Garmin Venu 3 vs Google Pixel Watch 3

Garmin Venu 3

1.4-inch AMOLED on the Venu 3, 1.2-inch on the Venu 3S. Bright, vibrant, sharp. Always-on display supported. Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

• 1.4-inch AMOLED (Venu 3) — bright, vibrant, sharp. The smaller Venu 3S uses a 1.2-inch panel.
• Always-on display supported — informative without raising the wrist, with manageable battery cost.
• AMOLED is a highlight of the Venu line — vibrant colors set it apart from Garmin's transflective-display models.
• Gorilla Glass 3 protection — standard scratch resistance for the price tier.
• Readable in daylight — adequate brightness for outdoor workouts, though not the 3,000-nit level of Apple/Samsung flagships.

Google Pixel Watch 3

Actua AMOLED display — up to 2,000 nits peak brightness, ultra-thin bezels. The 45mm has 40% more usable screen than the Pixel Watch 2. Always-on display.

• The 45mm model has 40% more usable screen than the Pixel Watch 2 — Ars Technica confirms 'the Pixel Watch 3 45mm boasts 40 percent more usable screen space.'
• Actua display — up to 2,000 nits peak brightness, double the Pixel Watch 2.
• Ultra-thin bezels (16% thinner) — a more modern, immersive look than the Pixel Watch 2.
• Always-on display supported — informative without raising the wrist.
• Readable in sunlight — the 2,000-nit brightness is adequate for outdoor workouts (the Pixel Watch 4 later pushed to 3,000 nits).

Garmin Venu 3

Elevate Gen 4 optical HR, SpO2, ECG, HRV Status, skin temperature, Body Battery, Sleep Coach, nap detection. The Venu 3's wellness suite is the deepest in any Garmin — a genuine Oura/Whoop alternative.

• Trusted Reviews: 'the best interpretation of wellness data I've seen on a Garmin so far, and a great alternative to Oura and Whoop.'
• ECG app — available on the Venu 3 (set up via the Garmin Connect app); a clinical-grade health feature.
• Sleep Coach + nap detection — Garmin's most advanced sleep features; nap detection was new to the Venu 3.
• Body Battery + HRV Status + skin temperature — Garmin's full wellness + recovery analytics suite.
• Elevate Gen 4 optical HR — reliable for steady-state; like all wrist optical HR, less accurate than a chest strap for intervals.

Google Pixel Watch 3

Multi-path optical HR, ECG, SpO2, skin temperature, cEDA continuous stress, plus the new FDA-cleared Loss of Pulse Detection. Fitbit-powered sleep + readiness.

• FDA-cleared Loss of Pulse Detection — the Pixel Watch 3 introduced the feature; auto-calls emergency services if no heartbeat is detected.
• Multi-path optical HR sensor — reliable heart-rate tracking carried from the Pixel Watch 2.
• ECG + SpO2 + skin temperature + cEDA continuous stress — the full Fitbit health sensor suite.
• Fitbit sleep tracking + Daily Readiness — detailed sleep stages and a recovery score.
• Best Fitbit analytics (Daily Readiness, advanced sleep insights) gated behind a Fitbit Premium subscription.

Garmin Venu 3

80+ sport profiles + Garmin's training analytics + Morning Report + meditation/breathwork. Capable for everyday fitness; serious athletes still want the Forerunner/Fenix depth and maps.

• 80+ sport profiles — DC Rainmaker confirms 'roughly 80 sport profiles' shared across Garmin's sub-$1,000 lineup.
• New wheelchair mode — accessibility-focused activity tracking; counts pushes instead of steps.
• Morning Report + daily suggested workouts — Garmin's coaching guidance, tuned toward everyday fitness rather than hardcore performance.
• Meditation + breathwork activities — wellness-focused features that fit the Venu 3's everyday-health positioning.
• 5 ATM water resistance — pool + open-water swim tracking supported.

Google Pixel Watch 3

Holistic running guidance — Google's 'Plan, Run, Reflect': custom runs, real-time interval coaching, AI run recommendations, Cardio Load, a running dashboard. The Pixel Watch 3's headline upgrade.

• Holistic running guidance — Wired: Google's 'Plan, Run, Reflect' umbrella in the Fitbit app, the Pixel Watch 3's headline software feature.
• Custom runs + real-time interval guidance — build a workout on the phone or watch and get pacing feedback mid-run.
• Daily AI-powered run recommendations + a running dashboard — advanced running analysis through the Fitbit app.
• Cardio Load + Target Load — Fitbit's training-load metrics guide workout intensity and recovery.
• Built-in GPS + 5 ATM water resistance — standalone outdoor tracking and pool/open-water swim support.

Garmin Venu 3

Up to 14 days smartwatch mode on the Venu 3 (~10 days on the smaller 3S). Garmin's signature multi-week battery — Trusted Reviews calls it 'set-and-forget.'

• Up to 14 days smartwatch mode (Venu 3) — Trusted Reviews: 'a true set-and-forget smartwatch that can go the distance.'
• ~10 days on the smaller Venu 3S — still multi-week-class for a compact watch.
• The Verge notes Garmin watches 'last weeks on a single charge' — a core advantage over Apple/Samsung.
• Proprietary Garmin USB-C charging cable — no Qi wireless charging.
• AOD on reduces battery noticeably — but even with always-on enabled, multi-day life is comfortably retained.

Google Pixel Watch 3

24 hours with the always-on display on, ~36 hours in Battery Saver. Fast charging. Daily charging still required.

