It’s been nearly two years since Garmin introduced the Venu 3 — a stylish, health-focused smartwatch that packed in ECG, a mic and speaker, and its latest heart rate sensor.
But while Garmin has been busy upgrading pretty much everything else in its lineup, the Venu series has been left standing still.
Let’s dive into what’s been happening and why the Garmin Venu 4 might be the next big thing on the horizon.
Garmin’s Big Upgrade Year (So Far)
In case you’ve been busy (or maybe living under a tech rock), here’s a quick recap of what Garmin has rolled out over the past nine months:
Fenix 8 – August 27, 2024
- Mic & speaker for calls and voice controls
- Dive-ready features like a depth gauge
- Bright AMOLED and Solar MIP models
- Battery boost: up to 65 hours of multiband GPS
- Fresh UI and smarter mapping tools
Instinct 3 – January 6, 2025
- AMOLED option and brighter displays
- Built-in flashlight (finally!)
- SatIQ + multiband GNSS for top GPS performance
- Cool new training metrics: Load Focus, Sleep Coach, Nap Detection
- Garmin Pay and Garmin Messenger on all models
Vivoactive 6 – April 1, 2025
- Smart Wake Alarm + better interface
- 50+ new sports profiles (yes, including racquet sports!)
- Super-bright AMOLED (around 1500 nits)
- More storage, satellite support, running dynamics
Forerunner 970 & 570 – May 15, 2025
- Advanced running metrics and triathlon coaching
- ECG, skin temp, voice commands
- Brightest AMOLED yet
- Sapphire crystal lens and Gen 5 heart rate sensor
Whew! That’s a lot.
So… Where’s the Garmin Venu 4 Update
That’s the million-dollar question.
The Venu 3, launched in August 2023, still holds its ground surprisingly well:
✅ ECG (electrocardiogram)
✅ Mic & speaker
✅ Gen 5 heart rate sensor
It’s the cheapest Garmin with both ECG and a mic/speaker setup — making it a unique value pick.
BUT (and this is a big but) — it’s missing some of the newer goodies:
- No LED flashlight
- No super-bright AMOLED like the Vivoactive 6
- No Smart Wake Alarm or updated Focus Modes
- Fewer sports profiles compared to newer models
It’s like showing up to a party in last season’s clothes. Still stylish — but ready for a refresh.
What Could the Venu 4 Bring?
Based on Garmin’s upgrade pattern, here’s what I think we can expect from the Venu 4:
Keep the essentials:
- Gen 5 heart sensor, ECG, mic + speaker
Expand voice control:
- Right now, the mic is mainly for phone calls and assistant access. Imagine if you could control workouts or settings by voice!
Brighter AMOLED display:
- The Vivoactive 6 and Forerunner 970 got major screen upgrades. The Venu 4 has to match that.
Smart Wake Alarm + Focus Modes:
- Garmin’s newest UI features should make their way over.
LED flashlight?
- Maybe… but not guaranteed (even the $550 Forerunner 570 left this out).
New health features like blood pressure monitoring:
- Whoop just added this, and Apple is rumored to follow. Garmin could get ahead of the curve.
Garmin Venu 3 vs. Garmin Venu 4 Update (Expected)
Here’s a side-by-side look at what’s likely to change:
| Feature | Venu 3 (2023) | Venu 4 (Expected 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.4” AMOLED (~1000 nits) | Brighter AMOLED (~1500 nits) |
| Battery Life | Up to 14 days | Similar or slightly better |
| Mic/Speaker | Yes | Yes + improved voice control |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Gen 5 (no ECG app at launch) | Gen 5 with enabled ECG |
| Flashlight | ❌ No | ✅ Likely added |
| Smart Wake Alarm | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Focus Modes/UI | ❌ Older UI | ✅ New UI + Focus Modes |
| Health Metrics | Sleep, SpO₂, HRV | + Skin Temp, possible BP tracking |
- Built-In Speaker And Microphone
- Wrist-Based Heart Rate
- Animated On-Screen Workouts
Why the Venu 4 Matters
The Venu line has always been Garmin’s style-first smartwatch — the one that looks good at the gym and in the office.
But with so many health-tracking competitors (Apple, Samsung, Whoop) pushing ahead, it’s time for Garmin to bring the Venu up to speed.
We don’t have official leaks or dates yet, but based on Garmin’s upgrade cycle, a Venu 4 later this year feels very likely.
Final Take
I know a lot of you are on the fence right now — wondering whether to grab the Garmin Venu 3 or wait it out for the Venu 4.
Honestly? If you can hold off just a little longer, it might be worth the wait.
Garmin usually sticks to a pretty regular release cycle, and all signs are pointing to the Venu 4 launching soon. From what I’m hearing, it could bring some real upgrades — not just the usual tweaks. Better battery life? New health sensors? Fingers crossed.
That said, the Garmin Venu 3 is still up on Amazon and continues to be one of the best-looking and most well-rounded Garmin watches you can buy right now. If you need a watch today, it’s a solid choice — and it’s often discounted.
I’d love to hear what you think:
👉 What’s on your Wishlist for the Venu 4?
👉 Thinking about upgrading, or is your current Garmin still doing everything you need?
Share your thoughts in the comments — I always enjoy hearing from fellow Garmin fans!
Also See
When will the Garmin Venu 3 Plus or VENU 4 be available?
Right now, Garmin hasn’t officially announced the release date for the Venu 4 or a Venu 3 Plus. But if we look at Garmin’s typical release pattern, there’s a good chance the Venu 4 could land sometime between August and October 2025. That would line up with the usual 12–16 month update cycle (the Venu 3 came out in August 2023).
Now about the Venu 3 Plus — truth is, there’s been no official word on it at all. Some folks were expecting a “Plus” model with extra features, but the current Venu 3 already includes a microphone and speaker for phone calls, which were the big selling points of the Venu 2 Plus. So it’s possible Garmin rolled those features into the base model this time around.
Stay tuned — I’ll update this page as soon as there’s official news!
