Apple and Garmin are two of the most well-known brands in the world regarding the production of smartwatches. The first company has recently released the Series 7 version of its flagship wearable device. This arrives with a few other upgrades, including a slightly increased display size.
Conversely, Garmin has been relatively sluggish with new product launches this year. Having said that, we anticipate the release of at least one new product within the next few months. For the time being, the renowned Vivoactive and Venu lines will continue to serve as its primary competitor in the market for all-purpose smartwatches.
The competition for the space on your wrist is heating up, and right now, many individuals’ top choices are the Apple Watch Series 7, the Garmin Vivoactive 4, and the Venu 2. The purpose of this post is to offer you a comparison of features that, with any luck, will assist you in selecting the option that best meets your needs.
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Comparison of the Apple Watch Series 7, the Garmin Vivoactive 4, and the Venu 2 in Terms of Their Technical Specifications
Design
The Vivoactive 4/4s and its fancier sibling, dubbed Venu 2/2s, have essentially the same hardware beneath the hood of their respective watches. The primary distinction is in the available sizes and the overall design.
The circular appearance of the Vivoactive and Venu has been carried over to the newest generation of these fitness trackers. Because it looks like a conventional watch, this particular style of display is favored by many people.
Garmin Vivoactive 4
Both are available in two different case sizes, one of which has a diameter of 45 millimeters (the Vivoactive 4 and the Venue 2). In contrast, the other has a diameter of 40 millimeters (the Vivoactive 4S and the Venue 4S). Fans of the range suddenly have a selection of sizes to pick from, despite the fact that this product has always been designed for both men and women.
The AMOLED high-resolution display on the Garmin Venu 2 is the primary advantage that it has over the Vivoactive 4 model. As would be anticipated, this results in a price difference between the Venu 2/2 and the Vivoactive 4/4. The latter model features a transflective memory-in-pixel display, which is identical to the one found on the Garmin Forerunner family of products.
Garmin Venu 2
The functionality of the always-on display is present in all of these displays, as it is also present on the Apple Watch. The company based in Cupertino first implemented this feature a few years ago, which means that older Apple products do not have a screen that retains its brightness even when the gadget is turned off. However, the design of the Apple Watch has retained its generally square shape since the first model.
The screen area of the Series 7 is more significant by twenty percent compared to Series 6, which is another upgrade of Series 7. The LTPO OLED Retina display has become slightly more extensive as a result of the narrower bezels (which have been reduced to 1.7 millimeters), in addition to the slightly larger case size possibilities.
Between the Vivoactive and the Series 7, the quality of the display is one of the most important differentiating factors. This is in addition to the most visible distinction, which is the device’s design. On the other hand, in terms of screen quality, Venu is comparable to that the Apple watch.
Apple Watch Series 7
Another point of differentiation between Apple and Garmin is the number of actual buttons on each device. The Vivoactive 4 and the Venu 2 are equipped with two physical navigation buttons (in addition to the touch-screen). The Series 7 only has one; thus, to navigate the menus, you’ll need to use the touch screen and the physical crown.
Other aspects of the design, such as the object’s weight and proportions, are virtually identical. In case you were curious, all of these also come equipped with a reasonable degree of resistance to water.
The appearance of the Garmin and the Apple products couldn’t be more different from one another. Although not a single company stands out as the clear winner, we believe that Series 7 has the upper hand due to the superior screen quality and premium build materials (aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium). On the other hand, if you want something that looks more like a conventional watch, the Garmin is the better option for you to go with. The Apple Watch and the Garmin Venu 2 has outstanding displays; therefore, your decision will come down to which one is more appealing.
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The Engine Compartment
Let’s move on to the lifespan of the battery.
Because the display on the Garmin Vivoactive 4 and 4s uses less power than previous models, they can go longer without needing to be recharged. Venu 2, on the other hand, has the ability to continue operating for much longer—roughly three to four days longer. But if you turn on the option that keeps the screen on at all times, you’ll notice that this takes up far less space. An excellent alternative for anyone who does not wish to be bothered with charging their device too frequently.
Unfortunately, Apple still has a ways to go before it can perfect its battery life. The Series 7 will have the same limited battery life as its predecessors, lasting only about 18 hours between recharges. There is absolutely no cause for celebration about this development.
