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SMARTWATCH GUIDE 2025

Your day.
Smarter companion.

The Venu® 3S combines an AMOLED display, GPS, heart-rate monitoring, 30+ sports modes and up to 10 days of battery life in an elegant 41 mm case — a well-judged companion for sport, health and everyday life.

10-day battery life 30+ sports modes AMOLED display
€299
Garmin Venu 3S smartwatch French Gray Softgold – front view
10 Days of battery
30+ Sports modes
41 mm Case size
GPS GLONASS & Galileo

Everything at a glance — the key features

From health tracking to NFC payments: this smartwatch covers a broad range of everyday and sporting needs.

AMOLED colour display

The 1.2-inch OLED-based AMOLED display shows vivid colours at high brightness. It can be controlled by touch or with a physical button and stays easy to read in sunlight.

Up to 10 days of battery

The built-in 220 mAh li-ion battery delivers up to 10 days of use in normal smartwatch mode, so frequent charging is largely a thing of the past.

Heart-rate monitoring

The optical wrist sensor measures your heart rate continuously and displays heart-rate zones for targeted training. Note: not a medical device.

Sleep tracking

The watch records sleep duration, sleep stages (light, deep and REM sleep) and overall sleep quality. A built-in sleep coach and nap detection round out the feature.

BodyBattery™ 2.0

BodyBattery™ 2.0 shows your current energy reserves based on heart-rate variability, stress level and sleep quality, so you can follow your energy status through the day.

Built-in GPS

Built-in GPS combines the GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite systems for accurate positioning. A barometric altimeter and compass complete the navigation package.

Garmin Pay (NFC)

Garmin Pay lets you pay contactlessly at NFC-enabled tills — straight from the watch, without taking out your phone or wallet.

Garmin Music

Music can be stored on the watch itself and played without a phone, so your favourite tracks come along on every workout — even when the phone stays at home.

Smart Notifications

Calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, emails, calendar events and app notifications appear directly on the watch. Incoming calls can be answered or rejected over the Bluetooth connection.

Garmin Venu 3S during exercise – side view
30+ SPORTS MODES

Built for sport and movement

With over 30 built-in sports modes, this smartwatch tracks almost any activity accurately. Running, cycling, swimming or yoga — each sport is recorded with the metrics that suit it, so your training progress stays easy to follow.

The built-in GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) records routes and distances without a phone. Garmin Coach delivers animated workouts straight to the watch, while Training Effect and the recovery advisor help you keep effort and recovery in balance.

Golf 🏃 Running 🚴 Cycling 🏊 Swimming ⛷️ Skiing 🥾 Hiking 🧘 Yoga + more

Garmin Coach: Animated workouts and training plans straight on the watch

Training Effect: Shows the aerobic and anaerobic impact of every session

Recovery advisor: Shows the recommended recovery time after training

Sleep and wellbeing at a glance

The watch records and displays health-related readings — as personal guidance, not as a medical diagnosis.

Sleep tracking

The watch records sleep duration and sleep stages — light, deep and REM sleep — and presents sleep quality clearly. A built-in sleep coach gives guidance on sleep consistency, and nap detection also picks up shorter rest periods during the day.

Stress level display

Stress level is measured continuously and shown on the watch. The display helps you spot particularly stressful periods during the day and plan breaks where needed. The measurement is based on heart-rate variability.

BodyBattery™ 2.0

BodyBattery™ 2.0 shows your current energy reserves based on heart-rate variability, measured stress level and sleep quality. The value gives an indication of when your body is rested or drained — not a medical product.

Full specifications

FeatureValue
Product typeSmartwatch
DisplayAMOLED colour display, OLED technology
TouchscreenYes
Screen size1.2 inches / 3.48 cm
ControlsTouch + button
Case materialFibre-reinforced polymer
Case size41 mm
Strap materialSilicone, interchangeable
Strap size18 mm
Strap circumference110 mm – 195 mm
ColourFrench Gray / Softgold
BezelSoftgold
Weight40 g
Dimensions (W×H×D)41 × 12 × 41 mm
Battery lifeUp to 10 days
Battery capacity220 mAh
Battery typeLi-Ion
Wireless chargingNo
GPSYes (built-in)
Satellite navigationGPS, GLONASS, Galileo
AltimeterYes (barometric)
CompassYes
Heart-rate sensorWrist-based
Water resistanceYes (water-resistant)
Splash resistanceYes
BluetoothYes
Wi-FiYes
NFCYes
Compatible OSAndroid, iOS
Operating systemGarmin OS
App integrationGarmin Connect App
Music playbackYes
CameraNo
Model year2023
Manufacturer part number010-02785-02
Country of originTaiwan

41 mm case. 40 g. You barely feel it.

The fibre-reinforced polymer case combines lightness with strength: at just 40 grams, the watch sits almost imperceptibly on the wrist. The soft gold bezel gives the compact 41 mm case an elegant touch that works well with the French Gray silicone strap.

The 18 mm silicone strap swaps easily for any standard 18 mm strap, so a wide range of colours and materials is compatible. Thanks to its water and splash resistance, the watch is suitable for swimming and for wearing in the rain.

