gym regulars who want Garmin training metrics in a watch that also looks good at the office.
- Hikers and city walkers who value offline color maps on a large screen.
- Android users who want a premium alternative to Wear OS watches with far longer battery life.
- Sleep trackers who prefer a light watch they can wear overnight without charging every day.
Skip it if you want to leave your phone at home and still get calls and messages, or if you need dive certified water resistance. In that case the Ultra 3 or a cellular Garmin model fits better.
FAQ
How much is the Garmin Venu X1 in the US?
Garmin’s US store lists it at $699.99 as of October 2026, after a $100 list price cut from the original $799.99 in January 2026. Retailers sometimes discount it further during sales.
Does the Garmin Venu X1 have LTE?
No. It connects to your phone over Bluetooth for calls, texts and notifications, and it also supports WiFi for syncing. There is no cellular version.
How long does the Venu X1 battery last?
Garmin rates it at up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, roughly 2 days with the always on display, and up to 16 hours of GPS only tracking.
Does the Venu X1 work with iPhone?
Yes. It works with both iPhone and Android through the Garmin Connect app, although a few smartphone features differ between iPhone and Android.
The verdict
The Garmin Venu X1 is the best option for people who want Apple Watch Ultra style looks with Garmin depth and multiday battery. At $699.99 it now undercuts the Ultra 3 by about $100. Just be sure you can live without cellular, because that is the main thing you give up.
Updated October 2026: this version covers official Venu X1 specs, the current US price and a comparison with the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Featured photo: Alex Skobe on Unsplash.
About this article: GeekBlog covers U.S. technology news, AI, phones, smartwatches and gaming. Every story is written and checked under our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake or have a story tip? Contact our editors.
