Garmin Venu 4 Confirmed – Japan App Listing Hints at Imminent Launch

Garmin Venu 4 might finally be breaking cover — and the hint came from the last place anyone expected.

For nearly a year, Venu fans have watched Garmin refresh the Fenix, Forerunner, and Instinct lines while the Venu 3 stayed unchanged since August 2023.

Now, a quiet update to Garmin Japan’s Golf app has revealed something big: the first-ever official mention of the Garmin Venu 4.

No flashy ads. No leaks from insiders. Just a single line in an app description — and it could mean the launch is closer than anyone thought.

Garmin Japan Drops the Venu 4 Name

In the updated app description, Garmin Japan casually mentions the Venu 4 as one of the supported devices for its premium golf features.

This is the first time Garmin itself has publicly used the name — and it’s a strong indicator that the watch is real, tested, and probably just weeks (if not days) away from an announcement.

Here’s the translated text from Garmin Japan:

“Venu 4 device users who subscribe to Garmin Golf Membership can view second-generation course layouts and PlaysLike distances directly on their watch, with hazard/layup info overlaid on the map.”

That single sentence is the breadcrumb we needed — and for Garmin watchers like me, it’s as exciting as spotting a rare bird in your backyard.

Why This Matters

On the surface, it’s just a product name in an app description. But in Garmin’s playbook, these “accidental” listings often mean a launch is very close.

We’ve seen similar slip-ups before — and within weeks, the product was official.

It also clears up some lingering confusion. Earlier this year, Garmin released the Venu X1, a slim, square-faced smartwatch with the Venu name.

While stylish, it was aimed at competing with the Apple Watch, not replacing the round-faced Venu 3.

Many Garmin users wondered if the X1 was the “true” successor. This Golf app tells us it wasn’t.

Quick Recap: Venu 3’s Strengths (and Shortcomings)

The Venu 3, launched on August 30, 2023, came in two sizes — 45mm and 41mm — and brought some nice upgrades like:

• Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor
• Microphone and speaker for calls and voice features
• ECG support

But it also skipped a couple of now-common Garmin features, such as an LED flashlight.

Since then, nearly every new Garmin release — from the rugged Fenix 8 to the Forerunner 970 — has added that flashlight.

The omission made the Venu 3 feel slightly behind the times.

What We Might See in the Venu 4

While nothing’s confirmed yet, Garmin’s recent patterns give us some good guesses:

• Brighter AMOLED display — matching the vivid screens of the Forerunner 970 and Vivoactive 6
• LED flashlight — a small but surprisingly useful upgrade
• Smart Wake Alarm & Focus Modes — already popular in newer Garmin models
• UI refresh for smoother navigation.
• Expanded health tracking — possibly even blood pressure monitoring, now showing up in competitors like Whoop and rumored for Apple.
• Better voice support — maybe full on-watch voice commands, not just phone-linked assistants
• More training metrics — to appeal to both casual users and serious athletes

LTE connectivity? Probably not. Garmin has been cautious with cellular features in its lifestyle-oriented watches.

But as more people want a smartwatch that can leave the phone behind, the pressure is building.

Why Garmin’s Timing Makes Sense

Garmin’s smartwatch strategy usually follows a staggered update cycle — but with competition heating up from Samsung, Apple, and even budget brands, waiting too long risks losing ground.

The Venu series is Garmin’s lifestyle flagship — its answer to the Apple Watch for users who value battery life and fitness depth over app ecosystems.

Releasing a Venu 4 now would put it in the spotlight before the fall tech rush, when Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit tend to dominate headlines.

About That July 22 Garmin China Teaser

Some fans hoped the recent Garmin China teaser was for the Venu 4. But the silhouette and hints all point to an entry-level Forerunner 65 variant.

That means the Venu 4 is still lurking in the wings — and this Japanese app mention might be our biggest pre-launch sign yet.

My Take as a Garmin Watcher

I’ve seen Garmin play this quiet-clue game before. A product name slips into an app update, a firmware code name appears in a changelog, or a product page appears briefly before being pulled. The pattern is always the same — a launch follows shortly after.

If I had to guess, I’d say we’re looking at an announcement within the next month or two. And if Garmin wants to maximize buzz, it might time it right before the big September wearable announcements from other brands.

Bottom line: The Venu 4 is real. It’s in Garmin’s ecosystem. And based on this Japanese app mention, it’s probably about to make its debut.

If you’ve been holding off upgrading your Venu 2 or 3, this might be the moment to start watching Garmin’s news feed closely.

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• Garmin Venu 3 Review.
• Garmin Venu 3S Review.
• Garmin Venu 3 Vs Venu 2 -Head-To-Head Comparison.