Garmin steps up in style

VENU X1: A NEW KIND OF LUXURY WITH PRICE TAG THAT DEMANDS YOU GET SERIOUS ABOUT FITNESS

- Arthur Goldstuck

Garmin used to be the smartwatch brand you graduated to when you got serious about fitness. Now it's also the one you wear when you get serious about everything else. Given the price tag of the Venu X1, that should be "very serious".

While it is the new big brother to the feature-rich Venu range, it raises the bar by showing that high-end performance and refined aesthetics belong on the same wrist.

At the centre sits a massive 2-inch AMOLED display, vibrant and responsive under a sapphire crystal lens. Encased in stainless steel and fibre-reinforced polymer, the watch combines durability with comfort. An always-on option keeps the interface available, with the large, square face providing the real estate for extensive data at a glance. It also gives it an Apple Watch look and feel, but without its limitations.

Navigation through Garmin's updated interface feels intuitive. Touch gestures and tactile buttons complement each other, allowing rapid access to health metrics, notifications and workout stats.

Garmin's reputation for rugged capability now meets a design philosophy that embraces sophistication, offering a smartwatch that covers both the athlete's ambitions and the executive's expectations. However, it sacrifices the health enthusiast's quest for measuring vital statistics, and does not include ECG measurement.