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When it comes to picking the right Garmin, it can be hard to know where to start. From Forerunners to Vivoactives, Venus and Fenix models, even the terminology is a bit confusing. And while you might think that look and price are what set them apart, there’s a lot more that comes into knowing which one is for you. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Big on adventure sports, want superior battery life and an endurance athlete? You’re likely a Fenix customer. Dedicated runner looking to break PBs and want the latest and greatest in terms of running statistics? You might be a Forerunner candidate. But, if you’re into gym workouts, running, walking, and generally improving your fitness, the released-this-year Venu 4 is likely to be one of the best places to start. But it packs a host of features that rank it above your typical smartwatch. Make improvements toward a healthier lifestyle with extensive health monitoring features, such as Body Battery energy monitoring, stress tracking and women’s health tracking. You can also stay on top of your sleep and get a sleep score and personalised coaching for how much sleep you need and how you can improve. Users can track all the ways you move with more than 80 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps — including walking, running, cycling, strength training, mobility, and sessions like yoga and Pilates. All of this is housed in a stylish watch with bright, colourful AMOLED display and a strap that comes in a number of colours including black, white and purple. Shoppers of the Venu 4 can opt for two sizes: 41mm for slightly smaller wrists and 45mm, with no price difference. Unlike many Garmins, the watch also has a metal chassis, making it look much more premium than other Garmins on your wrist. Garmin say it has up to 10 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, meaning you don’t need to take it off and charge it every few seconds. As a dedicated Garmin Forerunner fan, I was eager to see if this watch would work for me. Spoiler alert. If you’re looking for the best of the best tracking functions, look no further. I loved that this watch not only looked great on my wrist in the white colour, but also felt supremely comfortable and performed really well. As a runner, I like to see that my smartwatch is paying attention to all sorts of things including running performance, VO2 max levels and my HRV (heart rate variability). These are often key indicators as to how I’ll perform in a race and are useful to stay on top of and analyse. The Venu 4 performs to this degree with aplomb. Having my HRV levels displayed on my watch (both throughout the day and at night) ha helped me to see how my sleep, stress and recovery impact my longer-term wellbeing. The watch is even able to predict when you’re getting sick, indicating that by a drop in HRV levels. Other handy features include an LED torch for late-night running, text and call notifications and a stylish look that blends as much into life as it does into workouts. The verdict Overall, I think the Venu 4 is a fantastic investment for anyone into their sports and health this Christmas. While it’s obviously not a cheap purchase, I have been wearing my watch religiously and really enjoying its multiple functions and stylish look. I love that the battery life is so extensive, and unlike so many other smartwatches, it doesn’t need charging every five seconds. I also love having a look at my health holistically every day, whether that’s through my sleep score, step count or activities for the week. Other reviewers agree with me and the Venu 4 has an impressive 4.4 star rating on Amazon Australia. “Amazing watch. The features are so good on this watch and the battery life is great. I’m getting a week or so of charge. Totally worth the money spent, can’t fault it,” one shopper writes. “It’s the best fitness watch I ever had. Battery life is phenomenal,” another adds. A third says: “This is a fantastic smartwatch! I had a Fitbit Versa 3 that quit on me. My husband has a really cool Garmin, so we researched them. “I could not be happier! Great for tracking sleep quality and a hundred other things. I can also download any golf course and get distances and track my hits!! I love it!” For more information and to shop the Garmin Venu 4, head to the Garmin website or Amazon Australia now.