The S7 System in Package (SIP) is the fifth iteration and powers everything on the Series 7; nevertheless, it is merely a slightly updated version of the S6 SIP. Since no information about the processor is found in Garmin’s devices, it isn’t easy to establish an accurate comparison between the two. On the other hand, Apple is probably in the lead in this regard.
It should come as no surprise that each and every one of these devices is packed to the capacity with sensors. They have the same optical sensor for heart rate, accelerometer, compass, and altimeter and the same SpO2 sensor. In addition, there is GPS, which allows for more in-depth tracking of your activities outside. The electrical heart sensor is Apple’s trump card in the market. This enables you to get an electrocardiogram whenever you want.
Lastly, the Apple Watch also has the capability to connect to cellular networks. The Series 7 includes a SIM card, which is a little electronic card. You should anticipate that there will be ongoing costs associated with this each month.
A comparison of the two in terms of design and hardware is presented below.
| Features | Garmin Venu 2/2S | Garmin Vivoactive 4/4S | Apple Watch Series 7 |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer with polymer rear cover | fiber-reinforced polymer with polymer rear cover | Aluminium, stainless steel, titanium |
| Physical size | 45.4 x 45.4 x 12.2 mm 40.4 x 40.4 x 12.1 mm. | 45.1 x 45.1 x 12.8 mm 40.0 x 40.0 x 12.7 mm | 45 x 38 x 10.7mm 41 x 35 x 10.7mm |
| Display size | 1.3? (33.0mm) diameter 1.1? (27.9 mm) diameter | 1.3? (33.0 mm) diameter 1.1? (27.9 mm) diameter | 45mm: 1143 sq mm display area 41mm: 904 sq mm display area |
| Display resolution | 416 x 416 pixels 360 x 360 pixels | 260 x 260 pixels 218 x 218 pixels | 396 x 484 pixels (45mm) 352 x 430 pixels (41mm) |
| Display type | AMOLED | sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) | LTPO OLED Always-On Retina display with Force Touch 1000 nits brightness |
| Weight | 49.0 g 38.2 g | 50.5 g 40.0 g | Case weight: 32g (for 41mm aluminum version); 38.8g (for 45mm aluminium version) |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM, Dustproof (IP6X) |
| Sensors | GPS (GLONASS, Galileo), optical heart rate sensor, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, accelerometer, thermometer | GPS (GLONASS, Galileo), optical heart rate sensor, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, accelerometer, thermometer | Optical heart rate sensor, Electrical heart sensor (ECG), improved accelerometer up to 32 g?forces, improved gyroscope, GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS), barometric altimeter, compass |
| Storage | 4GB | 4GB | 32GB |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days.GPS mode with music: Up to 8 hours. Smartwatch mode: Up to 10 days.GPS mode with music: Up to 7 hours. | Smartwatch mode: Up to 8 days. GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours. Smartwatch mode: Up to 7 days. GPS mode with music: Up to 5 hours. | 18+ hours |
| Price (typical RRP) | starting at $399 | starting at $349 | starting at $399 |
Comparison of the Activity Tracking Capabilities of the Apple Watch Series 7, the Garmin Vivoactive 4, and the Venu 2
The Garmin Vivoactive 4, the Venu 2, and the Apple Watch Series 7 compete against one another in the market for all-purpose smartwatches. Nevertheless, with a minor modification. The Garmin gadget is primarily focused on tracking fitness and sports, whereas Apple products excel in their ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
Garmin is unquestionably the market leader when it comes to sports watches, and the company has included a significant portion of this technology in its Vivoactive and Venu ranges. If you look at the specifications, you can immediately see the difference. The Vivoactive 4 and the Venu 2 are equipped with virtually everything a typical person may require to monitor their fitness and activity levels around the clock. Additionally, you will not need to bother about recharging the gadget every night because the battery life is satisfactory.
Body Battery, in addition to data on stress and recovery, is one of the fitness monitoring elements that are exclusive to Garmin watches and not included on the Series 7 watch. In addition, the watches are equipped with a number of Firstbeat performance data unavailable on the Apple iPhone.
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When compared to Vivoactive 4, Venu 2 has a few distinct advantages. This is because it was just made available to the public. It comes with the Elevate heart rate sensor of the 4th generation, which provides improved accuracy. Additionally, the feature set includes Fitness Age, which provides information regarding the age of your body. In addition to that, there is something known as a Health Snapshot. This test you may undertake will collect data on your heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, respiration, and stress levels. The test will take you two minutes to complete.
