Closest in style for less
Garmin vívoactive 6
- Light on the wrist
- Many workout types
Cheaper alternatives to the Garmin Venu 4
Give up ECG and calls, keep Garmin's tracking, pay less.
Updated 11 November 2026
Cheapest of the three
Garmin Forerunner 165
- Accurate GPS
- Altimeter built in
Longest battery of the three
Garmin Forerunner 265
- Training readiness
- Bright AMOLED
The original
Garmin Venu 4
Worth it if: You'd use ECG and calls
- Stainless steel and a smart design
- ECG heart checks
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Venu 4?
What the extra money buys
- Stainless steel and a smart design
- ECG heart checks
- Hands-free calls and a torch
Worth it if
- You'd use ECG and calls
- It has to look smart at work
Not worth it if
- Steps, sleep and workouts are enough
- Running is your main sport
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Garmin vívoactive 6
Android Central sees it as an easy Garmin for casual gym-goers. TechRadar called it a feature-stuffed pocket rocket. It skips the Venu's ECG, torch and speaker, but keeps the everyday tracking most people use.
Garmin Forerunner 165
Android Central thinks runners give up very little with it. Les Numériques rated it a convincing first running watch. It's a sports watch first, without the Venu's lifestyle extras, so it suits people taking up running rather than wanting a smart dress watch.
Garmin Forerunner 265
Pick this one if you're training for a race. T3 liked its AMOLED screen, and Tom's Guide counts it among Garmin's strongest mid-range runners. It swaps the Venu's health and call extras for coaching and race tools, with slightly longer battery.
Final recommendation: The vivoactive 6 gives you the Venu look and tracking for much less. New runners should pick the Forerunner 165, and racers the Forerunner 265. Stay with the Venu 4 if you want ECG, a torch and calls on your wrist.
Side by side
Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.
| Model | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | Premium | Affordable | Affordable | Premium |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 12 days (45 mm) / 10 days (41 mm) | Up to 11 days (smartwatch mode) | Up to 11 days (smartwatch mode) | Up to 13 days (46 mm) / 15 days (265S) |
| GPS | Built-in, up to 20 hours (45 mm) / 15 hours (41 mm), GPS-only | Built-in, up to 21 hours (GPS-only) | Built-in, up to 19 hours (GPS-only) | Built-in, up to 20 hours (46 mm) / 24 hours (265S), GPS-only |
| Screen | AMOLED, 1.4-inch (45 mm) / 1.2-inch (41 mm) | AMOLED, 1.2-inch | AMOLED, 1.2-inch | AMOLED, 1.3-inch (46 mm) / 1.1-inch (265S) |
| Maps | No | No | No | No |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Shop | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ | Check price on Amazon ↗ |
Questions people ask
Does the vivoactive 6 have ECG?
No. Of these watches, only the Venu 4 has the ECG app. The vivoactive 6 still tracks heart rate, sleep and stress.
Which is lighter, the Venu 4 or the vivoactive 6?
The vivoactive 6. Reviewers praise how slim and light it is, while the Venu 4 got heavier than the Venu 3.
Can the Forerunner 165 take calls?
No. It shows phone notifications but has no speaker or mic. The Venu 4 can take calls on your wrist.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Garmin Venu 4 with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.
We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.
Sources: Garmin: Garmin Venu 4 specs, Android Central: Garmin Venu 4 review: The ideal fitness watch for everyone, TechRadar: Garmin Venu 4 review: A seamless transition from the office to the outdoors, Les Numériques: Test Garmin Venu 4 : la montre ultra-polyvalente soigne son design, Garmin: Garmin vívoactive 6 specs, TechRadar: Garmin Vivoactive 6 review: A feature-stuffed pocket rocket, Android Central: Garmin Vivoactive 6 review: For the casual fitness-goer, Les Numériques: Test Garmin Vivoactive 6 : une montre connectée élégante et compétitive, Garmin: Garmin Forerunner 165 specs, Android Central: Garmin Forerunner 165 review: Barely a compromise, Les Numériques: Test Garmin Forerunner 165 : une montre running d'entrée de gamme convaincante, Garmin: Garmin Forerunner 265 specs, T3: Garmin Forerunner 265 review: AMOLED, at last, Tom's Guide: Garmin Forerunner 265 review, Android Central: Garmin Forerunner 265 review: It's a prettier 255, and that's okay.