• 24 hours with the always-on display on — carried over from the Pixel Watch 2's battery fix.
• ~36 hours in Battery Saver mode — extends battery for travel or overnight sleep tracking.
• Fast charging — a quick top-up before bed covers overnight sleep tracking.
• Snapdragon W5 chip — same as the Pixel Watch 2; the Pixel Watch 4 later improved battery via architecture changes, not a new chip.
• Still requires daily charging — far short of Garmin's multi-week endurance or the OnePlus Watch's multi-day life.

Garmin Venu 3

Garmin OS + Garmin Connect + Connect IQ store. Built-in speaker + microphone for voice calls and a voice assistant. Garmin Pay. Works with iOS + Android.

• Built-in speaker + microphone — on-watch voice calls (via a connected phone) and a voice assistant; a notable Venu 3 addition.
• Garmin OS + Connect IQ store — apps, watch faces, data fields.
• Android Authority notes Garmin's app catalog is thinner than Wear OS — 'Garmin makes the best smartwatches that I can't wear every day,' partly an app-ecosystem critique.
• Garmin Pay — contactless payments via NFC.
• Works with both iOS and Android — cross-platform, unlike Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch.

Google Pixel Watch 3

Wear OS 5 with Fitbit integration, Google Assistant, Google Wallet, Google Maps, full Play Store. New Morning Brief. Tight Pixel-phone integration. Android-only.

• Wear OS 5 — full Play Store, Google Wallet, Google Maps, Spotify; a complete Wear OS experience.
• Deep Fitbit integration — Fitbit is the Pixel Watch's health + running-analytics backbone.
• Morning Brief — a daily summary of sleep, readiness, weather, and schedule on the watch.
• Google Assistant on the wrist — voice queries, reminders, smart-home control.
• Android-only — no iOS compatibility; best paired with a Pixel phone.

Garmin Venu 3

5 ATM (50m) water resistance. Gorilla Glass 3 + metal bezel. Fiber-reinforced polymer case. Durable for everyday wear and swim tracking — not adventure-rated like the Fenix.

• 5 ATM (50m static) water resistance — pool + open-water swim rated.
• Gorilla Glass 3 + metal bezel — standard durability for the price tier.
• Fiber-reinforced polymer case — lightweight and durable for everyday and overnight wear.
• Not adventure-rated like the Fenix — no MIL-STD certification; this is a wellness watch, not an expedition tool.

Google Pixel Watch 3

5 ATM (50m) water resistance + IP68 dust/water. Gorilla Glass domed cover. Recycled-aluminum case. Durable for everyday wear.

• 5 ATM (50m static) water resistance + IP68 dust/water rating — pool + open-water swim rated.
• Gorilla Glass domed cover — standard scratch resistance for the price; no sapphire.
• Recycled-aluminum case — durable and light for everyday wear.
• Sealed case — not repairable like the later Pixel Watch 4; a damaged unit means a replacement.

Garmin Venu 3

Single-frequency GPS, NFC for Garmin Pay, Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi. No LTE, no on-watch maps. Phone required for connectivity and the voice features.

• Single-frequency GPS — accurate for everyday tracking; not the multi-band precision of the Forerunner/Fenix tiers.
• No on-watch maps — the Venu line has never had mapping; for navigation, step up to a Forerunner or Fenix.
• ANT+ + Bluetooth — pair chest straps, footpods, and cycling sensors.
• NFC for Garmin Pay + Wi-Fi for sync.
• No LTE — phone required for connectivity; voice calls route through the connected phone.

Google Pixel Watch 3

Built-in GPS, optional LTE, NFC for Google Wallet, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, Ultra-Wideband. No multi-band GPS, no satellite messaging.

• Built-in GPS — standalone outdoor tracking; single-frequency (multi-band arrived on the Pixel Watch 4 45mm).
• Optional LTE — standalone calls, texts, and music streaming without the phone.
• Ultra-Wideband chip — Precision Finding for compatible Pixel phones.
• NFC for Google Wallet + Bluetooth 5.3 + Wi-Fi — standard Wear OS connectivity stack.
• No satellite messaging — that arrived on the Pixel Watch 4.

Garmin Venu 3

$449.99 launch, now widely discounted (Trusted Reviews documented £299). Competes with the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, and Oura/Whoop for wellness tracking.

• $449.99 launch price — now widely discounted; Trusted Reviews documented a £299 price.
• Trusted Reviews: 'one of the few smartwatches that we can genuinely recommend to everyone.'
• vs Oura / Whoop: the Venu 3 is a one-time purchase with no subscription — Trusted Reviews calls it 'a great alternative to Oura and Whoop.'
• vs Apple Watch / Galaxy Watch / Pixel Watch: Garmin wins on battery (14 days vs 1-2 days) + wellness depth; the others win on app ecosystem + LTE + smartwatch polish.
• Best for: anyone who wants Garmin's best wellness + sleep tracking with multi-week battery, voice calls, and an AMOLED screen — and doesn't need maps or hardcore training analytics.

Google Pixel Watch 3

$349 (41mm) / $399 (45mm) launch. Now heavily discounted (41mm Wi-Fi seen at $169.99). Competes with the Galaxy Watch and (for iOS) the Apple Watch.

• $349 (41mm) / $399 (45mm) launch — the same pricing structure as the Pixel Watch 2's single size, now with a size choice.
• Now heavily discounted — The Verge documents the 41mm Wi-Fi model at $169.99, 'the cheapest it's ever been.'
• Digital Trends tagged it 'the best smartwatch for Android' of its year — and a strong value at discount.
• Now superseded by the Pixel Watch 4 — which adds repairability, a curved 3,000-nit display, and satellite SOS.
• Best for: Android users (especially Pixel-phone owners) who want a Pixel Watch with a size choice and strong running features — and find the Pixel Watch 3 discounted.