Garmin Venu X1 – Premium Build, Massive Display, Fitness Powerhouse

• Launch Date: Pre-orders and shipping available from June 18, 2025, with worldwide rollout by the end of June .
• Price: USD $799.99 (approximately ₹68,930), in Black and Moss color options .

• Display: Biggest AMOLED display Garmin has ever made—a 2-inch, 448 × 486 px edge-to-edge display beneath sapphire glass.
• Build: Extremely thin 7.9–8 mm case, approximately 34 g (up to 40 g with band), with fiber-reinforced polymer casing and titanium caseback .
• Materials: Scratch-resistant sapphire lens; ComfortFit nylon band; light and tough .

• Battery Life:
  • Smartwatch mode: up to 8 days (no always-on display), or up to 2 days when using always-on .
  • Battery saver mode: up to 11 days; GPS only: ~16 hrs; Full GNSS: ~14 hrs; GNSS + music: ~7 hrs.
• Trade-offs: AMOLED screen is larger, decreasing lifespan in comparison to Garmin’s legacy MIP models—but still beats many of the competition.

• Sensor Suite: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, barometric altimeter, compass, gyro, ambient light sensor, Elevate Gen5 heart-rate, HRV, Pulse Ox, Body Battery, and stress & sleep tracking.
• Metrics & Modes: More than 100 sport modes, training readiness/status, hill score, endurance score, guided workouts with Garmin Coach.
• Navigational Features: Full-color TopoActive maps on the device, CourseView for 43,000+ golf courses, and round-trip route planning; Outdoor Maps+ subscription available adds to mapping features.

• Communications: Speaker/microphone on board supports phone calls and voice assistant usage through paired phone.
• Other functionalities: Offline music with 32 GB storage, Bluetooth audio, Garmin Pay, smart notifications, incident detection, keyboard on watch for Android, Find My Phone.
• Special features: white LED and red light modes on a flashlight—handy for evening strolls or emergencies.

In a 5-mile run test compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Venu X1 equaled GPS and heart‑rate accuracy monitored with a chest strap. It was distinguished by its light comfort and high-end build, although its battery was ~1 day with always‑on display—short of Apple’s 2-day performance. Ultra 2 offered more accurate dual-band GPS, but Garmin led in fitness tracking and customization .

The X1 represents Garmin’s transition to mainstream, lifestyle-oriented smartwatches. Its square, compact design, AMOLED screen, flashlight, and call capability announce Garmin’s departure from other round, solar‑MIP models. This new, sleek direction is buttressed by a new—controversial—premium subscription level, positioning Garmin alongside Apple and Google’s platforms .

Reports verify important specs and distinctive utilities:

• Square 2″ AMOLED display, sapphire lens, 7.9 mm titanium case, integrated LED flashlight, speaker/mic for calls, and offline TopoActive maps such as golf course CourseView .
• Health/fitness package: HRV, Body Battery, Pulse Ox, high-end sleep, stress, guided breathing, training readiness, hill & endurance scoring, training plans, and 100+ sport modes .
• Connectivity & storage: 32 GB music, Garmin Pay, smart notifications, on-watch keyboard, voice assistant support, incident detection, Find‑My‑Phone, Wi‑Fi, ANT+, Bluetooth.

• Battery life: ~8 days in normal mode, ~2 days with always-on screen; GPS tracking takes 14–16 hrs.
• No dual-band GNSS, in contrast to front-running multi-band GPS rivals.
• Water resistance at 5 ATM (~50 m) – okay for swimming, not diving.

No significant update-related discussion on the X1 so far, but the latest Garmin firmware improvements such as Body Battery TrueUp, breathing, and heart rate sensor improvements (some early adopters report inconsistencies after the update) suggest there is still refinement of sensors throughout the range.

• Strengths: Sleek premium construction, enormous AMOLED screen, full feature fitness software, built-in mapping, flashlight, call support, and deep ecosystem.
• Weaknesses: Subpar battery life with always-on screen, no multi-band GPS, shallow water depth rating, and connection to Garmin’s new subscription model.

• Super-sharp AMOLED display
  • The screen is clear, colorful, and easy to read—even in bright sunlight.
• High-end build materials
  • With a titanium body and sapphire crystal glass, the device feels solid and luxurious.
• Comprehensive health & fitness tracking
  • Bundled with sensors and workout modes, it provides detailed information on exercise, sleep, heart rate, and more—ideal for fitness enthusiasts.
• Full-color maps and route planning
  • You can see maps in detail and receive directions directly on your wrist—no phone necessary, perfect for venturing outside.
• Integrated calling and voice functionality
  • With its speaker, microphone, and voice assistant, you can make calls and give commands without taking your hands off the wheel.

• Battery life shorter when always-on display is used
  • Having the screen always on will drain the battery more quickly, resulting in more charges.
• No dual-band GPS or cellular connectivity
  • It can’t link on its own to LTE, and has no dual-band GNSS, so GPS accuracy may degrade in dense urban environments or woodlands.
• Only moderate water resistance (up to 50 m)
  • Swimming is okay, but not suitable for deep dives or long underwater exposure.
• Premium price tag ($799)
  • Its quality justifies its high price, but it may be a stretch for price-conscious consumers.

The Garmin Venu X1 is a dramatic leap towards lifestyle smartwatch look and feel without sacrificing Garmin’s fitness heritage. With its big AMOLED display, slim profile, dense sensors, mapping, and convenience functions such as voice and flashlight, it shoots at mass-market smartwatch wearers. But battery life and water resistance compromises show this move away from Garmin’s rugged heritage.