Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Venu – a comparison of the iconic series
Garmin
Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Venu – a comparison of the iconic series
Garmin smartwatches are now world-famous. It's no surprise, given that every year, they consistently surpass our expectations with their exceptional quality and expanding range of features. However, this time our attention is drawn to two particular series: the Vivoactive 4 and the Venu. At first glance, they might appear similar, but upon closer examination, they reveal distinct differences. Discover where their differences lie and which series will better match your expectations.
Table of Contents:
- Visual differences between Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Garmin Venu
- A comparison of Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Garmin Venu
- The battery in Vivoactive 4 and Venu smartwatches
- Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Venu for athletes
- Additional features of Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Venu smartwatches
- Vivoactive 4 and Venu – which one to choose?
Visual differences between Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Garmin Venu
Let's start with the screen. Both series feature touchscreen displays, complemented by two buttons for navigation. In addition to offering a variety of training functions, both series provide the convenience of contactless payments and the ability to play music directly from the watch. In fact, the Vivoactive 4 and Venu series are very similar, which is perhaps why it's somewhat challenging to see their differences at first glance – although differences do indeed exist! The aim of this post is to shed light on these variations.
A comparison of Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Garmin Venu
Each model has its own individual size, and consequently different screen resolutions. Within the Vivoactive 4 series, there's a smaller variant known as the Vivoactive 4s. The Garmin Vivoactive watch features a MIP display, while the Venu employs an AMOLED display, renowned for its vibrant colour intensity. Both series incorporate a built-in barometric altimeter, enhancing the accuracy of pressure-based altitude tracking. With a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, both Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Garmin Venu can handle prolonged exposure to water. Both smartwatches are fitted with a pulse oximeter, which facilitates the measurement of blood oxygen saturation.
The battery in Vivoactive 4 and Venu smartwatches
As you're aware, the battery life of the selected smartwatches holds immense importance. Is the difference in battery life between the Vivoactive 4 and Venu very noticeable? The Vivoactive 4 series exhibits the longest endurance in smartwatch mode, lasting up to 8 days, closely followed by the Vivoactive 4s at 7 days, and the Venu at 5 days. In the GPS mode, the Venu takes the lead with an impressive 18 to 20 hours of operation, followed by the Vivoactive 4, which offers 16 to 18 hours, and the Vivoactive 4s which offers 12 to 13 hours. When GPS with music enabled, the differences become more subtle: both the Venu and Vivoactive 4 can operate for 6 hours, while the Vivoactive 4s can run for 5 hours. Notably, the Venu series boasts a screen blanking feature, contributing to potential energy savings that might account for the variance in running lengths.
Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Venu for athletes
The standard feature of Garmin watches is all-day activity tracking, e.g. step count, floors climbed, 24-hour heart rate monitoring, stress level measurement, and body energy tracking. Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Garmin Venu watches will work well for both indoor and outdoor workouts (GPS+Glonass+Galileo). An added bonus is that you can upload your own personalised workout plans, as well as those ready to download from the Garmin Connect app. The number of sports modes available is truly impressive. Furthermore, you can tailor the data layout and displayed values to align precisely with your preferences.
Additional features of Garmin Vivoactive 4 and Venu smartwatches
Let's start with Garmin Pay. The convenience of making purchases by simply bringing your watch close is something that will definitely make a difference in your everyday life. Setting it up is a breeze – all you need to do is input the relevant data, and you're good to go! In cases where the heart rate reading from the sensor is lost, a PIN entry is required on the watch to authorise such payments. This extra layer of security ensures that unauthorised individuals can't access this feature, particularly in situations where the device is lost.
Moreover, you can enjoy listening to music directly from the watch. You can either upload your own tracks or connect to popular music platforms like Spotify or Deezer. For those who like listening to various stories, the manufacturer has included the option to play podcasts and audiobooks as well. And of course, let's not overlook the ability to receive app, text, and call notifications from your phone.
Vivoactive 4 and Venu – which one to choose?
It's evident that both series are impressive in terms of their features. However, can we definitively declare one as superior? Probably not. As previously mentioned, the Venu boasts a higher-quality display and, naturally, different dimensions and battery life. Yet, the final decision hinges on personal preferences. What remains clear is that every Garmin smartwatch deserves careful consideration. Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific expectations in terms of functionality and design.
