Review of the Garmin Venu Sq 2: A great alternative to Fitbit
Garmin is becoming adept at understanding the preferences of casual fitness watch users. However, there’s room for improvement in simplifying its app interface.
When I envision a Garmin watch, I typically imagine a large and robust timepiece adorning the wrist of a perspiring marathon runner – a common sight at my weekly running club. What doesn’t come to mind, however, are lifestyle-oriented smartwatches, even though I’m aware that Garmin produces several such models (many of which I’ve personally reviewed!). This particular category didn’t seem to align with the company’s core strengths – or at least, that’s what I used to believe. Yet, after putting the $249.99 Venu Sq 2 to the test, my perspective is starting to shift.
As the name suggests, the Venu Sq 2 serves as the successor to the Venu Sq (pronounced as “S Q”) and occupies the introductory position in Garmin’s Venu series of watches. These Venu timepieces represent Garmin’s closest approach to conventional smartwatches, boasting vivid OLED displays, more streamlined designs, refined fitness tracking capabilities, and a slightly heightened emphasis on smart functionalities. The primary drawback was their relatively high cost compared to competing options. However, with the Venu Sq 2, it seems that Garmin has managed to strike a better balance. This watch not only outperforms Fitbit’s Versa 4 and Sense 2, but it also stands as one of the finest fitness watches available for less than $300.
Resembling an Apple Watch in appearance, with the enduring performance comparable to that of a Garmin device.
Resembling an Apple Watch in appearance yet boasting Garmin’s durability, the Venu Sq 2 managed to surprise me upon unboxing. Admittedly, my expectations were modest – the market is inundated with Apple Watch imitations, a fact readily apparent. One can practically find them in abundance on Amazon with little effort. Coincidentally, my review unit shares the same color as my Apple Watch Series 8, leading me to mistakenly reach for the wrong one on occasion. In terms of visual cues, the Venu Sq 2 distinguishes itself primarily through minuscule dots encircling its 1.4-inch OLED display and a pair of buttons adorning the watch’s side.
Over the course of several days, the design gradually won me over. Despite its plastic case, the aluminum bezel lends it an elegant touch. The default silicone strap is perfectly acceptable, even though personal preferences vary – luckily, the watch can readily accommodate any standard 20mm band if desired. Sizing-wise, the 40mm watch case suits my wrist comfortably, proving suitable for around-the-clock wear. Weighing in at 38g, it’s impressively lightweight; I’m pleased to note that I never tore it off during sleep, a tendency I’ve had with bulkier watches. Moreover, it didn’t impede my wrist while running, a particular boon for individuals like myself with smaller wrists. Measuring a sleek 11mm in thickness, it never snagged on my winter coat sleeves either.
Despite my preference for smaller watches due to comfort reasons, I often encounter difficulties in reading their screens. However, the display of the Venu Sq 2 was an exception that I didn’t mind. Despite my less-than-perfect eyesight, the vibrant colors and the larger default text size significantly enhanced the readability of notifications, surpassing what I’ve experienced with other watches of similar dimensions. Occasionally, the touchscreen exhibits a slight delay of about half a second when swiping, but this delay isn’t to the extent that it becomes frustrating or renders the watch unusable.
Even though its appearance bears resemblance to an Apple Watch, the Venu Sq 2’s battery life is quintessentially Garmin. Under regular usage, this watch boasts an estimated 11 days of battery life and can sustain 20 to 26 hours of GPS-driven workouts. I’ve worn it continuously for approximately eight or nine days, and the battery level has just now dropped below the 25 percent mark. This is with the always-on display feature turned off. If enabled, the battery life would shrink to around three days; naturally, actual battery performance hinges on individual usage patterns. Nevertheless, regardless of settings, you can expect to go multiple days on a single charge.
Loaded with features and specifications aplenty
While casual and entry-level smartwatches like the Venu Sq 2 might not surpass the top-tier flagships in terms of features or ruggedness, Garmin has managed to pack an impressive array of functionalities into this compact device. To spare you from information overload, here’s a concise rundown of the essential specs and features.
This feature-rich lineup truly shines considering its price point. For those who choose to invest an additional $50 in the Music version, the option to leave your phone behind during shorter workouts or errands becomes feasible. However, unless onboard music storage is a necessity, I’d recommend sticking with the standard model. This is because the Venu Sq 2 isn’t a fully standalone watch; in most cases, you’ll likely have your phone within reach.
Exceptional Fitness and Health Monitoring
I put the Venu Sq 2 through a series of GPS runs, running them side by side with my phone, the Apple Watch Ultra, and the Series 8. The disparities were so minimal that they were almost not even worth noting. While the Ultra’s multiband GPS exhibited a slight edge, the difference wasn’t substantial. In terms of heart rate measurement, the Venu Sq 2 performed comparably to my Polar H10 chest strap and the Ultra. These findings might not be exhilarating, but that’s actually a positive aspect. After all, this is a Garmin watch, and it delivers the kind of performance one would expect.
The Venu Sq 2 may not capture every conceivable metric, but that’s hardly a drawback. Even seasoned athletes might not utilize every feature Garmin includes in its more expensive models. What truly matters is that the watch covers all the essentials: step count, calories burned, and intensity minutes. The latter is particularly valuable as it aids newcomers in gauging whether they’ve met the recommended guideline of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Additionally, the watch can monitor a wide array of common activities, encompassing pilates, yoga, HIIT workouts, and sessions involving gym equipment like ellipticals. In essence, it’s a comprehensive companion unless you’re involved in the most extreme sports.
It’s a True Garmin Performer
When it comes to wellness features, the Venu Sq 2 offers an array of options including sleep tracking, stress monitoring, period tracking, hydration tracking, guided breathing sessions, respiration rate assessment, and Garmin’s unique Body Battery recovery gauge. Among these, the Body Battery stands out as the most distinctive. It serves as a gauge to measure the balance between the energy expended throughout the day and the amount restored during the preceding night’s sleep. Based on my extensive use, I find it to be quite accurate. For newcomers, it offers a straightforward visual representation of recovery status.
While not specifically tailored for advanced athletes, what’s appealing about the Venu Sq 2 is its potential for growth. It caters to beginners with its simplicity, yet also provides features suitable for intermediate-level athletes, particularly runners. The inclusion of Garmin Coach training plans for 5K, 10K, and half-marathons sets it apart. These plans offer more depth compared to the general fitness programs found in platforms like Apple Fitness Plus and Fitbit Premium. In my experience, I’ve even found them more appealing than some dedicated running apps like Runkeeper. Garmin’s plans are led by professional coaches, each with their unique teaching styles, and they consider your current fitness level and history. The program dynamically adapts as you progress, and the workouts are seamlessly synchronized with your wrist device.
The most remarkable part is that all this content is available for free. This is a rarity in the realm of fitness technology, where many apps and services often lock premium features behind paywalls. While this might change in the future, Garmin has made it clear that it currently has no intentions of doing so.
