Test Garmin venu 2 plus TechRadar

The Garmin came 2 more in summary

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is the heiress of the Garmin Venu 2 of 2021, it has the same characteristics with a major addition: a microphone.This allows you to answer incoming calls from your wrist, and use the voice assistant for your smartphone without getting it out of your pocket.It is also compatible with Siri, Google Assistant and Bixby.

You will have to pay a little more for the additional vocal functionality - the 2 -time arrival costs 50 € more than the original at the time of its release - but it is certainly not a simple gadget.Whether we wanted to make a quick translation in another language, control a home automation system, calculate the payment of a tip or control the musical reader, the possibility of exploiting the voice assistant rather than a physical button is more thanpractice.This upgrade thus makes this excellent smartwatch even easier to recommend.

Like the original 2 coming, the 2nd 2 Plus is a versatile smartwatch and a solid choice if you are looking for a unique device that you can wear all day, whether you practice a sport or not.Thanks to its stainless steel case and its clear and clear screen, it is elegant enough to be worn on any occasion - and, although it is only available in one size, its medium -sized box should be suitable forMost wrists.

Like any Garmin watch, it excels in monitoring physical condition, by measuring heart rate, oxygen levels in the blood (SPO2), sleep cycles, body temperature, thebreathing and stress.The GPS is incredibly precise - the 2 -more arrival followed our 5 km race without a striking drift.Garmin's latest optical cardiac frequency monitor is also very efficient, quickly reacting to changes during interval training sessions.

Garmin also pulled the best party from the watch and high resolution of the watch by displaying muscle cards presenting the recently worked groups, as well as guided training animations for yoga and pilates.It is an intelligent addition that makes the coming 2 plus an ideal tool for all those who wish to embark on a new activity and strengthen their existing training sessions by exercises of strength and flexibility.

Garmin has the possibility of adding other guided sessions in the future, and the company retains the habit of supporting its devices with software updates long after their initial launch.We therefore expect this function to improve in the months and years to come.

If you are looking for the most advanced tools, such as navigation turns by real -time turn or the assessment of the drive load, you will be better served by a watch like the Forerunner 945 or the Fenix 6. But for the rest,The 2 -Plus arrival is easy to recommend.

Price and release date

The Garmin Venu 2 Plus officially released on January 4, 2022, at the recommended price of € 449.99.For comparison, the original 2 original was launched at € 399.99 in April 2021 - it has been costing € 350.The additional microphone appears to be a substantial, but very appreciable investment.

Design

The design of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus is almost identical to that of Venu 2, but while the original watch was available in 40 mm and 45 mm versions, the 2 plus coming only offers a 43 mm case.This is a good compromise: large enough to accommodate additional components, but not too much for small wrists.

The new components in question include the new microphone, which is on the left edge of the case.The right edge also introduces an unprecedented button, which serves as a shortcut to the voice assistant of your smartphone.This is a welcome addition;The fact of having to maintain a button pressed for a second rather than navigating in the menus means that you are much more likely to use it, and during the watch test, we found ourselves to activate Google Assistant much more often thanusually.

The coming 2 Plus is available in three colors: Steel stainless gold cream with an ivory bracelet (as illustrated here), slate stainless steel with a black bracelet and silver stainless steel with a powdered gray bracelet.All standard bracelets are made from the usual flexible silicone, but if you don't mind paying a supplement, you can opt for something more luxurious like leather or metal.

Like the coming 2, the 2nd arrival has a water resistance of 5atm (50 meters), which allows it to endure a passage in the shower or in a swimming pool - avoid wearing it if youPractice a high -speed nautical sport or diving.

It weighs 51 g, which makes it slightly heavier than the models from 40 mm and 45 mm (which weigh respectively 38.2 g and 49 g).But this is not a difference that you will notice on a daily basis.

The watch recharges using the same USB-ATIn cable as the rest of the current Garmin watches range.This is easily connected to the back of the case and remains in place, even if it is not as practical as wireless induction recharge.

The 2nd 2 Plus has a bright high resolution AMOLED touch screen, which aims to be fluid and responsive to use.It has a permanent display mode, which considerably reduces the level of autonomy of the watch.

Autonomy

As always, the autonomy varies according to the use you make of your watch, especially if you decide to regularly consult the SPO2 follow -up and the GPS.According to Garmin, the watch is up to nine days in classic smartwatch mode, up to 10 days in economics mode, up to eight hours with GPS and audio reading, or 24 hours with GPS but without music.

We used the 2 Plus coming with a pulse oximeter disabled all day and followed a daily workout.We then found that the battery was emptied at a rate of around 10% per day, which exceeds the figures announced by the brand and is respectable for a powerful Smartwatch Amoled.To replace things in context, the Fitbit Charge 5, with a smaller screen, has a maximum autonomy of only seven days.

It is not as impressive as the Huawei Watch GT 3 of 46 mm - a watch with similar specifications which can operate up to fifteen days on a single load - but the 2nd more remains one of the most economical watchesof his guy.

main Features

As previously indicated, the main difference between coming 2 and the coming 2 Plus is the addition of a microphone.This allows you to use the voice assistant for your smartphone, make and answer telephone calls provided that your mobile device is compatible with Bluetooth.

The sound quality of the microphone is impressive - your voice is easy to follow during a call, and we had no trouble making Google Assistant Activated Activated via an Android smartphone understand.This is a convenient feature that is essential after only a few minutes of use.

