Here is a Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6 summarized comparison table to help you distinguish between watches from the same brand.
Table of Comparison: Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6
GARMIN VENU | FENIX 6 | |
Display | 1.2”, AMOLED | 1.3”, Corning Gorilla Glass DX, Colored |
Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels |
Companion App | Garmin Connect App | Garmin Connect App |
Features (Sensors) | Heart Rate monitor, onboard GPS, SpO2 sensor, accelerometer | HR monitor, Pulse Ox, Barometer, GPS, accelerometer, VO2 Max, Temperature sensor, respiratory sensor, stroke recognition |
Activity Tracking | Blood oxygen levels, climbing, running, cycling, calories burned, heart rate, sleep & stress, steps taken, pace | Calories burned, Step count, stair climbed, heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen levels, running, walking, hiking |
Mobile Payment (NFC) | Yes (Garmin Pay) | Yes (Garmin Pay) |
Smart Notifications | Yes | Yes |
Compatibility | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ANT+ |
Battery Life | Up to 7+ days (smartwatch mode) & 6 hours (GPS mode + Music) No Power Saving Mode | Up to 14 days, about 36 hours on GPS mode 48 days on power-saving mode |
Water-resistance Rating | 50 meters | 100 meters |
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Design: Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6
Venu and Fenix are durable Garmin watches that come with screens to display your fitness data. The display on Garmin Venu is 1.2 inches (AMOLED) with a resolution of 390 x390 pixels.
On the other hand, the display on Garmin Fenix 6 comes with Corning Gorilla Glass for protection. The display on Fenix 6 is 1.3 inches with a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels. The displays on both Garmin wearables are always-on.
The bands on both Garmin watches are replaceable. Garmin watches with replaceable bands are possible to customize to match outfits.
You will use side buttons to navigate through the Fenix 6 (Garmin Fenix 6 is not a touchscreen watch). To navigate Garmin Venu you will use the display which is a touchscreen.
Both Garmin watches are can be worn while swimming because they are waterproof. For instance, Garmin Venu features a 5ATM water resistance while Garmin Fenix 6 features a 10ATM.
That implies Garmin can withstand a pressure of up to 50 meters below the water while Fenix 6 can withstand a pressure of up to 100 meters below water.
Sensors: Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6
You will find built-in GPS sensors on both Garmin smartwatches. The GPS feature is not only important for giving directions, but it also locates your watch when lost as well as leads emergency response right to your current location in the case of an emergency.
Other Garmin watches that come with onboard GPS connections include Forerunner 45, Garmin Venu Sq, Fenix 6X, and Forerunner.
Garmin Venu and Fenix 6 also come with a SpO2 sensor (Pulse Oximeter). The work of this sensor is to measure blood oxygenation levels.
Both Garmin wearables come loaded with accelerometers. The watches will use the accelerometer sensor to detect linear acceleration.
Garmin Fenix 6 will be able to detect changes in your body temperature right from the wrist with the help of the onboard temperature sensor.
Unfortunately, Venu doesn’t have a temperature sensor so, it cannot detect changes in temperature.
In addition, you will get a barometer on both Garmin wearables. With the barometric sensor, you will be able to measure barometric pressure. As if that’s not all the barometric sensor will predict possible changes in weather.
The other amazing feature you will want to have on any Garmin activity watch is the TOPO and Ski maps. Unfortunately, the feature is only found on the Fenix 6 and not on Garmin Venu.
Garmin Venu and Fenix 6 come with heart rate sensors just like Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Whoop, Suunto, Polar, Oppo watches, etc.
As the name suggests, the sensor is responsible for tracking the activities of the heart, these activities including resting heart rate and heart rate variability.
Lastly, Garmin Fenix 6 comes with an awesome sensor – the VO2 Max. This sensor helps your watch tell how well your body is taking or not taking in oxygen. Fortunately, we also have the VO2 Max sensor on Garmin Venu.
Activity Tracking: Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6
As luck would have it, both Garmins will calculate the number of calories the body burns every hour each day both while working and not working out. Unluckily, Garmin Fenix 6 and Fenix 6 cannot monitor calorie intake.
The fitness trackers will also tell how much distance is covered while cycling, running, jogging, or walking. Also, they both provide the total number of steps taken following the pace.
If you love swimming and would love a watch that monitors your strokes while swimming considers Fenix 6 over Garmin Venu because it comes with a swim stroke recognition sensor.
Fenix 6 is also able to calculate the number of strokes while swimming. Fenix 6 is simply the watch you want around your wrist when monitoring open-water swimming.
Also, both Garmin watches can track cycling with the help of the cadence sensor. The cadence sensor calculates the number of pedal revolutions made per minute.
You get a chance to monitor your sleep each night with either Garmin wearable. All your night sleep results can be found on the Garmin Connect app or website each morning.
That’s still not it, Venu and Fenix 6 can automatically track your activities e.g. running, walking, swimming, or cycling, and provide daily reports through the Garmin website or the Connect app for each workout.
Routes followed while cycling, running, walking, or jogging can be monitored by either of the watches thanks to the built-in route tracker. Garmin Venu and Fenix 6 can monitor Golfing activities.
Connectivity: Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6
Garmin Venu and Garmin Fenix 6 can connect to both Android and iOS devices. Also, both watches can connect to Wi-Fi networks.
The ability to connect to Wi-Fi networks means, that both Garmins support Near-Field Communication (NFC) and hence can make cashless payments.
Lastly, each of these Garmin wearables can sync wirelessly and automatically to compatible Bluetooth devices once in range.
Battery Life: Garmin Venu vs Fenix 6
Each Garmin fitness tracker comes with a battery level indicator to show how much battery life is left. Garmin Fenix 6 comes with the best battery. When charged to the mark, it can serve for 14 days.
On the other side, Garmin Venu will serve for 7 days on a complete charge. Note, that both periods are on smartwatch modes. On GPS mode Fenix 6 will serve for 36 hours while Venu will serve for 6 hours.
There’s a power saver mode on Fenix that will extend the battery life to 48 days. Unfortunately, we don’t have a power saver mode on Garmin Venu.
Which Smartwatch should I Buy: Garmin Venu or Fenix 6?
Each watch is worth buying we would go for Garmin Fenix 6. Our pick is Fenix because it has got a lot to offer.
Fenix 6 offers cool features likes swim tracking, VO2 Max tracking e.tc which isn’t found on Garmin Venu.
Also, Fenix is able to keep charge twice the period Venu can keep. There’s also a power saver mode on Garmin Fenix that increases battery life to a month and a half and some days.
Only Fenix 6 can detect changes in body temperature. Fenix 6 users also benefit from the Trackback mode, with this mode they are able to track their routes and reverse them in order to get back to where they initially started.
The only area Garmin Venu shows Fenix 6 some dust is on resolution. If you want a watch that doesn’t break the bank consider Garmin Venu instead (it still has got much to offer when given the chance) because Garmin Fenix 6 is a bit expensive.
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