Garmin, a leading brand in fitness wearables, has launched the Venu SQ 2, the successor to its Venu SQ smartwatch. This new product is more affordable than some of their other offerings, which are known to be expensive. Garmin has established itself as a fitness wearables pioneer by developing products catering to those leading an active lifestyle. India being price sensitive despite being the biggest market for smart wearables, will be a tough nut to crack for Garmin.
The Venu SQ 2 is trying to compete with Apple and Samsung to cater to premium buyers. I have been wearing the Venu SQ 2 for ten days now. I can confidently say it can potentially attract new users to the Garmin ecosystem.
The Garmin Venu SQ 2 is available for purchase at a price of ₹27,990 and comes in a single 40mm dial size. You can purchase it online through Flipkart and Garmin D2C websites or in person at Vijay Sales’ offline stores.
Garmin Venu SQ 2 review: Unboxing
The Venu 2 SQ2 the packaging is relatively minimal, with the smartwatch arriving in a gray, generic-looking box similar to what you might find in a budget price range. Since Garmin products are usually compared with the likes of Apple and Samsung, the premium feel is missing from the package. Don’t get me wrong, the package is sold, but I wish Garmin could add that finesse of a premium brand. The box contains:
The Watch,
Charging cable
and documentation.
Garmin Venu SQ 2 review: Design and build
Garmin has always been known for producing products with the excellent build quality, and the Venu SQ 2 is no exception. Regardless of its size, the smartwatch feels solid to hold, with the dial made from high-quality polymer and surrounded by an aluminum bezel. It’s also water-resistant up to 5 ATM, which is a standard for Garmin watches. The brand claims that you can take it swimming, and the watch even comes with a dedicated swimming preset. While I didn’t take it for any laps, I wore it through sweaty gym sessions and washing dishes without any issues.
One advantage of having a polymer case is that it registers considerably fewer scratches than glass backs. The design of the Venu SQ 2 is also practical, with the straps being fairly easy to replace with just one twist. While it may not be as convenient as an Apple watch, the ability to change the straps yourself is still a win.
Speaking of straps, the bundled pair that comes with the Venu SQ 2 is of excellent quality. As someone with sensitive skin that tends to develop a rash from wearing watches all day, I appreciate that Garmin has prioritized comfort. The straps are lightweight, breathable, and sit comfortably on the wrist. Overall, I am impressed with the build quality and practical design of the Venu SQ 2.
Garmin Venu SQ 2 review: Display and Setup
Compared to its predecessor, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 boasts several significant improvements to its display. Firstly, the screen is now 1.4 inches in size, making it bigger than the outgoing model. Secondly, the brighter AMOLED display enhances visibility in all lighting conditions, including outdoors in daylight. Finally, the text on the screen is larger, which makes it easier to read, even for people with less-than-perfect eyesight. However, despite these positive changes, some users like me may find the 40mm dial size to be too small, particularly if they have larger wrists.
Coming to the setup, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones. To get started, users simply need to download the free Garmin Connect app from either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. While the watch does offer some basic options for customisation, I found that the app provides a much more comprehensive and enjoyable experience. With the larger screen of your smartphone, it’s easier to navigate through the list of workout apps, add them to your favorites, and customize the Glance screen or set up Garmin Pay.
Furthermore, the Connect app provides a detailed overview of your health metrics, which is much easier to understand than the basic details displayed on the watch. The app’s interface is intuitive and user-friendly, offering a feature-rich experience.
While the watch’s user interface is not as smooth or easy to explore as Apple’s watchOS, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 does support third-party apps that can be installed via the Connect IQ Store app. Despite this, I do believe that Garmin needs to work on improving the watch’s UI to make it more intuitive and responsive.
However, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 does have some impressive features. For example, the Health Snapshot feature allows the watch to create a log of your key health metrics, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress levels, heart rate variability, and breathing. This log can be accessed via the Garmin Connect app or by swiping up or down on the main screen of the watch, making it easy to keep track of your health data.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 review: Performance
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 offers a wide range of more than 25 indoor and GPS workout modes, from basic activities like cycling, running, and walking to more intense workouts such as High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and pilates.
When it comes to step count accuracy, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 performs well, counting only 12 extra steps over 1,000 manually counted steps during a test. In comparison, the Apple Watch Series 7 counted 16 extra steps. The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is also able to distinguish between slow movements in a vehicle and actual walking, although it is not foolproof and may occasionally add steps during a car ride.
Garmin has claimed that the fourth-generation heart rate sensor on the Venu Sq 2 provides accurate results, and in testing, it proved to be almost as accurate as a pulse oximeter device for heart rate and SpO2 readings. However, it is important to note that for accurate medical readings, a medically-approved device should be used.
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 also supports sleep tracking, with fairly accurate tracking of sleep and wake-up times. The sleep score provided by the watch can be used to identify areas for improvement, such as going to bed earlier and is not limited to the number of hours slept. For example, if a user sleeps for eight hours but goes to bed at 2 am, the watch will suggest going to bed earlier the following day to improve the sleep score.
Verdict: Should you buy Garmin Venu Sq 2?
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is one of the affordable offerings Garmin has to offer in the Indian market. The watch offers high-quality features without sacrificing accuracy, particularly in the heart rate monitoring sensor and blood oxygen measuring system. It also includes the Health Snapshot feature that provides an overview of essential health metrics. With several preset workout modes and free coaching sessions on the app, the watch provides an intuitive fitness experience. Additionally, the battery life is impressive, lasting through several day-to-day activities.
Despite these features, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 falls short in terms of overall software experience that you get with an Apple Watch or Samsung Watch. The user interface requires an upgrade, and the watch’s minimalist design may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, the single dial size limits the watch’s availability for certain wrist sizes. Overall, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is an excellent choice for those seeking a smartwatch with accurate health and fitness metrics and reliable battery life.
