Bought an Epix gen 2 (standard edition) but also have a Venu 3 on the way.

Epix gen 2 does only have elevate 4.l and should have received the picture preview in one of the last updates if I’m right. 

Epix - depends on which one you have - assuming based on desciption and price that this only has 16GB storage - so original non pro version rather than the pro standard version. All pro versions including the standard pro have 32GB storage and will have elevate 5 HR sensor.

If original Epix 2 - then yes you would lose elevate 5 HR sensor and its marginally better with strength training and some cycling activities and adds ECG (but not an option in UK unless prepared to use the work around) and you would lose baseline temp monitoring - otherwise you currently have everything the pro version has and these 2 features that the venu 3 has.

Images in messages - you have same as venu 3.

Only other advantage the venu 3 offers is lighter weight, the ability to make/take calls on the watch; to leverage your phones voice assistant and to reply with fully customized texts. 

Note that this all assumes you are using an android phone - if using iPhone apple restricts some features which includes no images in messages, and no ability to reply to messages (technically venu 3 can still do that but you have to leverage the phones voice assitant - which you can do without using your watch - though watch method is useful if phone in bluetooth range but not close enough to easily pick up your voice..

Otherwise Epix offers better battery life and especially tracking battery life. Way more fitness features in most activities. The offllne maps & offline TBT navigaiton; the training metrics and analytics (venu 3 only has a basic recovery time and workout benefit -a sort of equivalent to the training effect metric that the Epix has. And there is the much better build quality. Can reduce weight of epix by chaning to a nylon strap - will save up to 20g (the epix silicon straps are heavy duty).

UI is very different - venu 3 UI is very flashy and much more touch orientated; whereas the Epix is more conservative looking UI (think staid business looking) and is much more touch & button friendly - those 5 buttons make a huge difference to navigation as instead of 1-2 shortcuts the V3 offers, the Epix offers another 4-6.

Thanks, That is what I wasn't sure of regarding the picture update. Should I be concerned regarding the gen 4 sensor vs gen 5?

Correct, This unit has 16Gb of storage. The Epix Pro model is double the price in the UK.

The ECG feature isn't really a deal breaker as I believe it needs to be run via an app and not something that would alert you if it detected an issue?

I currently use a Pixel 8 so Android for me.

Ah so its the straps that are the heavy part of the watch more or less? So a 20g reduction by swapping straps would only see it around 10g heavier than the venu 3 in theory.

So far i'm swaying to keep the Epix:

- Not too worried about ECG.

- Not too worried about voice calls from a watch.

- Weight reduction with band changes is doable.

- More buttons so I can use button or touch.

My only remaining concern I have for it is possibly the size and thickness as I do have quite small wrists around 165mm so I'll only be able to see once I have it in hand.

michty_me said:

Should I be concerned regarding the gen 4 sensor vs gen 5?

I think that depends entirely on you, WHR seems to be a very personal thing. I don't do strength training but I do cycle both indoors and outdoors and have never actually had a problem with any WHR sensor going back to 2016.

I haven’t seen any improvement when I switched from Epix Gen 2 to Epix Pro 51mm. And also no change as I’m using the 965 at the moment. 

That's a fair point, I don't have any issues with the HR monitor on my FR 235 to be fair. It seems fairly solid.

Ok thanks. That's reassuring anyway. Doubt I would really make use of the ECG function much either anyway.

keep them both.

Venu is garbage as a training watch (lots of data fields and features are missing), hard to see the display in sunlight (thin numbers), toyish UI, lack of buttons, lack of map

Epix is thicc, heavier and uncomfortable to sleep with and won't slide under sleeves easily

use Venu as an everyday watch, and epix for adventures and training - they are designed this way and believe me, garmin did everything that you cannot use just one watch, you will constantly feel that you miss a lot

HR sensors are a joke on both

I don't do much running training if any at all.

Mainly snow sports, paddle boarding, hiking occasionally, mountain biking etc etc.

Other things are weight lifting, Hiit, spin bike.

That's my main concerns about the Epix, the bulk and the size on my wrist. I certainly don't need two but totally get you when you say it's Garmins game plan, every watch I've looked at has something missing that essentially upsells another.