Apple
Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm)
$399Cheaper
Released 2024-09
Best Smartwatches · head-to-head
Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) vs Garmin Venu 3
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) is cheaper at $399. Every spec and price links to its source.
Garmin
Garmin Venu 3
$449.99
Released 2023-08
Which is better: the Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) or Garmin Venu 3?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) is the cheaper at $399.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399 MSRP, 42mm aluminum GPS | $449.99 MSRP, 45mm at launch |
| Brand | Apple | Garmin |
| Released | 2024-09 | 2023-08 |
| Case size (mm) | 42 | 45 |
| Display type | LTPO OLED | AMOLED |
| Battery hr | 18 | 336 |
| Gps | Yes | Yes |
| Lte option | Yes | No |
| Water resistance (m) | 50 | 50 |
| OS | watchOS 11 | Garmin OS |
| Ecg | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (g) | 30 | 30 |
| Release | 2024-09 | 2023-08 |
Sources — Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm): dcrainmaker.com (verified 2026-06-15). Garmin Venu 3: androidpolice.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) and Garmin Venu 3?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.
- Case size (mm): Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) 42 vs Garmin Venu 3 45
- Display type: Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) LTPO OLED vs Garmin Venu 3 AMOLED
- Battery hr: Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) 18 vs Garmin Venu 3 336
- Lte option: Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) true vs Garmin Venu 3 false
- OS: Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) watchOS 11 vs Garmin Venu 3 Garmin OS
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm)
Four whitelisted testers (Engadget, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, DC Rainmaker) rate the Series 10 the best Apple Watch for iPhone owners, praising the thinner, lighter build and larger wide-angle display. All flag flat 18-hour battery life and the US-disabled Blood Oxygen app. Reviews are hands-on, not lab-benched; Engadget tested the 42mm while TechRadar and DC Rainmaker used 46mm units. (4 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Thinner, lighter, more comfortable build (9.7mm, ~10% lighter); Larger wide-angle OLED display, easier to read off-angle; Faster charging (80% in ~30 minutes).
Flagged: Same 18-hour battery life, no runtime improvement; Blood Oxygen app disabled in US (Masimo patent dispute); S10 chip delivers no noticeable performance gain over S9.
Garmin Venu 3
Across four hands-on whitelisted reviews (Reviewed and DC Rainmaker lab-measured; TechRadar and Tom's Guide hands-on-only), the Venu 3 is praised as an excellent fitness/health tracker with a stunning AMOLED screen and multi-day battery. Consistent knocks: high price, weak third-party apps, no LTE, and durability/scratch concerns. (4 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Bright, colorful 1.4-inch AMOLED display readable in all conditions; Long multi-day battery life, far beyond Apple/Samsung rivals; Accurate, detailed fitness and health tracking (HR within 1 BPM of chest strap).
Flagged: High price for a Garmin lacking premium training metrics; Limited third-party apps and no LTE; Durability concerns — Gorilla Glass 3 scratches easily, plasticky build.