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Garmin Venu Sq Music vs Venu – The Differences Compared

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Garmin recently released the Venu Sq which is a lower-end to the Venu that was released last year alongside Vivoactive 4. Venu Sq is a fitness-focused smartwatch like Venu, but lacks an altimeter, AMOLED display, and animated workout modes. In this post, I compare the differences between Garmin Venu Sq vs Venu, so you can make a more informed decision.

Watch the in-depth comparison of Garmin Venu Sq vs Venu

Garmin Venu Sq vs Venu Full Specifications Compared

Garmin Venu SqGarmin Venu
Gamin Venu sq specsgarmin venu specs

ABOUT DEVICE

Device nameGarmin Venu SqGarmin Venu
Device typeSport/Fitness smartwatchSport/Fitness smartwatch
Predessesor__Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music
SuccessorGarmin Venu Sq 2Garmin Venu 2
Released dateSeptember, 2020September, 2019
Ideal forUnisexUnisex

DISPLAY

Display typeLCDAMOLED
Display size1.3 inches1.2 inch
Display resolution240 x 240 pixels390 x 390 pixels
Pixel density261 PPI--
Input typeTouchscreen plus 2 physical buttonTouchscreen plus 2 physical button
Always-onYesYes
Customizable watch faceYesYes

BODY

ShapeSquareCircular
Dimension40.6 x 37 x 11.5 mm43.2 x 43.2 x 12.4 mm
Weight37.6 grams46.3 grams
Casing materialFiber-reinforced polymerFiber-reinforced polymer with polymer rear cover
Strap/band materialSiliconeSilicone
Bezel MaterialAnodized aluminumStainless steel
Strap size20mm20mm
Interchangeable band Yes, 20mmYes, 20mm
Screen protectionCorning Gorilla glass 3Corning Gorilla glass 3
Water resistant/ProtectionYes, 5ATMYes, 5ATM
Swim-proofYes, recommendedYes, recommended
Color(s)Venu Sq Music
Black
Light-gold/navy
Rose-gold/tan
Slate/moss

Venu Sq Standard
Black
Light-gold/white
Orchid purple
Gold/black
Rose gold/tan
Silver/dark gray
Black/black

MEMORY

RAM----
Internal storage4GB (Venu Sq Music)4GB
Memory card slotNoNo

CONNECTIVITY

BluetoothBluetooth smart v4.2 LE, ANT+Bluetooth smart v4.2 LE, ANT+
Bluetooth callingNoNo
Wi-FiYes (Venu Sq music)Yes
NFCYesYes
Payment systemGarmin payGarmin pay
GPSGPS/GLONASS/GalileoGPS/GLONASS/Galileo

CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY

TechnologyNoNo
SIMNoNo
BandNoNo

NOTIFICATIONS

Email alertYesYes
SMS alertYesYes
Calls alertYesYes
Event reminderYesYes
WeatherYesYes
Third-party appsYesYes
Text responseYesYes

FITNESS TRACKING

Sleep apneaNoNo
Sleep trackingYesYes
StepsYesYes
Floors climbedNoYes
Heart rate monitoringYesYes
CaloriesYesYes
DistanceYesYes
StressYesYes
VO2 Max.YesYes
Blood oxygenYesYes
Blood pressureNoNo
Menstrual cycle trackingYesYes
Swim trackingYesYes
Under-water heart rate trackingYesYes
Preloaded mapsNoNo
On-screen workout modesNoYes
Triathlon modeNoYes
ECG TrackingNoNo
Preloaded sport modesYesYes
Safety trackingYesYes

MEDIA

Audiomp3/mp4mp3/mp4
Music streamingYes (Venu Sq music)Yes
Bluetooth musicYes (Venu Sq music)Yes
RadioNoNo
LoudspeakerNoNo
MicrophoneNoNo
CameraNoNo

SENSORS

PLATFORM

Operating system (OS)Proprietary OSProprietary OS
Chipset----
CPU----
GPU----

BATTERY

Type of batteryNon-removable Li-ion batteryNon-removable Li-ion battery
Battery capacity ----
Battery lifeSmartwatch mode: Up to 6 days

GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours
Smartwatch mode: Up to 5 days

GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours
Charging typeUSB charging cableUSB charging cable
Charging timeAbout 1-2 hoursAbout 1-2 hours
Battery saver modeYesYes
Solar powerNoNo
Rapid chargingNoNo

CLOCK FEATURES

Time/DateYesYes
StopwatchYesYes
AlarmYesYes

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Control cameraYesYes
Music controlYesYes
Find phoneYesYes

MISC

Compatibility Android and iOS
Check if your device is compatible
Android and iOS
Check if your device is compatible
Companion appGarmin connect IQGarmin connect IQ
Voice commandNoNo

BOX CONTENTS

Garmin Venu SqGarmin Venu
StrapsStraps
USB charging cableUSB charging cable
Quick start guideQuick start guide
NOTE: We can't guarantee that all the information on this table are 100% correct. Read full disclaimer. Please, report an error.
Official SiteOfficial Site

The Differences?

