Garmin Venu vs Forerunner: I've worn both - here are my honest thoughts on the two watch types

If you're looking to upgrade your fitness tracker, you're probably thinking about a Garmin watch, among others. I'd say it's a good choice, as an avid wearer and fan of the brand for a few years now.

Those who prefer going to the gym, walking, cycling, and running across light trails outside the city or through the streets will find that a Garmin Forerunner or Venu is the best option. The Garmin Forerunner collection is made for runners, while the Venu is a brilliant lifestyle range for all activities.

But how do you choose between the two? I chose to compare the Garmin Venu 3 (the second-newest of the collection) and the Garmin Forerunner 265. They are two of the best Garmin watches at a similar price tag.

The Garmin Venu collection is sleek in design with advanced wellness tracking capabilities, making the Venu 3 a great choice for anyone who enjoys multiple activities, from running to Pilates. The Forerunner range is designed for runners of all kinds, but the 265 is advanced, featuring the same excellent GPS and advanced tracking features that help you reach your next race at full speed. Here's how to decide which Garmin is right for you...

Garmin Venu vs Forerunner

Specifications

Garmin Venu vs Garmin Forerunner: Design

When it comes to design, both the Garmin Venu 3 and Forerunner 265 are comfortable and lightweight with bright AMOLED touch screens and manual buttons on the side for easy navigation. In 2026, you can also buy the Garmin Venu 4 as an upgrade to the 3. It's one of the best fitness trackers, so I'd recommend it if you have the budget to do so.

I was initially surprised when I took the Forerunner out for the first time. It felt surprisingly light on my wrist, given the almost 40g weight (without the silicone strap), and as I opted for the smaller 41mm version that's just 1.1" across on the display, it was suitable for smaller wrists like mine. I did find that some of the navigation on screen was a little cramped, but the 46mm felt too big on the wrist, so the smaller version was a good compromise for me.

The Garmin Venu 3 comes in two sizes as well. The 45mm size has a display larger than the Forerunner at 1.4″ in diameter, but the smaller version of the Venu 3 is basically the same size at 1.2". So really, there's no difference in size between the two if you want a smaller device.

However, the Garmin Venu 3 wins on the design front for me. It feels a lot more effortlessly stylish with its stainless steel (rather than plastic) bezel around the screen and leather strap option. Overall, the Forerunner 265 has a more rugged design that may put you off wearing it casually if you don't want everyone to know you're wearing a fitness tracker.

Winner: Garmin Venu 3

Activity tracking on Garmin Venu vs Forerunner

Garmin devices excel at activity tracking - and the Venu 3 and Forerunner 265 are no exception. The devices track the usual metrics on the watch face, from steps and heart rate to recovery time, and you can see even more data in the app, including sleep score, stress level, HRV status, and calories burned.

There are over 30 built-in activity profiles on both these watches for GPS outdoor and indoor activities, often with multiple options for one sport. e.g. trail running and treadmill running along with a standard outdoor run mode. This is what makes the Garmin models stand out among other fitness trackers like the best Fitbits.

The Venu 3 and the Foreunner 265 have Garmin Coach, which I've found very useful in the past to help train for half-marathon runs, and it has useful on-screen animated tutorials for exercises in activities like Pilates, yoga, and strength training. These can help you perfect your form and offer guidance for future workouts.

However, that's about where the similarities end. The Forerunner 265 is a more advanced fitness tracker than the Venu 3. It features multi-band GPS, which is essential for anyone walking, running, or cycling in dense woodland or built-up cities, as it's more accurate. It also has a barometric altimeter, which measures elevation, and Training Readiness and Training Load insights to help optimise your recovery between runs. The Venu 3 lacks these (although the Venu 4, which is £100 more than the Forerunner 265, does not).

