Honestly, the smartwatch market is a bit of a mess right now. You’ve got these massive ultra-rugged bricks that cost as much as a laptop, or you've got cheap plastic trackers that barely survive a rainy jog. Then there’s the Garmin Venu 2 Sq. It's a weird one, but in a good way. It doesn't look like the circular, "serious" Garmin watches that marathon runners wear, yet it packs almost all the same internal punch. Most people look at the square face and think it's just a knock-off Apple Watch. It isn't. It’s a health tool that happens to tell the time, and after wearing it for a while, you realize the shape is actually the least interesting thing about it.
Square screens just make sense for reading text. Circular watches cut off the corners of your notifications, which is annoying if you're trying to read a quick Slack message or a text from your mom while grocery shopping. With the Venu 2 Sq, you get that 1.41-inch display that actually lets you see what’s going on. It’s crisp. It’s bright enough to see under the harsh midday sun. And because it’s Garmin, the battery doesn't die in 18 hours. Imagine that. A watch you don't have to charge every single night like a second smartphone.
What most people get wrong about the Venu 2 Sq
A common mistake is assuming this is the "budget" Garmin that skips the good sensors. That’s just not true. Under the hood, it uses the Elevate Gen 4 heart rate sensor. That’s the same tech found in much more expensive models. It’s incredibly accurate for steady-state cardio. If you’re going for a run or a long bike ride, the data it spits out is basically indistinguishable from a chest strap for 95% of users. Where it struggles—and all wrist-based sensors do—is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). If your heart rate is jumping from 100 to 180 in ten seconds, the sensor might lag a bit. That’s just physics and blood flow.
People also freak out about the lack of a barometric altimeter. The "Music" edition of the Garmin Venu 2 Sq is great, but neither version will tell you exactly how many flights of stairs you climbed today based on air pressure. Is that a dealbreaker? Probably not for most of us. Your phone's GPS or the watch’s own GPS can still map your elevation gain during a workout once the data syncs to Garmin Connect. You just won't get that "floors climbed" badge on the watch face. Small price to pay for a significantly lower MSRP.
The Health Data You’ll Actually Use
Garmin's Body Battery is probably the best feature they’ve ever invented. It’s a simple 1 to 100 score that tells you how much "gas" you have left in the tank. It’s scarily accurate. If you’ve been drinking the night before or if you’re coming down with a cold, you’ll see your Body Battery struggle to charge overnight. It uses heart rate variability (HRV) to figure this out. HRV is the tiny variation in time between each heartbeat. A high HRV means your nervous system is relaxed and ready to go. A low one means you're stressed or tired.
I’ve seen it happen. You wake up feeling "fine," but your Venu 2 Sq says your Body Battery is only at 40. By noon, you’re exhausted. The watch knew before you did. It’s these kinds of insights that make it more than just a step counter. It also tracks Pulse Ox (blood oxygen levels), respiration, and stress. The stress tracking isn't about your boss yelling at you—it's about physiological stress on your body. Sometimes those two are the same thing, though.
Battery life that actually lasts a week
We need to talk about the battery. Garmin claims up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. In the real world, with the "Always On" display turned off and a few 30-minute GPS workouts, you’re looking at a solid 6 to 8 days. That is a game-changer. You can wear it to sleep to track your REM and deep sleep stages without worrying about it dying at 3:00 AM. Sleep tracking on the Garmin Venu 2 Sq is much improved over the original Sq, giving you a sleep score that breaks down why you feel like a zombie in the morning.
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If you opt for the Music version, you can store about 500 songs directly on the watch. It syncs with Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. Pairing Bluetooth headphones is painless. Running without your phone is one of those small freedoms that feels much bigger than it is. Just you, your music, and the GPS. Speaking of GPS, it supports GLONASS and Galileo, so it finds a signal fast even if you’re surrounded by tall trees or city buildings.
Why it beats the Apple Watch SE for fitness
The Apple Watch is a better "smartwatch." It has more apps and better integration if you’re an iPhone user. But if your goal is health and fitness, the Garmin Venu 2 Sq wins because of the Garmin Connect app. Apple hides a lot of your data across three different apps (Fitness, Health, and Watch). Garmin puts everything in one place. No subscriptions, either. You buy the watch, and you get all the coaching, data analysis, and training plans for free.
Garmin Coach is a feature people sleep on. You can pick a goal—like running a 5K—and a real coach (like Jeff Galloway) "designs" a plan for you that adapts based on your performance. If you miss a day, the plan adjusts. If you're crushing your workouts, it gets harder. It’s like having a personal trainer on your wrist that doesn't charge you $50 an hour.
The build quality is... functional. It’s fiber-reinforced polymer (basically high-end plastic) with an aluminum bezel. It’s light. Extremely light. You’ll forget you’re wearing it, which is exactly what you want in a fitness tracker. The Gorilla Glass 3 screen is tough, but you might want a screen protector if you’re prone to banging your wrist against doorframes.
Dealing with the downsides
No device is perfect. The screen on the Venu 2 Sq has a bit of a bezel around it. It’s not an edge-to-edge display like some of the ultra-premium OLED watches. Also, Garmin Pay is great, but you need to check if your bank is supported. Many major banks are, but some smaller credit unions haven't made the list yet.
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The interface is also a bit "button-heavy" combined with the touchscreen. There’s a slight learning curve if you’re coming from a purely touch-based system. Swipe up for your "glances" (widgets), top button for workouts, bottom button for back/settings. It becomes second nature after a day or two, but it’s not as immediately intuitive as a smartphone.
Making the right choice for your wrist
If you want a watch that handles your calls and lets you dictate texts like a secret agent, get an Apple Watch or a Samsung Galaxy Watch. But if you want a device that helps you understand your body, lasts a week on a charge, and gives you professional-grade fitness data, the Garmin Venu 2 Sq is the better tool. It’s about utility.
Start by downloading the Garmin Connect app even before you buy the watch to see the interface. Look at the "Music" vs. "Non-Music" price difference—usually about $50—and decide if you actually run without your phone. Most people think they will, but then realize they want their phone for safety or photos anyway. If that's you, save the cash and get the base model.
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Go into the settings immediately after unboxing and set up your heart rate zones. The "Auto Detection" is okay, but if you know your max heart rate, entering it manually makes the calorie burn and intensity minute data much more accurate. Finally, turn off the "Pulse Ox" all-day tracking unless you have a specific medical reason to monitor it; that's the fastest way to kill your battery. Set it to "Manual" or "During Sleep" only. You'll thank me when you're still at 40% battery on Friday morning.