Deciding between the Garmin Venu 3 vs Vivoactive 5 is one of the trickiest choices in Garmin's smartwatch lineup. Both watches feature stunning AMOLED displays, comprehensive health monitoring, and excellent fitness tracking — but at very different price points. The $150 gap between these two watches raises an important question: what exactly does the Venu 3 offer that justifies its premium price? In this detailed comparison, we'll break down every difference to help you make the right decision.
At-a-Glance: Venu 3 vs Vivoactive 5 Comparison
Before diving into the specifics, here's a quick comparison table highlighting the key differences between the Garmin Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5:
| Feature | Venu 3 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Display Size | 1.4" (45mm) / 1.2" (41mm S) | 1.2" (42mm) |
| Resolution | 454 x 454 px | 390 x 390 px |
| Case Sizes | 41mm (S) / 45mm | 42mm only |
| Weight | 40g (S) / 47g | 36g |
| Speaker/Microphone | Yes | No |
| Voice Assistant | Yes (Siri/Google/Bixby) | No |
| Wheelchair Mode | Yes | No |
| Nap Detection | Yes | No |
| Battery (Smartwatch) | Up to 14 days | Up to 11 days |
| Battery (GPS) | Up to 26 hours | Up to 21 hours |
| Garmin Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Music Storage | Yes (8GB) | Yes (8GB) |
| Price (MSRP) | $449 | $299 |
Design & Display Comparison
Both the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 showcase Garmin's commitment to bringing AMOLED displays to their lifestyle watches. However, there are meaningful differences in execution.
Display Technology
Both watches feature vibrant AMOLED displays with rich colors, deep blacks, and excellent indoor visibility. The differences lie in size and resolution:
| Display Spec | Venu 3 | Venu 3S | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 1.4" | 1.2" | 1.2" |
| Resolution | 454 x 454 px | 390 x 390 px | 390 x 390 px |
| PPI | ~324 | ~325 | ~325 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Always-On Option | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The standard Venu 3 (45mm) has the largest display in either lineup, making it ideal for those who want maximum screen real estate. The Venu 3S and Vivoactive 5 share similar 1.2" displays with identical resolution.
Build Quality and Design
Both watches feature:
- Stainless steel bezels for a premium look
- Gorilla Glass 3 display protection
- Fiber-reinforced polymer cases (lightweight and durable)
- Quick-release silicone bands (industry-standard 18mm/20mm)
- 5 ATM water resistance (swim-proof to 50 meters)
The Venu 3 has a slightly more refined aesthetic with its larger case options and marginally thinner profile. However, the Vivoactive 5's compact 42mm case appeals to those who prefer a lighter, less obtrusive watch on the wrist.
Size Options
The Venu 3 offers two sizes (41mm and 45mm), giving you more flexibility to match your wrist size and style preference. The Vivoactive 5 comes only in a single 42mm size — a great middle ground for most wrists, but limiting if you specifically want a larger or smaller watch.
Health Monitoring Features
Health tracking is where the Venu 3 begins to differentiate itself with several exclusive features.
Core Health Features (Both Watches)
Both the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 include Garmin's comprehensive health monitoring suite:
- 24/7 heart rate monitoring with Elevate V4 sensor
- Pulse Ox (SpO2) blood oxygen tracking
- Stress tracking with all-day monitoring
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Respiration rate tracking
- Women's health tracking (menstrual cycle, pregnancy)
- Hydration tracking
- Health Snapshot (2-minute comprehensive health check)
Venu 3 Exclusive Health Features
The Venu 3 adds several unique capabilities:
Wheelchair Mode
The Venu 3 is Garmin's first watch with dedicated wheelchair mode. This feature:
- Tracks pushes instead of steps
- Provides wheelchair-specific activity metrics
- Offers adapted workout profiles
- Calculates calories burned accurately for wheelchair users
This is a significant accessibility feature that makes the Venu 3 the clear choice for wheelchair users.
Nap Detection
The Venu 3 introduces automatic nap detection, which:
- Recognizes when you take daytime naps
- Logs nap duration and quality
- Incorporates naps into your overall sleep analysis
- Adjusts Body Battery calculations to reflect recovery from naps
For those who regularly nap or have irregular sleep schedules, this feature provides a more complete picture of rest and recovery.
