Quick Verdict

Garmin Venu 3 and Apple Watch SE 3 represent two philosophies of fitness smartwatches. Garmin prioritizes deep health analytics, exceptional battery life, and subscription-free ownership. Apple prioritizes ecosystem integration, smartwatch capabilities, and gamified fitness motivation. Health enthusiasts and multi-platform users choose Garmin. iPhone users who want a smartwatch that tracks fitness choose Apple.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Health & Fitness Tracking

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Garmin's Elevate V5 sensor provides more accurate heart rate data, especially during high-intensity workouts. Body Battery, Training Readiness, and HRV Status offer deeper recovery insights than Apple's metrics.

Apple Watch SE 3 tracks the essentials well: heart rate, workouts, Activity rings. The new Workout Buddy AI provides spoken motivation. But the metrics aren't as comprehensive for serious athletes.

For training analytics depth, Garmin wins significantly.

Smartwatch Features

Winner: Apple Watch SE 3

Apple Watch delivers a true smartwatch experience: vast App Store, complete notification handling, Siri, Apple Pay, and cellular connectivity option. For daily life beyond fitness, Apple excels.

Garmin Venu 3 includes basics: calls via Bluetooth, notifications, Garmin Pay, music storage. But the app selection is limited, and the experience is fitness-first, smartwatch-second.

For smartwatch functionality, Apple wins decisively.

Battery Life

Winner: Garmin Venu 3 (overwhelmingly)

Garmin Venu 3: 10-14 days with always-on display off, 5 days with AOD enabled. Apple Watch SE 3: 18-24 hours typical use.

This isn't close. Garmin's battery life means weekly charging at most. Apple Watch requires daily charging. For travel, outdoor activities, or anyone who dislikes charging routines, Garmin's advantage is enormous.

Ecosystem Integration

Winner: Apple Watch SE 3 (for iPhone users)

Apple Watch SE 3's integration with iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods is seamless. Unlock your Mac, control Apple TV, find your iPhone, hand off tasks between devices. The ecosystem value is substantial.

Garmin works with any phone but lacks deep integration. Garmin Connect syncs with Strava, Apple Health, and other apps, but it's not the same as native ecosystem features.

For iPhone users, Apple wins. For Android or platform-agnostic users, Garmin's independence is a feature.

Sleep Tracking

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Garmin's sleep tracking includes sleep stages, HRV status, and Sleep Coach with personalized bedtime recommendations. The Venu 3 even detects naps and incorporates them into recovery calculations.

Apple Watch SE 3's sleep tracking is basic: time asleep, sleep stages, respiratory rate. No sleep score or coaching. Apple Fitness+ adds some content, but the tracking itself is less comprehensive.

For sleep optimization, Garmin provides more actionable data.

Display & Design

Winner: Tie

Both feature beautiful AMOLED displays. Garmin offers a larger 1.4-inch screen at 454x454 resolution. Apple's display is slightly smaller but equally vibrant. Both are readable in sunlight.

Design is subjective. Apple Watch's iconic square shape is instantly recognizable. Garmin's round watch face looks more like a traditional timepiece. Both are well-built with premium materials.

Pricing & Total Cost

Winner: Garmin Venu 3 (long-term)

Apple Watch SE 3: $249-299 with no required subscription. Apple Fitness+ optional at $10/month. Garmin Venu 3: $450 with no subscription ever. Garmin Connect+ optional at $7/month.

Upfront, Apple is cheaper. Over two years with typical subscriptions:

• Apple with Fitness+: $249 + $240 = $489
• Garmin with Connect+: $450 + $168 = $618
• Apple without subscription: $249
• Garmin without subscription: $450

Apple is cheaper if you skip Fitness+. Garmin is cheaper than Apple with Fitness+ over time. Both offer complete experiences without subscriptions.

Workout Modes & GPS

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Garmin includes 30+ built-in sport profiles with detailed metrics for each. GPS accuracy is excellent with multi-band support. Training load, VO2 max, and performance analytics rival dedicated running watches.

Apple Watch SE 3 handles common workouts well but with less specialized metrics. GPS is good but not quite Garmin-level in challenging environments.

For serious athletes, Garmin's sports features are more comprehensive.

When to Choose Garmin Venu 3

Garmin Venu 3 is the right choice when:

• Health metrics depth matters: Body Battery, HRV Status, Training Readiness
• Battery life is priority: Charge once a week instead of every night
• You use Android: Full features without iPhone
• Subscription-free preferred: Everything included upfront
• Serious about fitness: Detailed training analytics
• Sleep tracking important: Comprehensive sleep insights

When to Choose Apple Watch SE 3

Apple Watch SE 3 is the right choice when:

• iPhone is your primary phone: Ecosystem integration is unmatched
• Smartwatch features matter: Apps, Siri, comprehensive notifications
• Activity rings motivate you: Gamified daily fitness goals
• Budget is constrained: $200 cheaper upfront
• Safety features needed: Crash detection, fall detection, Emergency SOS
• You want Workout Buddy AI: Personalized spoken motivation

Final Recommendation

Choose Garmin Venu 3 if you prioritize health tracking depth and battery life over smartwatch features. The comprehensive metrics, multi-day battery, and subscription-free model make it the better pure fitness watch. Android users and anyone tired of daily charging should go Garmin.

Choose Apple Watch SE 3 if you're an iPhone user who wants a smartwatch that also tracks fitness well. The ecosystem integration, App Store, and Activity rings gamification create a compelling daily-wear experience. Just accept daily charging as part of the deal.

The Venu 3 is the better fitness tracker. The SE 3 is the better smartwatch. Your priority determines the winner.