The Garmin Venu Sq 2: A Feature-Packed Fitness Tracker with a Pricey Price Tag
Garmin has released its latest budget-friendly smartwatch, the Venu Sq 2 in India, succeeding the original Venu Sq launched in 2020. This new generation offers many hardware and software upgrades, including an array of new workout modes. Garmin also introduced a Music Edition of the Venu Sq 2 for those who want to listen to their favorite tunes on the go, allowing users to store up to 500 songs directly on the watch.
While the standard Venu Sq 2 lacks offline music playback, it shares the same functionalities as its Music Edition counterpart. The smartwatch boasts a starting price of Rs. 27,990 in India, competing directly with other popular wearables like the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. But with an abundance of fitness features, is the Garmin Venu Sq 2 worth the buy? Let’s delve into the details to find out.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 Price in India
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 comes in a single 40mm size and is priced at Rs. 27,990. It is available in three colors: Cool Mint, Shadow Grey, and White. The Music Edition of the Venu Sq 2, priced at Rs. 33,490, comes in Black, Ivory, and French Grey colors.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 Design and Specifications
The Venu Sq 2 features a few design upgrades compared to its predecessor. The screen is now a larger 1.4 inches, but at 40mm, it might appear small on larger wrists. While it’s a brighter AMOLED display with larger text for better readability, even outdoors, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 lacks a built-in speaker, meaning you can’t answer calls or listen to voice messages directly on the watch.
The watch retains the two buttons on the right side, each offering single and long-press menu options. While it might take some time to get used to the button functionality, especially for first-time Garmin users, the Always-On Display (AoD) feature is a welcomed addition.
However, the AoD can drain battery life, making it a trade-off. The Venu Sq 2 also includes a fourth-generation heart rate sensor on the underside, but it lacks inductive charging, requiring the use of a proprietary cable.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 Software and App
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones, requiring the Garmin Connect app for configuration and data tracking. While the watch offers some basic customization options, the Connect app provides a more comprehensive and intuitive experience, especially for managing workout apps and customizing the Glance screen.
The app also offers a detailed overview of your health metrics, though the user interface on the watch itself can feel clunky and less intuitive compared to competitors like Apple’s watchOS.
One standout feature is Health Snapshot, which creates a log of key health metrics like heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress levels, heart rate variability, and breathing. This data can be accessed on the Garmin Connect app or directly on the watch.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 Performance and Battery Life
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 boasts over 25 built-in indoor and GPS workout modes, encompassing everything from cycling, running, and walking to more intense activities like HIIT, Pilates, and more.
The watch’s step count accuracy is commendable, with minimal discrepancy against manual counting. However, it’s not foolproof, as it sometimes records vehicle movement as steps. The fourth-generation heart rate sensor provides remarkably accurate readings, almost comparable to dedicated pulse oximeter devices. While helpful for reference, it’s essential to rely on medical devices for accurate diagnoses.
The sleep tracking feature is accurate, differentiating between lying down and actual sleep, and provides a detailed sleep score upon waking. The watch also offers suggestions for improving sleep quality based on the score.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 shines in terms of battery life, delivering up to 11 days of runtime on a single charge, with the potential for up to 12 days through the battery saver mode. This impressive battery life allows for extended wear and use without constant charging concerns.
Verdict
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a solid option for fitness enthusiasts looking for an affordable smartwatch with impressive health and fitness metrics and exceptional battery life. The watch excels in accurate heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen measurement, and sleep tracking, further enhanced by the user-friendly Health Snapshot feature.
However, the user interface needs a significant revamp as it feels cluttered and less intuitive compared to competitors. The watch’s design, while minimalist, might not appeal to all, and the lack of size options restricts choice.
Overall, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a dedicated fitness tracker disguised as a smartwatch. While it excels in fitness tracking and battery life, the lackluster software experience and the single size option might make others lean towards alternatives like the Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 series.
