Garmin’s Premium Square Venu X1 Smartwatch Challenges Apple’s Dominance
Garmin enters the premium square smartwatch market with the Venu X1, directly targeting Apple Watch users with serious fitness tracking capabilities.
Garmin just announced the Venu X1, a $799.99 premium smartwatch seemingly designed to directly confront Apple’s smartwatches. With a 2-inch AMOLED display, 8 mm thin titanium build, and a sleek square form factor, the X1 looks like a direct style play at the Apple Watch category.
Specs
Display and design
- 2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, Garmin’s largest ever
- Thin titanium build
- Square form factor
Smartwatch features
- Smart notifications
- Integrated keyboard for replies
- Face It watch face creator and Connect IQ customization
- Music downloads and playlists
Training and analytics
The positioning here is interesting: Garmin is clearly trying to combine Apple Watch aesthetics with stronger athletic credibility.
Strategic Opportunities
- Multi-platform support for both iOS and Android
- Athletic credibility for users who want Apple Watch aesthetics with real training tools
- Multi-day battery life as a key differentiator
Risks
The absence of ECG and cellular connectivity at this price point may be deal-breakers for health-conscious consumers. With Apple expected to refresh its lineup in fall 2025, the X1’s feature set may quickly appear dated.