Garmin Venu 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

A 1.34-inch Super AMOLED under sapphire crystal, now peaking at a brilliant 3,000 nits. It's smaller than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic's panel, so the screen-to-body ratio takes a hit behind the rotating bezel.

• The 1.34-inch Super AMOLED peaks at 3,000 nits — easily readable even in bright sun.
• Everyday Legends had zero visibility issues using the bright display in strong Florida sun.
• The display is smaller than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic's — the rotating bezel eats into the screen-to-body ratio.
• Sapphire crystal protects the panel — premium scratch resistance.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

The Classic carries the full Samsung health suite — the deepest of any Wear OS watch: ECG, blood pressure, body composition, SpO2, skin temperature, plus new Antioxidant Index, Vascular Load and AGEs metrics. Heart-rate accuracy during exercise is the weak spot, and ECG/BP need a Samsung phone.

• The deepest Wear OS health suite — ECG, blood pressure, body composition, SpO2 and skin temperature, plus new wellness metrics.
• New metrics — an Antioxidant Index, Vascular Load and an AGEs cellular-aging score — turn raw data into longer-term guidance.
• Heart-rate accuracy lags rivals — The Quantified Scientist found the Pixel Watch consistently tracks exercise heart rate better than the Galaxy Watch.
• ECG and blood pressure only work paired to a Samsung phone — a hard limitation for non-Samsung Android owners.
• DC Rainmaker notes the Watch 8 Classic isn't a big exercise-tracking upgrade over the Watch 6 Classic — buy it for the style, not the sensors.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

Samsung Health workout tracking with dual-frequency GPS, an adaptive Running Coach and automatic exercise detection. GPS accuracy is the best Samsung has managed yet — though still behind a dedicated sports watch.

• Dual-frequency GPS helps accuracy in cities and under tree cover — Everyday Legends calls it a big help for runners.
• GPS accuracy measured about 5.8% off outdoors — the best of any Samsung watch tested, though still behind an Apple Watch.
• A new adaptive Running Coach delivers real-time pacing and audio feedback during runs.
• Automatic workout detection works, and Samsung Health turns the raw numbers into practical insights.
• 5 ATM water resistance covers pool and open-water swimming.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

The Classic's larger 445mAh cell makes it the better-lasting Galaxy Watch 8 — Samsung rates 40 hours (always-on display off) / 30 hours (on), and real-world results comfortably reach ~2 days. A full charge takes around 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes.

• Endurance testing favors the Classic — The Product Reviewer ran it to 46 hours, comfortably handling two full days, and it lost only 12% overnight.
• Tech It Easy consistently gets 'just under 2 days' from the Classic — solid, though still a day behind the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
• The always-on display is the biggest battery drain — it can eat 40-50% of a day's charge.
• Heavier users see less — Everyday Legends got only a little over a day with everything enabled.
• A full 0-100% charge takes roughly 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 30 minutes via the 10W wireless puck — slower than rivals.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

One UI Watch 8 on Wear OS 6, running the 3nm Exynos W1000 with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Gemini is built into the wrist and works impressively well. The deepest features still need a Samsung phone, and there's no iOS support.

• One UI Watch 8 on Wear OS 6 — snappy and smooth on the 3nm Exynos W1000 chip.
• Gemini on the wrist works impressively well — Tech Spurt found it responding flawlessly even in loud environments.
• 64GB of storage — double the Galaxy Watch 7 — with room for plenty of offline music.
• It's Android-only — and the deepest health features need a Samsung phone specifically.
• Samsung still limits some choices — Tech Spurt found it 'proper annoying' that you can't easily set Google Wallet as the default for payments.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

A stainless-steel case with sapphire-crystal glass, rated 5 ATM plus IP68 and MIL-STD-810H. It holds up well — long-term reviewers report barely a scratch after months of heavy wear.

• 5 ATM plus IP68 and MIL-STD-810H — durable for swimming, showering and daily knocks.
• Sapphire crystal and the stainless-steel case hold up — long-term reviewers report barely a scratch after a month of heavy wear.
• The stainless-steel build feels weightier and sharper than the Galaxy Watch 7 — premium and built to last.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

Dual-frequency GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC payments. An optional LTE model adds standalone connectivity for about $50 more.

• Dual-frequency GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC — the full connectivity set.
• An optional LTE model adds standalone connectivity for roughly $50 more.
• Wi-Fi connectivity tested as solid and reliable in everyday use.

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.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic

At around $499.99 (rising to ~$549.99 for cellular), the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a premium-priced Wear OS watch. It's the most feature-rich and best-built Samsung watch short of the Ultra — but the OnePlus Watch 3 and Pixel Watch 4 both undercut it on, respectively, battery and value.

• Digital Trends' verdict: 'the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is the best smartwatch for most Android users.'
• It's priced around $499.99, rising to roughly $549.99 for the cellular model — a clear premium over rival Wear OS watches.
• TechRadar warmed to it fast — 'I love my Galaxy Watch 8 Classic after just two weeks with it.'
• vs the OnePlus Watch 3: MrMobile points out the cheaper OnePlus lasts over 4 days between charges and charges faster.
• Best for: Samsung phone owners who love the rotating bezel and want the most premium, feature-rich Wear OS watch — and can absorb the price.