The Venu 4 is Garmin’s new sleek smartwatch that is packed with features. It offers so much functionality, I couldn’t possibly cover every aspect, in part because I simply don’t do all the sports that this watch can be used for.
To put it in context, this watch is packed with so much, it’s easily something that could be seen in a James Bond film.
Size, look and fit
The Venu 4 comes in two sizes, 45mm and 41mm. For those with average-sized wrists, the 45mm is large enough without feeling too big, and fits wrists with a circumference of 135–200 mm, where the 41mm is suitable for those with smaller wrists, with a circumference of 110–175 mm. It has an Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display which provides clear illumination of the watch face. Both watches come with the same features.
They weigh 33 grams (46 grams with the strap) and 38 grams (56 grams with the strap) respectively. To put it in context, it is not heavy or bulky and barely noticeable on your wrist.
In terms of the design, the watch is very minimalistic, with a touch screen and two buttons used to confirm or cancel options in the menu. The top button is used to activate functions, or if kept pressed, enters an option menu with essential features like locking the bezel. The lower button is used to back out of menu selections, or if held down, activates the torch (more on that in a moment).
The watch comes in a range of colours to suit your taste and personal style. Colours and style differ depending on the size too. For example, the Silver with Periwinkle Silicone Band is only available in a 41mm size, whilst the Silver with Citron Silicone band is available only in a 45mm. Watches come with silicone straps, but there are several which come with leather, which are priced accordingly.
I opted for the 45mm Slate with Black Silicone Band which is neutral and doesn’t look out of place when worn with smart clothes, making this a watch something that can be universally used.
Due to the low weight, comfortable silicone strap and minimalist design, the watch was a perfect fit. The strap holes are spaced so that I was able to get a snug fit, without being too tight or too loose on my wrist.
From an aesthetic point of view, this smartwatch certainly looks refined.
Features
This product is packed with features, so I have opted to highlight those which I think are useful.
- Watch
First and foremost, this smartwatch does all the basics that you want, such as clearly displaying the time and date.
The time is automatically updated when the smartwatch acquires a GPS signal, reducing the need to manually adjust your watch when crossing time zones. This is because the Venu 4 supports dual frequency / Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Utilising this helps ensure accurate and consistent positioning, especially in environments like cities or forests. It also uses Garmin SatIQ™ satellite technology, which, as Garmin describes, is “a GPS technology that determines the optimal GPS mode based on your environment.”
The watch has an alarm clock feature, which is easy to set up, being the first option when you enter the menu screen when you press the top button and is found under the “Clocks” option.
Under this option, there are other essentials, such as a “Stopwatch” and even the ability to add alternative time zones, which is another useful feature given how global people’s contact lists are.
- Heart rate monitor
It has a wrist-based heart rate monitor where data is displayed on the main screen. It utilises the most up-to-date heart-rate sensor (Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor) that allows you to monitor your heart rate accurately and is compatible with the ECG app.
As Garmin explains, “The ECG app uses sensors on your compatible Garmin watch to record the electrical signals that control how your heart beats. This recording is known as an electrocardiogram, or ECG.” The ECG app provides a convenient means for at-home ECG recording.
This advanced wrist-based heart rate monitor means that you can train without the need to use a heart rate monitor strap, but one can be paired with the watch, should you wish.
What is interesting is that Garmin’s Canadian HQ developed the biosensor technology that is integrated into Garmin smartwatches. This data is used to derive a host of other wellness and fitness features like Sleep, Stress, Training Readiness and V02 Max.
- Built-in flashlight
The Venu 4 has a great flashlight / torch built in. It can be activated by holding down the bottom button for 2 seconds. Once turned on the brightness can be adjusted by touching the screen, there is even a red-light option. The advantage of this is that when you need illumination, you literally have it “to hand.” I appreciate most smartphones have this functionality, but having instant and convenient access on your wrist is nice to have.
It can also be used as a safety feature, when being active outside when it’s not peak daylight, turn on the light and people will see when you are running.
- Music
It has 8 gigabytes of memory for storing music. Music can be uploaded via your computer, using the Garmin Express app. This means that when you partake in some sporting activity, you can simply pair your headphones to your watch and listen to music as you train. It even has a speaker and microphone, so if you don’t have headphones, you can still play your music, although I am not sure other gym-goers will appreciate it. To put it simply, there is enough capacity to load your watch with music to get you through many gym sessions and a marathon or two.
- Other inbuilt sensors
As well as the fundamentals such as Bluetooth®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi® allowing you to connect to a variety of devices including your smartphone to receive updates, the watch has a compass to point you in the right direction, a barometric altimeter which, according to Garmin, “determine changes in elevation or identify weather patterns by measuring air pressure” and a thermometer to indicate skin temperature or ambient temperature if you remove the watch from your wrist. The Venu 4 has the ability to utilise Garmin Pay (if setup), which is a contactless payment solution that works in a similar way to Apple Pay. It is recommended to check if your bank supports Garmin Pay. All these additional features mean that this watch is an extremely versatile tool.
