Withings ScanWatch 2 vs Garmin Venu 3: Which smartwatch is right for you?

When it comes to choosing between two of the best smartwatches on the market today—the Withings ScanWatch 2 vs. Garmin Venu 3—the decision isn't always easy. Both offer advanced health and fitness tracking, stylish designs, and new features that can help you monitor your well-being throughout the day. However, if you’re looking for a smartwatch that prioritizes sleep quality, delivers long battery life, and has an elegant, everyday design, the Withings ScanWatch 2 is a clear winner. In this comparison, we break down the Withings ScanWatch 2 vs. Garmin Venu 3 to help you make the best choice.

Design and build quality: Everyday elegance vs sporty tech

The Garmin Venu 3 features a modern touchscreen display with vibrant colors and responsive interaction. Its Corning® Gorilla® Glass protection makes it durable for workouts and outdoor activities. For those who love a sporty aesthetic similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Watch Ultra, it’s a solid pick.

On the other hand, the Withings ScanWatch 2 stands out for its classic and timeless design. Made with premium stainless steel and finished with durable sapphire glass, it resembles a traditional analog watch, perfect for both professional settings and casual wear. Unlike the bulkier Garmin Fenix or Apple Watch Series, the ScanWatch 2 looks at home on the wrist of both men and women.

This minimalist style can be used every day, whether you’re heading to a meeting or going for a run. It’s not just beautiful; it’s functional, offering water resistance up to 50 meters, so you don’t need to worry when swimming or showering.

Health and fitness tracking: Deep insights into your well-being

When it comes to tracking health metrics, both smartwatches offer impressive capabilities. The Garmin Venu 3 includes standard features like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability. It also supports heart rate notifications, similar to what you find in the Garmin Vivomove Sport and the Apple Watch Series.

However, the Withings ScanWatch 2 takes things a step further, making it one of the best smartwatches for health-focused users. It continuously monitors resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood oxygen levels, and even tracks body temperature fluctuations, which can provide early warning signs for illness.

One standout feature of ScanWatch 2 is its advanced sleep tracking. It analyzes sleep quality in detail, detecting breathing disturbances and providing an overall sleep score that can help you improve rest throughout the day. Unlike the Garmin Venu or Google Pixel smartwatches, the Withings ScanWatch 2 offers clinically validated data for greater peace of mind.

Connectivity and smart features

Both devices are compatible with Android and iOS, including the Google Pixel. The Garmin Venu 3 offers Find My Phone, contactless payments, and music storage. Its bright AMOLED screen with excellent pixel density is great for glances at notifications.

The Withings ScanWatch 2, while more minimalistic in its smart features, still displays basic notifications (call, messages…), and provides heart rate notifications. The trade-off? You get longer battery life and a clean, distraction-free experience that focuses on health insights, not constant alerts.