Voice Assistant Integration
The Venu 3's built-in speaker and microphone enable voice assistant connectivity:
- Siri (iPhone users)
- Google Assistant (Android users)
- Bixby (Samsung users)
You can set reminders, ask questions, control smart home devices, and more — directly from your wrist.
Health Monitoring Verdict
For most users, both watches provide excellent health tracking. The Vivoactive 5 covers all the essentials and will satisfy the vast majority of health-conscious users. However, if you need wheelchair mode, value nap detection, or want voice assistant integration, the Venu 3 is the only option.
Fitness Tracking Comparison
When it comes to workout tracking, both watches offer remarkably similar capabilities.
Shared Fitness Features
Both the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 include:
- 30+ built-in sports apps (running, cycling, swimming, golf, yoga, HIIT, etc.)
- GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellite support
- Indoor/outdoor running with pace and distance
- Pool and open water swimming with stroke detection
- Cycling with speed, cadence, and power meter support
- Strength training with rep counting
- HIIT workouts with customizable intervals
- Yoga and Pilates with preloaded workouts
- Golf with 43,000+ course maps
- Animated on-screen workouts
- Garmin Coach adaptive training plans
Training Metrics
Both watches provide:
| Training Feature | Venu 3 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
| Training Status | No | No |
| Training Load | No | No |
| Recovery Time | Yes | Yes |
| Fitness Age | Yes | Yes |
| Intensity Minutes | Yes | Yes |
| Performance Condition | Yes | Yes |
Neither watch includes the advanced Training Status or Training Load metrics found on Garmin's dedicated sports watches (Forerunner, Fenix). If you need those features, you should look elsewhere in Garmin's lineup.
Fitness Tracking Verdict
For fitness tracking, the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 are virtually identical. Both offer comprehensive workout support suitable for most fitness enthusiasts. The choice between them should be based on other factors — not fitness features.
Smart Features Comparison
This is where the Venu 3's premium price tag becomes more justifiable.
Communication Features
| Smart Feature | Venu 3 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Call notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Answer/make calls | Yes (Bluetooth) | No |
| Speaker | Yes | No |
| Microphone | Yes | No |
| Voice assistant | Yes | No |
| Text replies (Android) | Yes | Yes |
The Venu 3's speaker and microphone are game-changers for connectivity:
- Answer and make phone calls directly on your wrist (when connected to your phone)
- Voice memos for quick recordings
- Voice assistant commands without touching your phone
- Audible alerts and notifications
This transforms the Venu 3 into a true smartwatch that can handle communication independently, similar to the Apple Watch.
Shared Smart Features
Both watches include:
- Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Music storage (8GB, ~500 songs)
- Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer offline sync
- Bluetooth headphone support
- Smart notifications from your phone
- Calendar sync
- Weather updates
- Find My Phone
- Connect IQ app store (watch faces, apps, widgets)
- Safety features (incident detection, LiveTrack, assistance)
Battery Life Comparison
Both watches deliver excellent battery life for AMOLED smartwatches, though the Venu 3 has a slight edge.
Battery Specifications
| Battery Mode | Venu 3 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | Up to 14 days | Up to 11 days |
| Always-on display | Up to 5 days | Up to 4 days |
| GPS only | Up to 26 hours | Up to 21 hours |
| GPS + Music | Up to 10 hours | Up to 8 hours |
| GPS + Music + AOD | Up to 6 hours | Up to 5 hours |
Real-World Battery Performance
In typical daily use (notifications, heart rate monitoring, occasional workouts), expect:
- Venu 3: 8-10 days between charges
- Vivoactive 5: 6-8 days between charges
With always-on display enabled, both watches will need charging every 3-5 days. The Venu 3's larger battery provides a meaningful advantage for heavy users.
Sleep Tracking & Body Battery
Both watches excel at sleep and recovery monitoring.
Sleep Tracking Features
Both the Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 offer:
- Sleep stages (light, deep, REM, awake)
- Sleep score (1-100 rating)
- Sleep quality insights
- Respiration during sleep
- SpO2 during sleep
- HRV during sleep
- Sleep coach recommendations
The key difference: Venu 3 adds automatic nap detection, while the Vivoactive 5 only tracks overnight sleep.
