Garmin Venu 4 Review: A Stylish Fitness Watch Worth the Price?

The Garmin Venu 4 is a fairly high-end fitness and running watch that doesn’t shout “athlete” quite as loudly as some of its siblings. For those seeking a wearable that blends fitness tracking with a more understated, smartwatch-like aesthetic, the Venu 4 presents a compelling option. But is it worth the $549/£469 (or $599/£519 with a leather strap) price tag? This latest iteration brings significant improvements, particularly in its fitness tracking capabilities, potentially making it a stronger contender than its predecessor, the Venu 3.

Garmin has long been a dominant force in the fitness tracker market and the Venu series represents its attempt to bridge the gap between dedicated sports watches and everyday smartwatches. The Venu 4 continues this trend, offering a sleek design and a comprehensive suite of features. However, it’s not without its quirks, particularly regarding its reliance on touchscreen controls.

Design and Comfort

The Venu 4 prioritizes a minimalist aesthetic. Unlike the more rugged designs of the Forerunner series, the Venu 4 boasts a sleeker profile with fewer physical buttons. This makes it more appealing to those who want a watch that doesn’t immediately advertise their fitness focus. It’s available in two sizes – 41mm and 45mm – both featuring a stainless steel bezel and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection. While durable, the glass isn’t as scratch-resistant as options like Corning Victus or sapphire crystal, which are reserved for Garmin’s more expensive models. The watch weighs 1.4 oz (39 g) without the strap, or 1.9 oz (54 g) with, making it comfortable for all-day wear.

Garmin has cleverly incorporated plastic into the casing to avoid cutouts for the LED flash and speaker, contributing to a cleaner design. The Venu 4 feels light and comfortable on the wrist, and the brushed finish of the stainless steel adds a touch of sophistication. However, the increased reliance on touchscreen controls can be a point of contention, as we’ll discuss later.

Feature Set: A Surprising Amount of Depth

The Venu 4 is packed with smart features, including voice assistant compatibility, voice commands, and a built-in voice recorder with optional GPS tagging. The addition of an ECG (electrocardiogram) reader is a notable upgrade, allowing users to take readings to assess their heart rhythm. A built-in flashlight, with adjustable white light intensity and a red LED mode, is another unexpected but welcome addition, previously found only on Garmin’s higher-end models.

Despite its smartwatch-like appearance, the Venu 4 doesn’t skimp on fitness tracking capabilities. It offers a comprehensive suite of metrics, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and advanced running dynamics. It includes Training Readiness and Running Performance, including VO2 Max. It also offers Training Load, a feature typically found in Garmin’s more specialized Forerunner watches. This makes the Venu 4 a surprisingly capable training partner, even for serious athletes.

However, one key omission is built-in maps. While the watch has 8 GB of storage, it’s reserved for music and audio files, not navigational maps. This means you won’t be able to see detailed maps during outdoor activities, relying instead on a simple line indicating your route. For those who frequently explore unfamiliar terrain, this could be a significant drawback.

Performance and Battery Life

During testing, the Garmin Venu 4 demonstrated excellent location tracking accuracy, thanks to its dual-frequency GPS support. What we have is particularly beneficial in challenging environments where signal reception can be unreliable. The heart rate sensor also performed well, providing accurate readings during both workouts and everyday activities.

Battery life is a respectable, though not exceptional, aspect of the Venu 4. Garmin claims up to 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, but real-world usage will vary depending on factors like screen brightness, GPS usage, and feature activation. In our testing, with approximately 6 hours of GPS-tracked exercise over three days, the watch lost 43% of its charge, suggesting a battery life of around a week with moderate use. Enabling the always-on display significantly reduces battery life, to around four days.

Touchscreen Controls: A Mixed Bag

The Venu 4’s reliance on touchscreen controls is perhaps its most divisive feature. While the touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate in most situations, it can be frustrating during workouts, especially in wet conditions. Accidental touches can disrupt tracking or trigger unwanted actions. The limited number of physical buttons – just two – means you’re often relying on swipes and taps to control the watch, which can be cumbersome when you’re focused on your activity.

Garmin allows you to lock the screen to prevent accidental touches, but this adds an extra step to the process. For users accustomed to the button-centric interface of other Garmin watches, the Venu 4’s touchscreen-led approach may take some getting used to.

Is the Garmin Venu 4 Right for You?

The Garmin Venu 4 is a compelling option for those seeking a stylish and feature-rich fitness tracker that doesn’t look overtly sporty. It offers a comprehensive suite of fitness tracking tools, smart features, and a comfortable design. However, its reliance on touchscreen controls and the lack of built-in maps may be dealbreakers for some.

✅ Buy it if: You want a less “nerdy-looking” fitness and running watch that still provides detailed stats and advanced training metrics. You value smart features like voice assistant compatibility and ECG readings.

❌ Don’t buy it if: You prefer a button-centric interface and rely heavily on navigational maps during outdoor activities. You prioritize battery life above all else.

At $549/£469, the Venu 4 is a significant investment. If you’re willing to spend the money, it’s a capable and versatile wearable. However, if you’re on a tighter budget or prioritize specific features like maps, other Garmin models, such as the Forerunner 965, may be a better fit. The best choice depends on your individual needs and preferences.

Garmin continues to refine its wearable technology, and the Venu 4 represents a solid step forward. It’s a well-rounded device that strikes a balance between fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality, making it a worthy contender in the crowded wearable market.