Garmin Venu X1 ZDNET's key takeaways The Garmin Venu X1 is available in two color options for $799.99.
The big 2-inch display is fantastic, the LED flashlight is brilliant, the thin case and light band make it a joy to wear, and the calculator now has a tip button.
The always-on mode reduces battery life significantly, the watch is expensive, and dual-band GPS is not installed. $799.99 at Amazon $799.99 at Crutchfield more buying choices
I've been using Garmin sports watches for over a decade and have pretty clear expectations for when new models will be released, but I was caught completely off guard by the recent announcement of the Garmin Venu X1.
It's unique for Garmin, but clearly looks like a fairly direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Also: The best Garmin watches you can buy: Strong tracking tech for fitness, sleep, and more
The Garmin Venu X1 stands out with its bold, almost square design and a vivid two-inch AMOLED screen -- the largest ever on a Garmin smartwatch. It offers noticeably more screen real estate than even the Watch Ultra 2, making room for up to eight data fields during workouts. The result? Crisp, easy-to-read stats at a glance, even for aging eyes like mine.
I've worn Venu models before, but usually only for a month or two before switching back to a Fenix, Enduro, Instinct, or Forerunner for my daily use. The main reason was that the Venu series leans heavily on a touchscreen with just two hardware buttons, and after getting used to Garmin's five-button setup, the UI takes a bit of adjustment.
That said, the Venu was the first Garmin watch with an AMOLED display, and the X1 takes things to the next level with this new bigger form factor.
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
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