Body Battery
Garmin's Body Battery is identical on both watches:
- Energy level tracking (1-100)
- Real-time drain and recharge visualization
- Activity impact on energy
- Sleep recovery calculation
- Stress impact monitoring
Body Battery is one of Garmin's best features, and you get the full experience on either watch.
Music & Payments
Both watches are equally capable for music and contactless payments.
Music Features
| Music Feature | Venu 3 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 8GB (~500 songs) | 8GB (~500 songs) |
| Spotify offline | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Music | Yes | Yes |
| Deezer | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth audio | Yes | Yes |
| On-watch playback controls | Yes | Yes |
The only difference is that the Venu 3 has a speaker for audio alerts and phone calls — but you'll still need Bluetooth headphones for music listening during workouts.
Garmin Pay
Both watches support Garmin Pay contactless payments at compatible terminals. Setup and functionality are identical.
Price & Value Analysis
The $150 price difference is significant. Let's break down what that premium buys.
Current Pricing
| Model | MSRP | Typical Sale Price |
|---|---|---|
| Vivoactive 5 | $299 | $249-279 |
| Venu 3S (41mm) | $449 | $399-429 |
| Venu 3 (45mm) | $449 | $399-429 |
What the $150 Premium Gets You
Upgrading from Vivoactive 5 to Venu 3 adds:
- Larger display option (45mm with 1.4" screen)
- Speaker and microphone for calls and voice assistant
- Wheelchair mode accessibility
- Nap detection for complete sleep tracking
- Better battery life (14 days vs 11 days)
- Size choice (41mm or 45mm)
Value Assessment
The Vivoactive 5 at $299 offers exceptional value. You get 90% of the Venu 3's functionality at 67% of the price. For most users, this is the smarter purchase.
The Venu 3's premium is justified if you'll actually use:
- Phone calls on your wrist
- Voice assistant regularly
- The larger 45mm display
- Nap detection for sleep tracking
If these features don't excite you, save the $150.
Who Should Buy the Venu 3?
The Garmin Venu 3 is the right choice if you:
- Want to take calls on your wrist — the speaker/mic combo is essential for you
- Use voice assistants and want Siri/Google/Bixby on your watch
- Prefer a larger display — the 45mm Venu 3 is the biggest in this class
- Take regular naps and want them tracked automatically
- Use a wheelchair and need dedicated accessibility features
- Prioritize battery life and want the longest-lasting AMOLED watch
- Want the most premium Garmin lifestyle watch available
The Venu 3 is Garmin's flagship lifestyle smartwatch, and it shows. If budget isn't a constraint and you want the best, this is it.
Who Should Buy the Vivoactive 5?
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is the right choice if you:
- Are budget-conscious and want to save $150
- Don't need phone calls on your wrist
- Prefer a compact watch — the 42mm size is lighter and more subtle
- Primarily track fitness and don't need extra smart features
- Value core features over premium extras
- Are upgrading from an older Garmin and want a modern AMOLED experience
The Vivoactive 5 punches well above its price point. It's the best value in Garmin's lifestyle lineup and an excellent choice for most users.
Final Verdict: Venu 3 vs Vivoactive 5
Both the Garmin Venu 3 and Vivoactive 5 are outstanding smartwatches that blend health tracking, fitness features, and smart connectivity beautifully. Here's our recommendation:
Choose the Venu 3 if phone calls on your wrist, voice assistant, nap detection, or wheelchair mode matter to you. The premium features are genuinely useful — but only if you'll actually use them. The larger 45mm option is also compelling for those who want maximum screen real estate.
Choose the Vivoactive 5 if you want Garmin's core smartwatch experience at a great price. You get the same excellent AMOLED display, comprehensive health monitoring, and fitness tracking. For $150 less, you're sacrificing very little that most people will miss.
For the majority of users, the Vivoactive 5 offers the better value. However, if the Venu 3's unique features align with your needs, the upgrade is worthwhile. Both watches deliver Garmin's best-in-class reliability, accuracy, and ecosystem — you can't go wrong with either choice.