Updated 31 Oct 2026
Is the Garmin Venu X1 worth it?
Yes — if you want Garmin's tools on a big, slim screen.
Its 2-inch screen is the biggest on any Garmin and makes full-colour offline maps, routes and workout data easy to read, yet the titanium case is thin and light. It has all of Garmin's training tools, music storage, payments and a flashlight, and works with iPhone and Android. It lasts up to about eight days, but only about two with the screen always on. It's one of Garmin's dearest watches, it has no LTE, and its smart features aren't as polished as an Apple Watch's.
85%of 27 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Huge 2-inch screen
- Full-colour offline maps
- Thin titanium case
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What owners say
Owners love the huge, bright screen in a thin, light watch. The few unhappy ones had it crash, reboot or fail to update, and one had a screen that came unglued.
Good to know
- Battery drops sharply with the always-on screen.
- Expensive.
- The software isn't as smooth as an Apple Watch's.
- No LTE.
From 27 buyer ratings at Currys, Otto (Germany), Takealot (South Africa), Costco (Canada), Boulanger (France) and Expert (Netherlands), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Big, bright screen that's easy to readMentioned a lot
- Thin, light and comfortableMentioned a lot
- Covers every sport, golf includedMentioned often
What they complain about
- Apps crash or the watch reboots mid-workoutCommon
Get it if…
- You want maps and Garmin's training tools on a big screen.
- You want a thin watch that works with any phone.
Skip it if…
- You want long battery for big adventures: the Fenix 8 Pro or Instinct 3 lasts far longer.
- You want an iPhone smartwatch first: the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
More on the Venu X1
How we reached this verdict
TechRadar (4.5/5) calls it the most innovative Garmin in years and a genuine Apple Watch Ultra rival, praising the powerful screen and slim build, but notes the always-on screen tanks battery and the high price. Tom's Guide (4/5) loves the large, bright display, thin design and maps, but finds it short on smart features and battery.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Garmin, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, TechRadar, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Tom's Guide, Android Central, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 31 Oct 2026How we decide