Apple is superior to its competitors in terms of its overall health features as well as its software eco-system. The ECG sensor the FDA has authorized is, of course, the feature everyone is talking about. A Garmin wearable product has not yet been released with this level of functionality. In addition, the Series 7 monitors your heart rate and may notify you if it falls above or below a predetermined threshold. It can also detect an unusual heart rhythm. Last but not least, there is also the fall detection feature; however, Garmin has narrowed the gap on this one with its very own incident detection.
To summarize, we believe that the Vivoactive 4 and the Venu 2 are somewhat superior to the Apple Watch Series 7 when it comes to the ability to track fitness and sports. Although all of these include built-in GPS and a variety of capabilities that are enough for most users, the Garmin device offers additional functionality. Most significantly, Apple will struggle to compete for the title of best fitness monitoring device until it figures out how to increase its battery life. This will make it difficult for Apple to win the title. Apple undoubtedly has an advantage over competitors in the category of general health devices because of its electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, alarms for irregular heart rate, and fall detection.
Comparing the Apple Watch Series 7 with the Garmin Vivoactive 4 and the Venu 2 in Terms of Their Smart Features
The other benefit of owning an Apple Watch has to do with the watch’s ability to perform intelligent functions. In point of fact, there is no competition because the Apple Watch is the most advanced smartwatch available on the market today. Native and third-party applications are available for everything imaginable, and watchOS 8 comes with many newly implemented features.
Also, let’s not overlook the importance of cellular connectivity. When you move away from your phone, the watch will switch to using the cellular signal instead of the Bluetooth connection. There is also the possibility of third-party applications tapping into this signal.
The Vivoactive 4 and the Venu 2 both come with a few features that aren’t related to fitness, despite the fact that they can’t truly compete with the Apple Watch in this regard. This offers text and calendar alerts, local storage for music, and more. It also includes an NFC chip for making contactless payments. However, Apple possesses all of these things and (much) more.
Regarding fitness tracking and intellectual functioning, the following is a rundown of the distinctions between them.
| Features | Garmin Venu 2 | Garmin Vivoactive 4 | Apple Watch Series 7 |
| Body Battery | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stress and recovery | Yes | Yes | No |
| Underwater wrist based heart rate | Yes | Yes | No |
| ECG Monitor | No | No | Yes |
| Irregular heart rate detection | No | No | Yes |
| Low/high heart rate alerts | No | No | Yes |
| Compatible with iOS and Android | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cellular connectivity | No | No | Yes |
Comparing the Apple Watch Series 7 to the Garmin Vivoactive 4 and the Venu 2, the Results Are As Follows
The Apple Watch is undoubtedly the superior option if you are interested in tracking your activity and having access to many intelligent features. There is a good reason why it is the smartwatch that sells the most units worldwide.
The most notable advancement made this year is the expansion of the display. A significant portion of the feature of the Series 7 is identical to that of the generation before it, including the smarts for tracking fitness and health. Unfortunately, the battery capacity is comparable to that of earlier versions as well.
Even if the Vivoactive 4 and Venu 2 cannot compete with the Apple Watch regarding the innovative functionality it offers, we believe that they are superior for individuals who are interested in monitoring their activity levels continuously. The Garmin device offers several fitness capabilities that are not available on the Apple Watch. These features include tracking your stress levels, a body battery, an underwater wrist-based heart rate, and a variety of Firstbeat performance indicators. Plus, you get excellent battery capacity.
The electrocardiogram monitor is omitted, but for the vast majority of individuals, this will not be a deal-breaker. The feature can be considered more of a “nice-to-have” than a “must-have.”
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In light of this, although it may appear at first blush that the Apple Watch, Garmin Vivoactive 4, and Venu 2 are contending for about the same consumer base, there is actually a distinction between them. It depends on whether you are interested in a smartwatch that can be used for various purposes or one that leans more toward becoming a fitness watch. One will also take personal preferences in relation to the design into consideration.
Vivoactive 4/4S may be purchased via the Garmin website for $350, while one can purchase Venu 2 for $399. A similar pricing point applies to the Apple Watch, starting at $399. However, the price shouldn’t be too significant of a factor in your decision.
