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Garmin’s big selection of wearables are able to monitoring all the pieces, which is why they’re usually thought-about among the many finest health trackers, the perfect working watches, and the perfect Android smartwatch. However generally, you do not want each single bell and whistle; and that is precisely the place the Venu 2 slots into the model’s lineup.
The Venu 2 is a stable all-around exercise tracker with built-in GPS, music-storing capabilities, and complete well being, wellness, and health options. Whereas it does have some quantity of fundamental smartwatch functionality, it is apparent that is before everything a watch meant for energetic people.
And whereas it may be seen as an improve over the less-capable Vivofit sequence, and a extra informal different to one thing just like the Forerunner 745, the Venu 2 nonetheless has its limits in comparison with the broader health tracker area. As an example, app assist is skinny and its interface is not that intuitive.
However with highly effective battery life and a collection of superior health-tracking choices, I nonetheless really feel as if the Venu 2 is a stable contender as a worthy all-in-one health machine.
It is an enormous watch, particularly for folk with smaller wrists
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Let’s begin with the unhealthy information: the Venu 2 is essentially the most uncomfortable health tracker I’ve ever worn. That is due primarily to its extremely giant watch face, which measures a whopping 1.2 inches in diameter.
Sporting it usually all through the day was extra annoying than painful, however exercises — particularly after they concerned issues like pushups, planks, or a down-dog — have been a continuing battle of the watch digging into my wrist. People with bigger wrists could not discover the dimensions of the show an excessive amount of of a difficulty, however for me, it was a critical distraction.
There may be a simple answer for this, nonetheless, and that is the Venu 2S, a smaller model of the Venu 2 that will be much better for folk with smaller wrists. It is available in a 40mm case measurement and the display is barely smaller at 1.1 inches. It is not drastic however it might make a distinction.
Fortunately, the band that comes with the Venu 2 is a distinct story. With tons of sizing slots and a mushy silicone materials, it is a far cry by way of consolation in comparison with the watch face. Plus, there are over 40 band choices you should purchase through Garmin if you wish to customise your look.
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The show itself is a little bit of a blended bag. It does have a powerful decision — it is Garmin’s first AMOLED show, in spite of everything — however it’s a bit of troublesome to navigate, particularly for first-time customers. There are simply two facet buttons (the Venu 2 Plus presents three), and it takes some follow to grasp how you can function each. I unintentionally began a strength-training exercise extra instances than I can rely.
If well being monitoring is your foremost precedence, you will like how accessible your stats are. Merely swiping up offers you a full image of your every day exercise, sleep patterns, and coronary heart charge. Nevertheless, I did nonetheless discover myself checking the Garmin Join App for information greater than the precise watch itself.
Its exercise builder is nice for DIY athletes and fitness center newbies
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The Venu 2 excels as a health tracker, notably relating to the exercise builder that lets you create a routine within the Garmin Join app after which obtain it to the watch for straightforward entry. There are additionally tons of pre-existing exercises throughout the app you’ll be able to pull from, and the watch even shows animated photographs of every transfer so that you can comply with alongside.
Whereas I loved the monitoring and exercise creation options on my raise days, I did not discover a lot use for the opposite train choices. I believed the HITT exercise could be good for my HITT exercise class however the fixed beginning and stopping of the timer made it extra of a problem than an assist. Over time, I simply used the cardio possibility, which not less than stored my coronary heart charge ranges and what number of energy I burned in verify.
One function that makes the Venu 2 particularly value carrying is its built-in GPS. I am not a runner, however did use it whereas on lengthy walks with my pup. I discovered it to be extremely correct, which is a significant plus for anybody desiring to meticulously observe their exercises.
Moreover, the built-in private working coach (which is free once you purchase the watch) additionally makes it an honest possibility for aspiring marathoners. Simply know that in the event you plan on often utilizing the GPS and the music, it does whittle the battery life down from 5 days to only six hours.
Whereas I did not have entry to check the watch’s supposed 5 ATM water score (an abbreviation of environment, which means it is waterproof as much as 50-meter depths), it did maintain up wonderful within the bathe. That alone makes it a top quality contender for anybody seeking to observe their swimming exercises.
Its superior well being monitoring presents nice insights for hardcore or informal athletes alike
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There is not any scarcity of data the Venu 2 offers about your well being as it may possibly observe your steps, energy burned, hydration, stress, sleep, blood oxygen, menstrual cycle, and respiration, amongst others. A few of it does require handbook entry (like hydration monitoring), however a lot of the evaluation and monitoring is computerized.
Like most related wearables, the extra you put on it, the extra insights you will obtain. As an example, it presents new, holistic well being monitoring for stress ranges and sleep patterns.
Whereas these sounded nice in concept, I did discover it arduous to put on the Venu 2 for extended intervals of time because of the uncomfortable watch face, and the insights weren’t compelling sufficient for me to stay it out. It was good to have my cycle monitored however the monitoring wasn’t almost as complete as a number of the different apps I exploit on my cellphone.
After carrying the Venu 2 for just a few days, it compiles all of your amassed information and creates what Garmin calls your Physique Battery. The Physique Battery is a mixture of your resting coronary heart charge, stress ranges, and different elements that offer you an total measurement of your physique’s power reserves between 1 and 100.
In different phrases, the upper your battery, the extra power you will have. I discovered this to be an particularly useful function when deciding what sort of exercise I ought to do on any given day, and whether or not I ought to push myself or take it simple.
It presents fundamental smartwatch functionality plus the flexibility to retailer and play music
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The most effective options of the Venu 2 is that it presents music storage capabilities, permitting you to obtain playlists and songs from both Spotify, Deezer, or Amazon Music. Whilst you cannot entry your complete library through the watch, you’ll be able to not less than put your favourite exercise tunes in a single place for straightforward listening. Plus, this implies you do not have to tote your cellphone alongside on a run.
As a smartwatch, the Venu 2 is sort of fundamental. It will get app notifications, in addition to alerts for calls and texts, however solely Android customers have the flexibility to reply to messages (iPhone customers nonetheless get the notifications however that is it). In the event you go for the Venu 2 Plus, you’d then have entry to a built-in microphone that lets you make calls and obtain “voice assistant assist” through Bluetooth.
Multi-day battery life is among the Venu 2’s highlights
Battery life amongst wearables is an extremely polarizing function as some barely make it by way of a day earlier than needing a recharge whereas others can final upwards of 5, six, or seven days. The Venu 2 falls within the latter class, with a most battery lifetime of roughly 5 days (as long as the GPS and music functionality aren’t all the time on).
Even once you do use the monitoring options and the music playback usually, you’ll be able to nonetheless count on to get a number of days of battery life out of the watch. Plus, as soon as it does lastly die, it by no means took greater than an hour or so to completely recharge.
Do you have to purchase it?
In the event you’re available in the market for a wearable that provides superior well being metrics and correct health monitoring, the Venu 2 is very value contemplating. Although its cumbersome design might not be for everybody, it’s out there in smaller sizes through Garmin, so people with smaller wrists should not be solely dissuaded.
It would not supply the newest smartwatch capabilities, however it’s a watch that is made solely for the energetic crowd and is even a stable selection for first-time wearers or these simply starting their health journey (although the training curve for navigating the watch is sort of steep). Total, its complete method to well being, wellness, and health makes it a invaluable asset for anybody seeking to keep in form.