Health & Wellness
At the heart of Venu 4 is a multitude of health monitoring facets, one of which is “Body Battery.”
With a score ranging from 1 to 100, the Garmin Body Battery function calculates your body’s energy reserves based on stress, activity levels, and heart rate variability. A low score indicates that you need to rest. This is where another health monitoring option can be used – sleep monitoring.
Wearing the watch whilst you sleep means that it will automatically identify your sleep and track your movements throughout your regular sleep hours. Your typical sleep schedule may be configured in the watch’s settings or through the Garmin Connect app. Total hours of sleep, sleep phases, sleep movement, and sleep score are all included in sleep statistics.
In addition to the useful health monitoring facets, there are a vast range of training features available, all of which are driven through a very simple User Interface, with menus which are easily navigated by touch screen and the two side buttons.
On the watch face next to the time you can see your current heart rate, the number of steps you have taken throughout the day and a yellow stopwatch icon which is Garmin’s Intensity Minute tracker. The intensity tracker is where the watch records periods of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which is calculated by comparing your current heart rate to your resting heart rate or by monitoring your steps per minute.
If you press the top button on the bezel, you will access the menu system.Tapping the “Activities” option will provide you a selection of sports to choose from, with common ones such as running, at the top. The range of activities you can select is extensive and explains why Garmin’s instruction manual is 144 pages. The activities that are available are as follows:
Gym – Strength, HIIT, Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Jump Roping.
Multisport – Triathlon, Duathlon, Brick, Pool Triathlon, Swim/Run, Mixed Session.
Wellness – Walking, Pilates, Yoga, Indoor Walking, Mobility, Meditation, Breathwork.
Indoor running – Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running, Virtual Running.
Outdoor running – Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Ultra Running, Obstacle Racing, Adventure Racing.
Outdoor recreation – Hiking, Rucking, Mountaineering, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Horseback Riding, Golfing, Disc Golf, Archery.
Cycling – Road Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, Bike Touring, eBiking, eMountain Biking, Indoor Biking, Cyclocross, BMX.
Swim – Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming.
On the Water – Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Fishing, Snorkelling.
Motor sports – Motorcycling, Overlanding, Motocrossing, ATVing, Snowmobiling.
Racket sports – Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball.
Snow & winter – Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, XC Skate Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing.
Team sports – Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football/Soccer, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball.
In the ring – Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts.
Other activity profiles – Inline Skating, Gaming. Breathwork.
What this means is that pretty much whatever sport or activity you partake in, this watch will have you covered. Unfortunately, I don’t do all those sports so cannot do this watch justice in being able to write in detail about the watch’s performance in those activities.
Running Activity Monitor Experience
The primary sport I use my Garmin watch for is running, so I decided to put it through its paces doing that.
Points I noticed were that it was easy to configure the data fields to display that I wanted. On my older Garmin Forerunner 630, I was limited to a maximum of 4 fields that I could display. The Venu 4 could display a maximum of 7!
The touch screen was easy to navigate and select and update the required fields and the built-in heart rate monitor meant that not having to wear an external heart rate monitor across my chest was more comfortable.
I had previously mentioned the watch is not heavy, so it was barely noticeable when running. As I ticked off the miles, the watch provided a loud beep to indicate progress.
The buttons were easy to press and when I pressed the lap button (the bottom button on the bezel) there was a voice calling out the time. This was something I was not accustomed to but is a useful feature if you are using the lap counter when racing as you will know exactly your split without looking at your watch.
All-in-all, this watch’s superior performance, functionality and convenience meant that I would now be retiring my trusted Garmin Forerunner 630.
Battery Life
The 41mm and 45mm watches both have a lithium-ion battery. Due to their difference in size, it means there is a slight difference in battery life because the battery is smaller. What also impacts the battery is what mode you have the watch set to. For example, by default, the watches come in “Smartwatch Mode — Default Display Configuration.” This is where the watch face is not always on and requires the screen to be tapped to view the time. In this configuration, the battery life for the 41mm version is 10 days and for the 45mm one it is 12 days.
If you decide to have watch screens always on, the battery life will be significantly reduced to 3days (41mm) and 4 days (45mm).
When the watches are used in activity modes, particularly those where the GPS is used, the battery drains faster.
The fundamental takeaway though is that battery life is sufficient and that you won’t need to be charging your watch every day, even if you use the watch for training.
Price
The Venu 4 is priced at $549.99 in the US, $769.99 in Canada, $949 in Australia and £469.99 in the UK. The price reflects the sophistication of the product and the vast range of features that are on offer.
Summing up
The Garmin Venu 4 stands out as a versatile and stylish smartwatch, seamlessly blending advanced health monitoring features with a sleek design, making it an ideal companion for both fitness enthusiasts and everyday users alike. I have tried to cover the key points, but with its extensive range of features, it’s a challenge to cover every aspect. This watch not only meets but exceeds the demands of modern lifestyles, proving to be a worthy investment for anyone seeking a reliable and sophisticated wearable.
