Garmin recently introduced their midrange popular smartwatch, the Venu 3, boasting some impressive new features.
It’s now squaring up against renowned smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 6, Apple Watch Series 9, and notably, the Fossil Gen 6.
Despite its lower price point – nearly half of the Venu 3’s – the Fossil Gen 6 stands out, exuding style as one of the top Wear OS watches available.
Are you caught in a dilemma between these two? We’re here to clear the fog.
In this article, we’ll contrast the Garmin Venu 3 vs Fossil Gen 6, honing in on their specifications to shed light on their differences and steer you toward the right choice.
Garmin Venu 3 vs Fossil Gen 6: Pricing
Let’s start with the cost. The Garmin Venu 3 and the Fossil Gen 6 offer compelling features at different prices.
The Garmin Venu 3 comes in two sizes, the 45mm and the 41mm, with both models priced at $449.99. This price consistency is a notable feature, offering users a choice based on their wrist size rather than their budget.
On the other hand, the Fossil Gen 6 presents a more budget-friendly option, with the standard model starting at $299 / £279 / AU$410 and a slightly pricier variant with a stainless steel watch band at $319 / £299 / AU$439.
This price difference might be a significant factor for those looking for a capable smartwatch without breaking the bank.
Where to Buy?
Garmin Venu 3:
- Garmin Venu 3: View on Amazon
- Garmin Venu 3S: View on Amazon
Fossil Gen 6:
- View on Amazon
Garmin Venu 3 vs Fossil Gen 6: Specs Comparison
| Product | Garmin Venu 3 | Fossil Gen 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Shape: Round Body: Fiber-reinforced polymer Strap: Silicone | Round Stainless steel bezel |
| Display | 41mm: 1.4 inch AMOLED 45mm: 1.2 inch AMOLED | 1.28-inch AMOLED |
| Resolution | 41mm: 390 x 390 pixels 45mm: 454 x 454 pixels | 416×416 pixels |
| Dimension | 41mm: 41 x 41 x 12 mm 45mm: 45 x 45 x 12 mm | 42 x 42 x 12mm |
| Weight | 41mm: 40 g 45mm: 47 g | 43 g |
| Storage | 8GB | 8GB |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Software | Garmin OS | Wear OS |
| Sensors | GARMIN ELEVATE WRIST HEART RATE MONITOR, PULSE OX BLOOD OXYGEN, Altimeter, Compass, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient Light sensor, Temperature Sensor | HRM, accelerometer, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, off-body IR, SpO2, ambient light sensor |
| Onboard GPS | GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo | GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO |
| Speaker & Mic | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Garmin Pay | Google Pay |
| Water Resistance | 5ATM | 3ATM |
| Battery Life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 14 days (5 days display always-on) Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 26 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours | 1 day |
| Price | Both: $449.99 | starting at $199 |
Related:
- Fossil Gen 6 vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus: Which should you buy?
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 vs Fossil Gen 6: Which Should You Buy?
- Garmin Venu 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Tough Fight!
Garmin Venu 3 vs Fossil Gen 6: In-Depth Review
Design & Display
In terms of design and display, both watches have their unique appeal.
The Garmin Venu 3 boasts a sleek and stylish look, offering two different sizes to cater to various wrist sizes.
Its AMOLED screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, stainless steel case, and a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel blend durability and aesthetics.
The Fossil Gen 6, on the other hand, retains a familiar black-cased, round smartwatch design that we’ve seen in its predecessors.
While it hasn’t undergone a radical design change, subtle alterations include more pronounced pusher buttons and a distinctive ridge on the bezel. Despite these tweaks, the Fossil Gen 6 maintains its classy appearance.
Health Features
Regarding health and fitness tracking, the Garmin Venu 3 stands out with its advanced sleep features.
It introduces Sleep Coach, which offers personalized sleep advice by incorporating your exercise and recovery data into a new graph.
Additionally, it automatically tracks naps, seamlessly integrating them into your recovery algorithm.
