Best smartwatch 2026: 7You tries the popular Garmin Venu X1 smartwatch that tracks steps, logs lifestyle and monitors health

I have long been a loyal Fitbit wearer, but the bulky-looking device has made its way off my wrist in the last couple of years because the design always stood out like a sore thumb.

After talking to other former Fitbit owners, they seemed to say the same thing: they were no longer wearing their smartwatches and were tempted by newer tech from competing brands.

Smartwatches have come a long way in recent years, improving the tech with AI features, longer battery life and in-depth health analysis that can help you become more attuned to your body.

While it’s hard to narrow down the best of the bunch, with many leading brands — think Whoop, Samsung and Apple — there’s one brand that continues to come out on top: Garmin.

In the midst of winter, I found myself lacking the motivation to move my body , craving the familiar step counts and reminders to move from my Fitbit.

Luckily, the Garmin Venu X1 had not long arrived on Aussie shores, and I was given the chance to try it out.

It’s incredibly in-depth, with all kinds of health insights, an insane battery life of up to eight days on a single charge, plus a thin and ultra-lightweight display, making it perfect for wearing every day.

As someone whose exercise routine consists of walking the dog, reformer Pilates and HIIT workouts at home, I was keen to find out how the watch would fit into my lifestyle.

Because it’s no secret that Garmin’s smartwatches are loved by athletes , runners and extreme sports-goers — something I am definitely not.

It’s been on my wrist for the last three months, guiding me through workouts, tracking my sleep (a feature I’m a big fan of) and even using GPS to map my walks with the pup.

And in all honesty, I’ve barely noticed it being there. Mostly thanks to the lightweight design , it isn’t heavy to wear, nor does it get caught on any sleeves or jackets like my Fitbit used to.

The display is big, clear and easy to read, and I’ve found myself relying on just my watch when I’m out and about to tell the time.

Surprisingly, one of my favourite elements of the Garmin Venu X1 is the in-built LED flashlight , which has an impressive four settings for light strength.

Late-night visits to patches of grass with the pup just got a whole lot easier.