The difference between Garmin Venu Sq and Venu is that the latter has a round shape compared to Venu Sq with a rectangular shape. Venu also has an AMOLED display compared to the LCD of Venu Sq and has a more durable stainless steel bezel compared to the anodized aluminum bezel of Venu Sq. Venu also features animated workout modes and can count floors climbed which Venu Sq lacks. In other words, Venu is a more comprehensive smartwatch than Venu Sq.

Garmin Venu Sq vs Venu Features Compared

ACTIVITY TRACKING FEATURES

Garmin Venu SqGarmin Venu

SMART FEATURES

Connect IQ (Downloadable watch faces, data fields, widgets, and apps)YesYes
On-device Connect IQ storeNoNo
Text response/reject phone calls with text (Android only)YesYes
CalendarYesYes
WeatherYesYes
Real-time settings sync with Garmin Connect™ mobileNoNo
Battery saver - customizable low power watchNoNo
Controls smartphone musicYesYes
Plays and Control Watch MusicYes
Find my phoneYesYes
Find my watchYesYes
Virb remoteYesYes

HEALTH MONITORING FEATURES

Wrist-based Heart Rate trackingYesYes
Daily resting heart rateYesYes
AbNormal heart rate alertYes (high and low)Yes (high and low)
Respiration Rate (24/7)YesYes
Fitness AgeYes
Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoringYes (spot-check, and optionally all-day and in sleep)Yes (spot-check, and optionally all-day and in sleep)
Battery energy monitorYesYes
Stress trackingYesYes
Relaxation remindersYesYes
Relaxation breathing timerYesYes
Sleep monitoringYesYes
Advanced sleep tracking/Sleep ScoreNoYes
Menstrual cycle trackingYes (in Garmin Connect™)Yes (in Garmin Connect)
Hydration trackingYes (in Garmin Connect)Yes (in Garmin Connect)
Health SnapshotNo

SAFETY AND TRACKING FEATURES

LivetrackYesYes
Group LivetrackNoNo
Live event sharingNoNo
Incident detection during select activitiesYesYes
AssistanceYesYes
Spectator Messaging (New)No
Assistance Plus (New)No

TACTICAL FEATURES

Stealth modeNoNo
Night vision modeNoNo
Dual Grid CoordinatesNoNo
Kill switchNoNo

ACTIVITY TRACKING FEATURES

Steps CounterYesYes
Move bar (displays on device after a period of inactivity; walk for a couple of minutes to reset it)YesYes
Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal)YesYes
Sleep monitoring (monitors total sleep and periods of movement or restful sleep)YesYes
Calories burnedYesYes
Floors climbedNoYes
Distance travelledYesYes
Intensity minutesYesYes
TrueupYesYes
Move IQ

YesYes

GYM & FITNESS EQUIPMENT

Available gym activity profilesstrength, cardio and elliptical training, stair stepping, floor climbing, indoor rowing, pilates and yogastrength, cardio and elliptical training, stair stepping, floor climbing, indoor rowing, pilates and yoga
Cardio workoutsYesYes
Strength workoutsYesYes
HIIT workoutsNo
Yoga workoutsYesYes
Pilates workoutsYesYes
On-screen workout animationsNoYes
Automatic rep countingYesYes
On-screen workout muscle mapsNo

TRAINING, PLANNING & ANALYSIS FEATURES

GPS speed and distanceYesYes
Customizable data pagesYesYes
Customizable activity profilesYesYes
Auto PauseYesYes
Interval trainingNoNo
Improved interval (Includes open repeats, intervals data page, rest screen and auto detection) (New)No
Advanced workoutsYesYes
Downloadable training plansYesYes
Power modes - customizable in-activity battery settingsNoYes
Auto lapYesYes
Manual lapYesYes
Rest timer (New)No
Configurable lap alertsNoNo
Heat and altitude acclimationNoNo
VO2 Max. (Run)YesYes
VO2 Max. (Trail run)NoNo
Real-Time staminaNo
Training status (lets you see if you're training effectively by tracking your training history and fitness level trend.)NoNo
Training load (your total training load for the last 7 days calculated from estimated epoc)NoNo
Training load focusNoNo
Training effect (aerobic)NoNo
Training effect (anaerobic)NoNo
Primary Benefit (training effect labels)NoNo
Improved Recovery Time (New)No
Daily Suggested Workouts (New)No
Custom alertsNoNo
Audio promptsNoNo
Finish timeNoNo
Virtual partnerNoNo
Race an activityNoNo
Auto multisport activitiesNoNo
Manual multisport activitiesNoNo
Course guidanceNoNo
Garmin Live SegmentsNoNo
Strava Live SegmentsNoNo
Round-Trip course creator (running/cycling)NoNo
Trendline Popularity RoutingNoNo
Touch and/or button lockYesYes
Hot keysNoNo
Auto scrollYesYes
Activity history on watchYesYes
Noopener Noreferrer">Physio TrueupYesYes

