OnePlus Watch 2 vs Garmin Venu 3 – Which Is Better for Fitness?

The OnePlus Watch 2 and Garmin Venu 3 are both solid smartwatches tuned for fitness and health tracking — but they approach things differently. One tries to be an all-around smartwatch with good health tracking, while the other leans hard into serious fitness metrics and outdoor activity tracking. If you’re trying to choose between them, the real question is: are you a casual user or a dedicated fitness person? Here’s how they compare in 2025.

Design & Display

The OnePlus Watch 2 keeps a modern rectangular/square-ish look with a bright AMOLED display, smooth interface, and a design that works both in gym and casual wear. It feels lightweight and good for everyday wear. The Garmin Venu 3 takes the classic round watch design route, with a vivid AMOLED display that remains easy to read outdoors, even under strong sunlight. Its build feels rugged — more like a dedicated sports watch — which makes it ideal for outdoor runs, hikes, and workouts. OnePlus leans more lifestyle-smartwatch, Garmin leans toward “get serious with training.”

Fitness & Health Tracking

OnePlus Watch 2 gives reliable basics: heart-rate tracking, sleep monitoring, step counting, workout auto-detection, and general daily activity tracking. It’s a good all-rounder for people who want a smartwatch that doubles as a fitness tracker without spending too much. Garmin Venu 3 goes deeper: detailed workout tracking, built-in GPS, advanced metrics like VO₂ max, recovery time, stress levels, sleep stages, body battery, and robust activity logging. For serious fitness — running, cycling, hiking — Garmin’s data is more comprehensive and accurate. If you’re casual or light-fitness oriented, OnePlus is good. For training, performance tracking, or serious workouts — Garmin wins.

Battery Life & Outdoor Use

On battery, the OnePlus Watch 2 offers decent life — enough for a few days of normal use. But Garmin Venu 3 is built for endurance: you get longer battery life, especially during outdoor workouts and GPS tracking. The watch is ready for multi-day hikes, long runs, or travel without constant charging. Garmin also tends to handle sweat, dust, and rougher conditions better because of its build.

Smartwatch Features & Daily Use

OnePlus Watch 2 gives the usual smartwatch perks: notifications, music control, basic apps, fitness reminders, and enough smart features for everyday use. It’s comfortable for work, casual wear, and light fitness tracking. Garmin Venu 3 is more utilitarian — it focuses on fitness and health metrics, and while it has smart features, they are more minimal compared to a typical smartwatch. It’s built for people whose main priority is training, health tracking, and performance. For everyday use + workouts, OnePlus is a balanced pick. For training-focused usage, Garmin is built for action.

User Profile — Who Should Buy Which

Choose OnePlus Watch 2 if:

• You want a smartwatch + fitness tracker combo.
• You care about style and everyday convenience more than hardcore tracking.
• You do light workouts, gym sessions, walking, sleep tracking, etc.

Choose Garmin Venu 3 if:

• You care about serious fitness: runs, hikes, cycles, performance tracking.
• You want accurate data, GPS, endurance, and long battery life.
• You prefer durability and reliability for intensive use.

Final Verdict

For casual users or those wanting a balanced smartwatch that works for day-to-day life plus light fitness — the OnePlus Watch 2 is a smart buy. For people serious about fitness, training, outdoor activity, and long-term performance tracking — the Garmin Venu 3 is the clear winner.

Both watches are good, but the right one depends entirely on how deep you take fitness and how you plan to use the watch.