From occasional reminders to get up and move, to monitoring stress levels and analysing sleep quality – smartwatches offer a wide range of functions that go far beyond the classic fitness wristbands. Apple has been the market leader here for years with new Apple Watch models every year, while Samsung is virtually unrivalled on the Android side.
However, it doesn’t always have to be Apple or Samsung – the Garmin Venu 2 is compatible with both Android and iOS, which makes it attractive to many users. Due to the current price reduction, the smartwatch has catapulted from nowhere to second place among the bestsellers in the “activity tracker” category on Amazon and can be purchased for a short time at the best price of just £259.99. Unfortunately, the Amazon product page does not indicate how long this special offer price is valid.
What the Garmin Venu 2 has to offer
As is usual with modern smartwatches, the Garmin Venu 2 has a 1.3-inch AMOLED always-on display. Just like the Google Pixel Watch or the Galaxy Watches, the design is round and resembles a traditional wristwatch. However, the highlight is the battery, which is said to offer a battery life of up to 11 days – although this depends on the intensity of use and the mode used. With GPS and music, you end up with just eight hours. There are 25 pre-installed sports modes available in the Garmin Connect app, which offer numerous ways to increase your fitness:
- Cycle tracking
- Heart rate measurement
- Sleep analysis
- Pedometer
- Training plans
- Advanced strength training with over 1,400 exercises
- Accident notification
- Integrated GPS
With Garmin Music, the Garmin Venu 2 can store up to 650 songs directly on the watch, as it does not offer integration with streaming services such as Spotify. You should therefore bear in mind that the Garmin Venu 2 was primarily designed as a fitness watch and the focus is on health features rather than multimedia functions – you can still make cashless payments via Garmin Pay. Therefore, the watch cannot be used to make calls, but notifications can be set as long as it is connected to the smartphone.
Sports enthusiasts and people who attach great importance to their health in particular will get their money’s worth with the Garmin smartwatch, as it specialises in the fitness sector. Even though it is significantly less well-known and does not achieve the sales figures of the Apple or Samsung models, it still has an impressive rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 2,000 customer reviews.
In addition, the watch has already been sold over 500 times in the last month, which is probably also due to the current price, which offers a real alternative to the expensive Apple Watch and harmonises with both iOS and Android. However, the offer on Amazon is a limited-time promotion, during which the Garmin Venu 2 could rise in price again at any time from just £259.99 (-29 percent).
What you should consider when buying a smartwatch
As smartwatches come in many variations in terms of battery life, compatibility with smartphones and available health and fitness functions, it is important to choose a model that meets your personal needs. In addition, the price varies considerably depending on the technology and brand. A well-considered decision can therefore not only increase satisfaction with the product, but also avoid unnecessary expenditure. The following aspects can play a role here:
- Compatibility: check whether the smartwatch is compatible with your smartphone. Some watches are specially optimised for certain operating systems such as iOS or Android.
- Functions: Determine which functions are important to you. This can range from fitness tracking (pedometer, heart rate measurement, GPS) to smart functions (notifications, apps, voice assistant) and special health features (sleep monitoring, stress management).
- Battery life: Some models last several days or weeks, others need to be charged daily.
- Water resistance: If you want to wear the smartwatch while swimming or in wet environments, make sure it is waterproof.
- Health monitoring: Some smartwatches offer extensive health monitoring, such as ECGs, blood oxygen monitoring or temperature measurement.
If you are currently looking for a fitness tracker that has more smart features than the standard models, the Garmin Venu 2 for £259.99 is the right choice. However, you should be aware that many multimedia features and apps such as Spotify are not available on the watch – if this is more important to you, you can take a look at the Garmin Venu 2 Plus, which at least supports phone calls and also comes with an ECG function. Otherwise, the watch is ideal for all kinds of sporting activities and offers precise monitoring of health values.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and adapted from German.