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All those leaks I wasn’t too sure about, were pretty much accurate. Today Garmin launched a new watch to their line-up, the Garmin Venu. They probably could have called it a Vivoactive 4 Pro or something, as technically it is the same watch, but different display. I think it is a sensible move from Garmin, avoiding damaging the reputation of a current model if the AMOLED display doesn’t work out.
Some of the key features that both watches share include:
- Keep an eye on your health 24/7 with Pulse Ox and Body Battery energy monitor features and by tracking your respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, heart rate, hydration and more
- Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from your Spotify, Amazon Music or Deezer account, and connect with headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening
- Record all the ways to move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming and more
- Get easy-to-follow, animated workouts right on your watch screen, including strength, cardio, yoga and Pilates
Display
The key difference is that the Venu uses an AMOLED display which runs at a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels.
The Vivoeactive LCD display runs at just 218 x 218 pixels.
It doesn’t sound like a huge difference but the end result is very different, I will get more hands-on time with them tomorrow and get side by side comparisons, but the Venu will be much brighter with more accurate colours.
This all comes at a cost though, battery drain is greater, so by default the AMOLED display will switch off when not in use.
Design
vivoactive 4, Small, White/Rosegold
Beyond the display, there is not a huge difference between the design. I will get real-life comparisons tomorrow but for now, the above press release photos shows you the difference.
Weight and Dimensions
The Venu has dimensions of 432 x 43.2 x 12.4 mm Fits wrists with a circumference of 125-190 mm with a display of 30.4 mm diameter and a weight of 46.3 g.
The Vivoactive 4 has two models which sit either side in terms of dimensions. The 4S is 40 x 40 x 12.7 mm and fits wrists with a circumference of 110-175 mm with a display of 27.9mm and weighing 40.0g.
The Vivoactive 4 is 45.1 x 45.1 x 12.8 mm and fits wrists with a circumference of 135-200 mm with a display of 33.0 mm and weighs 50.5 g.
Battery
The Venu has a battery life of up to 6 days in smartwatch mode and up to 6 hours in GPS + music mode. However, from what I can gather, this is in the default mode of the screen switching off, always on will take more of a toll on the battery.
The vívoactive 4 (45mm) has a battery life of up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 6 hours in GPS + music mode. The vívoactive 4S (40mm) has a battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 5 hours in GPS + music mode.
Price
The Venu has a suggested RRP in the UK and Ireland is between £299 and £329.99 (€349.99 and €379.99) depending on the model.
The Vivoactive 4 has a suggested RRP in the UK and Ireland is £259.99 and £279.99
So not a huge difference, and you would need to weigh up the pros and cons of having that AMOLED display.
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I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
