Small Watch, Big Impact

I recently made the switch from the Garmin Forerunner series to the Venu 3S, and I haven’t looked back. I was looking for something that felt more lifestyle-focused while still being reliable for training, and the Venu 3S really delivers.

First off, I love the size. I got the “S” version, and it fits my wrist so much better than my old Forerunner 235. It’s light, comfortable, and the AMOLED touchscreen is super crisp and fun to use. I was a little unsure about the touchscreen at first, but it’s actually really smooth, and if it’s not your thing, you can turn it off. Navigation still feels familiar if you’ve used Garmin before, and overall the interface is really intuitive.

One of my favorite features is setting up intervals. I’ve been doing 2-minute run / 1-minute walk sessions, and the watch gives clear cues at every switch. It was easy to set up, and in the process I actually discovered some extra tools that I might start using more regularly.

In terms of performance, the Venu 3S tracks heart rate, pace, distance, and more pretty accurately during my outdoor runs. It was a little off when I ran on a treadmill—about 0.18 miles short—but nothing too dramatic.

Battery life is decent. I usually charge it about every two weeks with daily use for walking, running, or training. That’s a win for me! It’s also sleek and stylish enough to wear to work or school, which is a big plus. My only minor issue is the silicone band. I had a slight skin reaction, but I swapped it out for a canvas band from Amazon and haven’t had any issues since.

I mainly got this watch for the health tracking features—Body Battery, menstrual cycle predictions, and hydration tracking—and I’ve been happy with how easy it is to keep an eye on all of that.

All in all, the Venu 3S has been worth it. It’s a great balance of fitness tracking, health insights, and everyday style.