Garmin Venu 4, the fourth generation Venu smartwatch, was released in September 2025. It is a successor to the Venu 3 series smartwatches.
We dig deeper to find the differences between Garmin Venu 4 and Venu 3. These differences are in terms of core features, capabilities and sensors on both watches.
Main differences between Venu 4 and Venu 3
- Venu 4 is priced at $549.99, exactly $100 more than the Venu 3 series price of $449.99.
- Venu 4 integrates multi-band GPS mode with the addition of a multi-band sensor. Venu 3 does not have multi-band GPS mode.
- Venu 4 includes GPS connectivity for QZSS (Japan), and BeiDou (China) in addition to GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo GPS networks. Venu 3 currently supports only GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo GPS networks.
- Venu 4 includes a SatIQ sensor for effective battery management and automatic toggling between the regular mode and multi-band mode of the watch.
- Venu 4 includes bezel made of stainless steel.
- Venu 4 weighs 38 g to Venu 3’s 30 g. The marginal change can be attributed to the use of stainless steel in watch body.
Other core features of Venu 4 and Venu 3 are similar. For example, both watches have –
- AMOLED display
- Corning Gorilla Glass – 3rd generation
- Almost similar battery backup
- Similar display resolution
- Similar sensors for health tracking
- Similar storage of 8 GB.
- Similar water rating of 5 ATM (SWIM rating)
We discuss a few important differences below.
More Venu 4 Smartwatch Comparisons
Multi-band GPS
Multi-band GPS mode is an advanced feature that was available on top end watches like the Fenix series, Epix Gen 2 series, Forerunner 970 series etc.
Multi-band GPS is another name for dual frequency GPS.
With multi-band GPS, your Venu 4 watch can pull GPS data from multiple satellite systems at any given point in time.
This feature is useful when poor or weak GPS connectivity may be experienced in remote terrains or dense city areas.
If the watch is unable to get reliable GPS data from a satellite system, it will seek GPS data from alternative satellite systems that may offer better GPS data.
Multi-band GPS requires a separate multi-band GPS sensor that is integrated in the smartwatch’s internal unit.
Multi-band GPS improves GPS reliability and data availability in areas with poor or weak GPS coverage.
Multi-band GPS is more suitable for professionals, hikers, marathon runners, cross-country walkers, and other people who may have a need for more reliable GPS data.
GPS Sensors for QZSS and BeiDou
Venu 4 includes sensors for the QZSS (Japanese GPS network) and BeiDou (Chinese GPS Network) GPS networks.
Venu 4, therefore, offers better GPS coverage for users in China, Japan, and the fast-eastern countries of Asia.
Sat-IQ sensor
Sat-IQ sensor offers automatic toggle on and off for multi-band GPS mode. Multi-band GPS mode use more battery. So, Sat-IQ allows the watch to switch back between the regular GPS mode or the multi-band GPS mode automatically.
This ensures that multi-band GPS is used only when the GPS signal quality is poor and dual-frequency data will improve overall GPS experience for the user.
Closing thoughts
I will get a Venu 4 by paying an incremental cost if I intend to make use of the multi-band GPS capabilities to boost GPS reliability of my watch.
Otherwise, Venu 3 works equally well and I can very well save the additional costs.