The Vivoactive 6 is the best and worst thing to happen to the Garmin Venu series

I’ve been testing Garmin’s Vivoactive and Venu series for generations, and in the past, each line clearly catered to distinct user needs. The Vivoactive line was my go-to recommendation for budget-conscious athletes. The Venu stood as Garmin’s best option for a rounded smartwatch experience. With the release of the Garmin Vivoactive 6, however, the line between the two series feels blurrier than ever, and for the first time, I’m struggling to distinguish between them clearly.

Halfway through testing the Vivoactive 6, I realized that the differences between it and the Venu 3 are far less clear than I expected. The two watches each boast an AMOLED display and utilize predictably similar design language. Both feature sleek, lightweight polymer builds, comfortable, quick-release silicone straps, and 5ATM water resistance. I wear either one without a second thought about durability or comfort. The Vivoactive 6 is smaller and lighter, with an aluminum bezel instead of a stainless steel one, but I still find it a relatively elegant accessory, just like the Venu 3.