The possibility of making and taking calls is not only practical, it is also a welcome security function which allows you to call an emergency number or contact through a shortcut.While activities such as running and cycling have an automatic detection function of incidents and falls.

If you don't want to be disturbed, you can send an automatic textual response to incoming calls and messages.You have the choice between many predefined options or you can create yours via the Garmin Connect application.

If you prefer to run without your phone, you can store up to 350 songs here.You can also use the watch to control the musical player in your smartphone.Again through Bluetooth.

The watch also supports contactless payments (which lacks one of its main rivals, the Huawei Watch GT 3).It is compatible with a wide range of banks, as well as certain transport services.

Fitness features

As one might expect from a Garmin watch, the 2 -more coming is a superb sports watch, and although it does not offer the advanced training tools of a fenix or a high drillrange, it is perfectly suited to beginner and intermediate athletes.

The latest optical cardiac frequency instructor is particularly impressive, offering follow -up throughout the day and very quickly reacting to rhythm changes during intervals training.We put it to the test during several difficult spinning sessions, and the results corresponded almost exactly to those of a cardio- although you can also connect the latter to the 2nd 2 more using Ant+ if you prefer.It is also possible to connect a stride sensor in this way, or to connect a Garmin Edge bicycle counter.

GPS also appears to be superb.He followed our running route from 5 km to 100 meters (a difference which could be explained by the fact that these are public roads rather than marked tracks).

Although you do not have real -time navigation, turn by turn, as is the case with the high -end sports watches of Garmin, the coming 2 Plus has a return function at the starting point, extremely practical if you have explored a new area during a training session.Before you start, select Navigation in the menu, and the watch will use the GPS to lock on your current position so that you can return to the starting point when necessary.

One of the best innovations in coming 2 is the addition of muscle cards to the screen, which indicate the parts of the body that you have worked recently, as well as animated pilates and yoga sessions that you can follow in timereal.This feature really draws the best party from the big amoled screen of the watch.And, although there are only three Pilates sessions and three yoga sessions to follow for the moment, we hope that others will be added during the next firmware update.

Companion application

Garmin Connect remains one of the best -designed physical condition monitoring applications, and if you go to the 2 plus coming 2 having previously tested one of the company's first watches, you will find that all your data are synchronized withtransparent way.We had no problem connecting the new watch;Just open Garmin Connect on your phone, select "Garmin devices" from the menu and follow the instructions on the screen.

From the opening of the application, a dashboard presents all your latest biometric data.By default, these data include body battery (an energy measure you have for the day according to your sleep and activity habits), heart rate, sleep, stress, minutes of intensity(Time spent practicing physical activity), steps, calories, SPO2 surveillance and breathing.All these elements are however fully customizable, and you can reorganize the different tiles, delete those that do not interest you or add others, such as monitoring of menstrual cycles, hydration and weight.

Garmin has really improved his follow -up of female health in recent years, and you can monitor your monthly cycle in the Garmin Connect application and on your 2nd arrival.The application warns you when your rules are about to start (with a precision at the near day, according to our experience), and invites you to note the symptoms throughout the cycle.There is also a pregnancy monitoring function, although we have not tested it ourselves.

By clicking on one of the daily dashboard cards, you access a more detailed analysis screen, where you can browse your most recent statistics as well as historical data.Unlike other watch manufacturers, Garmin did not locate his analyzes behind a paying subscription, and everything is available at a glance with clear graphics and additional information to put statistics in context.

Garmin Connect also gives you access to free training sessions, especially for running and cycling.These allow you to set a goal (such as running your first 10 km), drawing a weekly program and adapting it to the volley according to your performance during past training sessions.You can also change the plan along the way.So, if you need a day of rest, the application will reorganize your training sessions programmed accordingly.

Garmin Connect is compatible with all the main third-party fitness applications, including Strava, MyfitnessPal and Zwift, to name a few.The application association is simple and your data is automatically synchronized between services, without you having to intervene in the process.

You can download additional applications, themes and data for the Garmin Venu 2 Plus via Garmin Connect IQ.As expected, the vast majority of applications are focused on fitness, and the general level seems impressive;Many have been developed by people really passionate about their specific sport - whether it is running, cycling, crossfit or other - and multiple efforts has been made to provide you with the most relevant information.

The interface is easy to handle and allows you to get the most out of the large amount of data collected by your 2 Plus coming every day.

Buy it if ...

You are looking for a watch that accompanies you on a daily basis is not necessary to invest in separate devices to follow your mobile applications or your training sessions, and answer some telephone calls.The 2nd 2 Plus is a smartwatch rich in functionality, elegant enough to be worn in the office or in progress, while concentrating several fitness sensors to motivate you outside.

You want to vary your sports activities that are perfectly suited to running, cycling and classic gymnastics exercises, but the company extends its expertise and offers animated yoga and pilates exercises on the 2 Plus Venu.What vary the pleasures.

Do not buy it if ...

You want to leave your smartphone at home with Garmin's LTE watches, the coming 2 Plus does not have its own SIM card.You will therefore need to keep your Bluetooth smartphone nearby to make and receive calls.

You do not play sports regularly ...... and you do not intend to start.The coming 2 Plus is focused on a fitness use, and if you remain a homebody, you will not benefit from most of its best functions.