Beyond these features, the Garmin Venu 3 continues to provide detailed sleep insights, including skin temperature and heart rate variability tracking.
Moreover, it caters to wheelchair users with workout profiles tailored to their needs, offering metrics like the number of pushes per day and lateral movement alerts, accompanied by on-wrist animated workouts—a first in Garmin’s lineup.
The Fossil Gen 6, while not primarily a fitness-focused smartwatch, still offers health-tracking capabilities.
It includes a SpO2 sensor to monitor blood oxygen levels, providing essential health insights. Additionally, an upgraded heart rate sensor ensures accurate and periodic tracking.
However, Fossil relies more on third-party apps, specifically Google Fit, for exercise and health data tracking.
This means you need to use external apps for comprehensive fitness tracking.
While Fossil Gen 6 offers basic health tracking features, it doesn’t match the specialized health and fitness offerings of the Garmin Venu 3.
OS & Compatibility
Both smartwatches operate on different operating systems and have distinct compatibility options.
The Garmin Venu 3 runs on Garmin’s proprietary OS and is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, offering versatility for users across various smartphone platforms.
The Fossil Gen 6 runs on Wear OS 2, with an anticipated upgrade to Wear OS 3, which combines Google’s Wear OS with Samsung’s Tizen OS. This update is expected to enhance the overall smartwatch experience.
Therefore, choosing the two watches might depend on your smartphone ecosystem and design preferences.
Other Features
Beyond health and fitness tracking, both watches offer a range of additional features.
The Garmin Venu 3 impresses with its comprehensive approach. It features a built-in speaker and microphone, allowing you to take calls directly on your wrist. This feature brings convenience and connectivity to a new level.
Moreover, it introduces wheelchair-based workout profiles, catering to a previously underserved audience with customized workouts and insightful metrics.
Interval workout creation for running and cycling enhances its versatility, appealing to fitness enthusiasts.
The Garmin Venu 3 aims to provide a holistic smartwatch experience, from health tracking to communication and fitness support.
The Fossil Gen 6, while less feature-rich than the Garmin Venu 3, brings noteworthy improvements to its predecessor.
Powered by the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus chipset, it boasts 30% faster speeds than the Fossil Gen 5, resulting in smooth and responsive performance.
With 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage, it can efficiently handle various apps and data storage needs.
While it may lack some first-party software, it relies on Google Fit apps for fitness tracking, providing essential exercise and health monitoring.
Furthermore, the Fossil Gen 6 maintains its design aesthetics with subtle alterations, such as broader pusher buttons and a distinct bezel ridge, enhancing its overall industrial look.
Battery Life
The Garmin Venu 3 impresses with its long-lasting battery performance. The 45mm version offers up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, making it suitable for users who prefer extended usage without frequent charging.
Even when utilizing GPS, it can last up to 26 hours, ensuring reliability during outdoor activities.
The 41mm version, while slightly shorter in battery life, still provides an impressive 10 days in smartwatch mode and 21 hours with GPS.
In contrast, the Fossil Gen 6 faces some challenges in the battery department.
It typically lasts about a day with regular use, which is comparatively shorter than other smartwatches in the market.
However, Fossil addresses this limitation with a faster charger included in the package.
This charger can replenish the battery from zero to full in under an hour, making it convenient for users who need a quick top-up during the day.
Therefore, while the Fossil Gen 6 may not offer extended battery life, its fast-charging capability somewhat mitigates this drawback.
Garmin Venu 3 vs Fossil Gen 6: Which Should You Buy?
Buy Garmin Venu 3 if:
- You prioritize advanced sleep tracking and personalized sleep advice.
- You are a wheelchair user and require specialized workout profiles and metrics.
- Long battery life is essential for your usage, offering up to 14 days in smartwatch mode.
Buy Fossil Gen 6 if:
- You are on a budget and seeking a more affordable option.
- Design aesthetics and style are a top priority for your smartwatch choice.
- You prefer fast and responsive performance with the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus chipset.
- You are okay with shorter battery life but appreciate the convenience of fast charging.