Winner: Forerunner 265

Sleep tracking on the Garmin Venu 3 vs Forerunner 165

My favourite part of testing any health tracker is diving into the sleep data, and both Garmin devices really delivered. By providing detailed insights into sleep duration, sleep stages, sleep needs and more, I could better understand how my body was recovering each night and where there was room for improvement.

For similar reasons, I love the Oura Ring, so it's worth weighing up the Oura Ring vs Garmin if sleep tracking is a priority for you.

The Sleep Coach feature on both devices uses sleep data from the night before to predict how much sleep you’ll need the following evening. It often reminded me that my personal sleep need is around eight hours. I already knew this, but as I find myself hitting about six hours a night and feeling the brunt of it throughout the day, it was a good nudge to carve out an earlier nighttime routine.

I’ve always been a fan of the mindful breathing exercises available on Garmin devices with the on-screen guidance to unwind, de-stress and prepare the body and mind for rest. I did these at my desk when I was feeling particularly stressed, and at night to help me relax.

Winner: Either device. They both have the same features.

Health tracking on the Garmin Venu vs Forerunner

The best fitness trackers do more than just track activity and sleep - they also offer health insights. Take the V02 Max, for example. It calculates oxygen consumption by managing your performance, providing insights into your current fitness level and indicating how to meet your health goals. This can be particularly helpful if you are at the start of your fitness journey and want motivation to help you track your progress and reach your goals.

In this switched-on world, the stress tracking feature available on the Venu 3S and Forerunner 265 could be a game-changer for your health. It provides excellent insights into how you manage stress throughout your day and is a reminder that you might need to reset your nervous system with mindful breathing techniques.

The Venu 3 is a little more advanced in health tracking via advanced sensors, though. For example, this watch has an ECG - a sensor that measures the heart's electrical activity, helping to pick up signs of atrial fibrillation. It's not a diagnostic tool, but it could be handy for those worried about heart problems, and the Forerunner 265 is missing this sensor.

Winner: Venu 3 - but only just

Smartwatch features on the Venu vs Forerunner

Just as today’s fitness trackers provide plenty of helpful health insights, they also act as smartwatches. You can receive text messages and other notifications straight to the watch face with both devices, though I actually have mine turned off. I like to keep my phone activity to a minimum and find constant pings distracting.

Having the ability to make contactless payments comes in very handy for those post-gym coffees, and you can use Garmin Pay via your wrist anywhere that accepts it. Naturally, Apple Pay is used much more widely, so if you're still thinking about which fitness tracker to buy, it's also worth weighing up the Garmin vs Apple Watch before deciding on one.

The benefit of the Garmin Forerunner 265 vs the Forerunner 165, another good choice in the Forerunner range and cheaper, is that this one comes with built-in music playback on all models. You can plug in your exercise headphones after connecting them to your watch and leave your phone at home during your run. You'll be able to connect to Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer with a tap of a button. The Venu 3 has the same function.

Winner: Either - both are very similar

How much does the Garmin Venu cost versus the Forerunner?

In May 2026, I spotted the Garmin Venu 3 on sale for between £315 and £379.99. It's about the same as the Forerunner 265, which I've seen for between £320 and £369.99, depending on the model and retailer you choose to buy from.

At the moment, there isn't a substantial price difference between the two, as they are both older models now. However, it's always worth checking the Garmin sale when there's a big shopping weekend around the corner as the watches tend to be even more discounted at this time.

Garmin Venu vs Forerunner: Which one should I buy?

All in all, if you're a runner, then I'd recommend opting for the Forerunner 265. It offers significantly more for those who prioritise this sport and want to get fitter by pounding the pavements or the treadmill in their trainers. For anyone else, I'd recommend the Garmin Venu 3.

As the price has dropped on most retailers with the newer Venu 4 now released, it's still a premium buy, but it has become slightly more affordable. It has advanced workout profiles, detailed health tracking sensors, and is packaged up in a sleek, discreet design that doesn't look out of place in the gym or at a restaurant.

Overall winner: Garmin Venu 3 - unless you're a runner