The only one here with maps
Garmin Forerunner 965
- Turn-by-turn maps
- Longest battery here
Cheaper alternatives to the Garmin Venu X1
Swap the giant screen for more battery, ECG, or a much lower price.
Updated 11 November 2026
Adds ECG and a torch, no maps
Garmin Venu 4
- ECG app and torch
- 41 or 45 mm case
Cheapest of the three
Garmin vÃvoactive 6
- Light on the wrist
- About 11 days' battery
The original
Garmin Venu X1
Worth it if: You want a big-screen Garmin that looks smart
- The biggest screen on any Garmin here
- Preloaded maps for navigation
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What are you actually paying extra for with the Venu X1?
What the extra money buys
- The biggest screen on any Garmin here
- Preloaded maps for navigation
- A thin case with sapphire glass
Worth it if
- You want a big-screen Garmin that looks smart
- You'll charge it every few days
Not worth it if
- Battery life is your priority
- You want ECG heart checks
Good to know
Why each one made the list, and our final recommendation.
Garmin Forerunner 965
You keep maps and get close to three times the rated battery. TechRadar praised how the AMOLED screen ties the watch together, and Android Central found routes easy to follow on it. It's a sports watch first, not a slim one.
Garmin Venu 4
Android Central calls it the ideal fitness watch for everyone. TechRadar found it just as at home in the office as outdoors, and Les Numériques liked its polished design. It's heavier than before and has no maps.
Garmin vÃvoactive 6
Les Numériques calls it elegant and competitive, with a nice screen and about 11 days' battery. TechRadar found a lot of fitness features packed into a slim body, and Android Central rates it for casual gym-goers.
Final recommendation: Keep maps and get far more battery with the Forerunner 965. Choose the Venu 4 for a smart everyday watch with ECG and a torch. The vivoactive 6 is the budget choice for workouts and sleep. Stick with the Venu X1 if its big, slim screen and maps are the point.
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 | Premium | Premium | Affordable |
| Battery (claimed) | Up to 8 days (smartwatch mode) | Up to 23 days (smartwatch mode) | Up to 12 days (45 mm) / 10 days (41 mm) | Up to 11 days (smartwatch mode) |
| GPS | Built-in, up to 16 hours | Built-in, up to 31 hours (GPS-only, no music) | Built-in, up to 20 hours (45 mm) / 15 hours (41 mm), GPS-only | Built-in, up to 21 hours (GPS-only) |
| Screen | 2-inch AMOLED, sapphire lens | AMOLED, 1.4-inch | AMOLED, 1.4-inch (45 mm) / 1.2-inch (41 mm) | AMOLED, 1.2-inch |
| Maps | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | – | – | – |
| 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 Venu 4 have maps like the Venu X1?
No. The Venu 4 has no offline maps. Of these alternatives, only the Forerunner 965 keeps them.
Why is the Venu X1 battery shorter than other Garmins?
The 2-inch screen uses more power. Garmin rates it at up to 8 days, and reviewers saw it fall fast with the screen always on.
Is the vivoactive 6 a good cheap Garmin?
Yes. Reviewers rate it as an elegant, light watch with plenty of fitness features. It skips maps and premium materials.
Related guides
How we reached this
We compared the Garmin Venu X1 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 X1 specs, TechRadar: Garmin Venu X1 review: The most innovative Garmin watch in years, and a genuine Apple Watch Ultra rival, Android Central: Garmin Venu X1 review: Garmin vets should give it a chance, T3: Garmin Venu X1 review: Garmin’s sleekest smartwatch yet, but is it worth the price?, Garmin: Garmin Forerunner 965 specs, Android Central: Garmin Forerunner 965 review: Better than the best, TechRadar: Garmin Forerunner 965 review, Les Numériques: Test Garmin Forerunner 965 : une excellente montre multisport sublimée par l'Amoled, 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 vÃvoactive 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.