Garmin Venu 3 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Which Smartwatch Is Worth Buying?

When you're choosing between two premium smartwatches that promise the world, the decision can get overwhelming. Especially when you're comparing titans like Garmin and Google, one built for serious fitness enthusiasts, the other designed to seamlessly integrate with your digital life.

The Garmin Venu 3 and Google Pixel Watch 3 sit in similar price ranges but approach smartwatch philosophy from completely different angles. On paper, they both offer compelling health tracking, sleek designs, and modern features. But dig deeper, and you'll find one prioritises endurance and fitness precision, while the other focuses on smart connectivity and Google ecosystem integration.

If you're torn between battery life champions and smart feature powerhouses, here's how these two stack up where it matters most.

1) Price and Value

The Garmin Venu 3 starts at $449.99 for the standard 45mm model, while the smaller Venu 3S (41mm) is priced at $399.99. These prices have remained relatively stable since launch, with occasional retailer discounts bringing them down by $50-100 during sales events.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes as well: the 41mm model starts at $349.99, while the larger 45mm version is priced at $399.99. Google often bundles promotional offers, including free bands or extended trials of Fitbit Premium.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 3 edges out with a lower entry price, but the value proposition depends heavily on your priorities. Garmin offers more specialised fitness features, while the Pixel Watch 3 provides better smart connectivity for the price.

2) Battery Life and Charging

This is where the two watches couldn't be more different. The Garmin Venu 3 boasts up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, and even with GPS tracking during workouts, it can stretch to 5-6 days of typical use. The Venu 3 has up to two weeks of battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting smartwatches available.

The Google Pixel Watch 3, running full Wear OS, delivers about 24-36 hours of battery life under normal use. With always-on display and heavy usage, you're looking at daily charging. However, it does support fast charging that can get you to 80% in about 55 minutes.

Winner: Garmin Venu 3 absolutely dominates here. If you hate charging your watch daily or want a device that can handle long camping trips, there's no contest.

3) Design and Build Quality

The Garmin Venu 3 sports a more traditional circular design with a bright AMOLED display, stainless steel bezel, and comes in multiple colourways, including Slate, Soft Gold, and Whitestone. It's built like a tank with 5 ATM water resistance and feels substantial on the wrist at 47g for the standard model.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 maintains Google's signature dome-shaped design with a circular AMOLED display and rotating crown. It's available in multiple finishes, including Matte Black, Polished Silver, and Champagne Gold. The build feels premium with an aluminium case and Gorilla Glass protection, weighing in at 37g (45mm model).

Both watches offer 5 ATM water resistance for swimming and feature always-on displays, but the Pixel Watch 3's domed glass creates a more premium aesthetic, while the Venu 3's flat display is more practical for outdoor visibility.

Winner: Tie, it comes down to personal preference. Pixel Watch 3 wins on premium aesthetics; Venu 3 wins on ruggedness and outdoor practicality.

4) Health and Fitness Features

Garmin's reputation in fitness tracking really comes through in the Venu 3. It offers metrics, including VO2 max, training readiness, recovery advisor, sleep coaching, and detailed workout analytics for over 30 sport profiles. The new addition of ECG readings, along with Garmin's signature Body Battery feature (which tracks daily energy levels to optimise training and recovery), makes it a comprehensive health companion.

The Google Pixel Watch 3 leverages Fitbit's health platform, offering solid fitness tracking with automatic workout detection, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress management. The integration with Google's AI provides personalised insights, and features like Safety Check add unique value. However, a Fitbit Premium subscription ($9.99/month) is still required for more personalised content, including guided workouts, advanced sleep analysis, and a detailed "Sleep Profile". The watch also features what Google calls Loss of Pulse Detection, a feature that can automatically call emergency services if it detects you've lost your pulse

Winner: Garmin Venu 3 for serious fitness enthusiasts. It provides more detailed, actionable fitness data without ongoing subscription fees.

5) Smart Features and Connectivity

This is where Google flexes its software muscle. The Pixel Watch 3 runs full Wear OS 5, offering access to the Google Play Store, Google Assistant, Google Pay, Gmail, Maps, and seamless integration with Android phones. You can respond to texts, take calls, and use hundreds of third-party apps.

The Garmin Venu 3 focuses on essential smart features: notifications, music storage (up to 2,100 songs), Garmin Pay, and basic responses to texts. It recently added the ability to make and receive calls when connected to your phone, but the overall smart experience is more limited compared to Wear OS.

Winner: Google Pixel Watch 3 clearly dominates smart features and app ecosystem integration.

6) Compatibility and Ecosystem Integration

The Google Pixel Watch 3 is designed primarily for Android users and integrates seamlessly with Google services. While it technically works with iPhones, the experience is limited. The deep integration with Pixel phones offers unique features like Camera Remote and Find My Device.

The Garmin Venu 3 works with both Android and iOS equally well through the Garmin Connect app. It doesn't favour any particular ecosystem, making it a more platform-agnostic choice. The Garmin Connect ecosystem is robust for fitness data but limited for general smart features.

Winner: Depends on your setup. Pixel Watch 3 for Google/Android users, Venu 3 for cross-platform compatibility and iOS users.

7) Display and User Interface

Both watches feature vibrant AMOLED displays, but with different approaches. The Garmin Venu 3 offers a 1.4-inch display (1.2-inch on 3S) with excellent outdoor visibility and customizable watch faces through Garmin's Connect IQ store.

The Pixel Watch 3 features a 1.4-inch display (41mm) or 1.45-inch (45mm) with Google's refined Wear OS interface. The rotating crown provides smooth navigation, and the UI feels more modern and smartphone-like.

The Venu 3's interface is more fitness-focused with quick access to workout modes and health metrics, while the Pixel Watch 3 prioritises app access and smart notifications.

Winner: Tie. Venu 3 for fitness-first interface and outdoor visibility; Pixel Watch 3 for modern, intuitive smart interface.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

At similar price points, these watches serve different masters. The Garmin Venu 3 is perfect for fitness enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and anyone who prioritises battery life above all else. Its health tracking, incredible endurance, and platform independence make it ideal for active users who want a watch that keeps up with their lifestyle without constant charging.

The Google Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, is designed for the connected user who wants their wrist to be an extension of their smartphone. Its smart features, app ecosystem, and seamless Google integration make it perfect for tech-savvy users who can live with daily charging in exchange for comprehensive connectivity.

Choose the Venu 3 if you value fitness precision, incredible battery life, and cross-platform compatibility. Choose the Pixel Watch 3 if you prioritise smart features, Google ecosystem integration, and don't mind daily charging.

In the end, it's not about which is objectively better; it's about which philosophy aligns with how you want to use your smartwatch.