HEART RATE TRACKING FEATURES

HR zonesYesYes
HR alertsYesYes
HR caloriesYesYes
% HR max.YesYes
% HRRNoNo
Recovery timeNoNo
Auto max HRNoNo
Morning report (New)No
Race glance/widget (New)No
HRV status (New)No
Training readiness (New)No
HRV stress test (measures your heart rate variability while standing still, for 3 minutes, to provide you with an estimated stress level; the scale of this is 1 to 100; low scores indicate lower stress levels)NoNo
HR broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+ to paired devices)YesYes
Respiration rate (during exercise)Yoga and breathwork onlyYoga and breathwork only

RUNNING FEATURES

Available run profilesRunning, indoor track running, treadmill runningRunning, indoor track running, treadmill running
GPS-based distance, time and paceYesYes
Running dynamicsNoNo
Vertical oscillation and ratio (the degree of 'bounce' in your running motion and the cost-benefit ratio with stride length)NoNo
Ground contact time and balance (shows how much time, in the running motion, your foot is on the ground rather than in flight and lets you check your running symmetry)NoNo
Stride length (real time)NoNo
Cadence (provides real-time number of steps per minute)YesYes
Running power (New)No
Performance condition (after running 20 minutes, compares your real-time condition to your average fitness level)NoNo
Lactate threshold (through analysis of your pace and heart rate, estimates the point where your muscles start to rapidly fatigue)NoNo
PacePro pacing strategiesNoNo
Run workoutsYesYes
Race predictorNoNo
Course and weather-specific race predictor (New)No
Foot Pod CapableYesYes
Run/Walk/Stand detectionNo

GOLF FEATURES

Preloaded with 42,000 courses worldwideNoNo
Yardage to F/M/B (distance to front, middle and back of green)YesYes
Yardage to layups/doglegsYesYes
Measures shot distance (calculates exact yardage for shots from anywhere on course)Yes (automatic)Automatic
Digital ScorecardYesYes
Custom targetsNoNo
Stat tracking (strokes, putts per round, greens and fairways hit)YesYes
Garmin AutoshotYesYes
Full vector mapNoNo
Auto Courseview updatesNoNo
Green view with manual pin positionYesYes
Hazards and course targetsYesYes
PinpointerYesYes
Playslike distanceNoNo
Touch-targeting (touch target on display to see the distance to any point) (New)No
Handicap scoringNoNo
Truswing compatibleNoNo
Round timer/odometerYesYes
Automatic club tracking compatible (requires accessory)YesYes
Tournament LegalNo

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Available outdoor recreation profilesSkiing, sNowboarding, xc skiing, stand up paddleboarding, rowingSkiing, sNowboarding, xc skiing, stand up paddleboarding, rowing
Point-to-Point navigationNoYes
Bread crumb trail in real timeNoNo
Back to startYesYes
TracbacKNoNo
Ultratrac ModeNoNo
Around me modeNoNo
Up aheadNo
Elevation profileNoNo
Distance to destinationNoNo
Barometric trend indicator with storm alertNoNo
ClimbPro ascent plannerNoNo
Trail run auto climbNoNo
Vertical speedNoNo
Total ascent/descentNoYes
Future elevation plotNoNo
Preloaded Topographical mapsNoNo
Preloaded road and trail maps (New)No
Preloaded Ski resort mapsNoNo
Downloadable cartography supportNoNo
Compatible with BasecampNoNo
GPS coordinatesNoNo
Sight 'N GONoNo
Area calculationYesYes (via Connect IQ)
Hunt/fish calendarYesYes (via Connect IQ)
Projected waypointNoNo
Sun and moon informationYesYes (via Connect IQ)
Xero locationsNoNo
Expedition GPS activityNoNo
TidesNoNo

CYCLING FEATURES

Available cycling profilesBiking, indoor bikingBiking, indoor biking
Alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goals including time, distance, heart rate or calories)YesYes
CoursesNoNo
MTB Grit & FlowNoNo
Cycle map (routable cycling-specific street map)NoNo
Bike lap and lap maximum power (with power sensor)NoNo
Race an activityNoNo
FTP (Functional Threshold Power)NoNo
Compatible with Vector (Power Meter)NoNo
Power Meter compatibleNoNo
Advanced cycling dynamicsNo
Compatible with Varia Vision (head-mounted display)NoNo
Compatible with Varia Radar (Rear-Facing Radar)YesYes
Compatible with Varia LightsYesYes
Speed and cadence sensor support (with sensor)Yes (ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensors)Yes (ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensors)

SWIMMING FEATURES

Available swim profilesPool swimmingPool swimming
Open-water swim metrics (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories)NoNo
Pool swim metrics (lengths, distance, pace, stroke count, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories)YesYes
Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly) (pool swim only)YesYes
Drill logging (pool swim only)NoNo
Basic rest timer (up from 0) (pool swim only)YesYes
"Repeat on" rest timer (pool swim only) (New)No
Auto rest (pool swim only) (New)No
Time and distance alertsYesYes
Pacing alerts (pool swim only) (New)No
Countdown start (pool swim only)NoNo
Pool swim workoutsNoNo
Critical swim speed (New)No
Underwater wrist-based heart rateYesYes
Heart rate from external HRM (real-time during rests, interval and session stats during rests, and automatic heart rate download post-swim)NoNo
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