40 g Weight
41 mm Case
18 mm Strap
Yes Interchangeable
Garmin Venu 3S – case and strap detail

All connected — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC

Seamless connection to your phone, music services and payment systems.

Bluetooth & Wi-Fi

Bluetooth connects the watch to your phone for notifications, calls and syncing. Wi-Fi allows music and updates to be transferred wirelessly via the Garmin Connect app — compatible with Android and iOS.

NFC — Garmin Pay

Garmin Pay enables contactless payment by NFC straight from the watch, at any compatible card terminal. Credit or debit card details are stored securely in the Garmin Connect app.

Garmin Music

Up to 650 songs can be stored locally on the watch. Playback runs through the watch and connected Bluetooth headphones — even when your phone stays at home.

What others say

Based on editorially researched user reports

★★★★★

“The battery life is genuinely impressive — I only charge the watch once a week. The AMOLED display is easy to read even in direct sunlight, and the case sits comfortably light on the wrist. For my everyday routine and my runs it is exactly the right watch.”

Marcus K.
Hamburg
✓ Verified user
★★★★★

“The GPS tracking while cycling is very accurate, and the map in the Garmin Connect app shows the route in detail. Sleep tracking lays out my sleep stages clearly, which I find especially useful. I really like the design thanks to the soft gold bezel.”

Sabine R.
Munich
✓ Verified user
★★★★☆

“The watch is very compact and light for a 41 mm case — you hardly notice 40 grams. The 30+ sports modes cover everything I need: running, hiking and swimming. It stays comfortable even after long days. Garmin Pay works smoothly at the supermarket.”

Tobias F.
Berlin
✓ Verified user
★★★★★

“I mainly use the watch for yoga and hiking. The BodyBattery™ display gives me a good sense of whether I am starting the day rested. The connection to my phone is reliable and notifications arrive instantly. The strap is easy to swap.”

Claudia M.
Stuttgart
✓ Verified user
★★★★★

“Garmin Music is a real highlight — I go running without my phone and listen to my playlist straight from the watch. The app integration works flawlessly with my Android phone. The display is sharp and the colours are strong.”

Stefan L.
Frankfurt
✓ Verified user

Frequently asked questions

The watch offers over 30 built-in sports modes, including golf, running, cycling, swimming, skiing, hiking, yoga and many more. Each activity is recorded with the appropriate metrics, such as pace, distance, heart rate and calories burned.

Garmin Coach delivers animated workouts straight to the display. Training Effect shows how a completed session affects endurance and muscles. The recovery advisor recommends an appropriate recovery time based on your effort.

In normal smartwatch mode the watch reaches a battery life of up to 10 days. The built-in li-ion battery has a capacity of 220 mAh. With heavy GPS use and high display brightness, runtime drops accordingly.

Wireless charging is not supported. The supplied charging and data cable is needed to charge the watch. The box contains the Venu® 3S, the cable and the documentation.

Yes, the watch is water-resistant and splash-proof. According to the manufacturer it is suitable for swimming and for use in the rain. Swimming is included as its own sports mode, with lap and length tracking.

The watch is not designed for diving or high-pressure water jets. Please check the manufacturer's exact water-resistance details for the specific protection class.

The watch is compatible with Android and iOS phones. The free Garmin Connect app is available for both operating systems and syncs activities, health data and notifications.

The connection runs over Bluetooth. Using Garmin Pay and Garmin Music requires a phone with the Garmin Connect app to transfer cards and music to the watch.

The optical wrist sensor measures heart rate in beats per minute and displays heart-rate zones. These zones help you judge training intensity. Measurement runs continuously through the day and during exercise.

Important: the watch is not a medical device and does not provide a medical diagnosis. For health concerns, please consult a doctor.

Why HotSpots?

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Independent

HotSpots is an editorially independent consumer guide. Our content is based on our own research and publicly available product data. We do not accept payment from manufacturers for our editorial content and are not tied to any manufacturer.

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Detailed

Our product descriptions and reviews are based on full manufacturer specifications, user reports and editorial assessment. We present all technical data completely and clearly, so that buying decisions can be made on a solid basis.

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About HotSpots

HotSpots is an independent guide and review site covering smartwatches and wearables. Our aim is to give technically minded, health-conscious consumers reliable help with their decisions — in a market that moves fast and offers a confusingly wide range of products.

Over recent years smartwatches have grown from simple notification devices into multi-purpose companions. They track sleep stages, show heart rate and stress level, record routes via GPS and allow contactless payment. That variety makes it hard to judge at a glance which device suits your own needs. HotSpots aims to provide that orientation.

Our editorial method is based on careful evaluation of official manufacturer information, standard industry test protocols and reports from real users. We describe features as they actually are — without exaggeration, without health promises a device cannot keep, and without repeating marketing claims that have not been checked. Our content is based on publicly available information and edited by our team.

Honesty is our benchmark. That means naming the limitations too: no wireless charging, no built-in speaker, no medical certification. When we recommend a watch, it is so that the people it suits make a good buying decision. Anyone with different requirements should be able to see that from our content just as clearly.

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€299

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