Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs Venu 2 vs Venu Review: Detailed Comparison

Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs Venu 2? Should you upgrade if you already own either the first or the second version of the device? We are standing by to lend a hand.

Earlier today at CES 2022, Garmin presented an interim edition of their premium-looking fitness tracking wristwatch. This announcement was made as was to be expected. In contrast to its predecessor, the Venu 2 Plus is only available in a single size. However, it now features a built-in speaker as well as a microphone.

The business marketed the original Venu as a GPS watch suitable for individuals who lead an active lifestyle. And I'd say that's a fairly spot-on description of it. The device can be seen as an upgraded model of the Vivoactive in many respects. At IFA 2019 in Berlin, the first generation's debut took place almost two years ago. The subsequent one occurred in April 2021, and this most recent version corresponds with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in 2022.

The many distinctions are broken down and discussed below.

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Garmin Venu 2 Plus versus Venu 2 vs. Venu: Design and hardware

When it comes to its appearance, each model in the Venu series is rather similar. The casing is made of fiber-reinforced polymer, while the bezel is made of stainless steel; also, the design is round in all three iterations. The watch has a very appealing design. It is Garmin's response against the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and the Fitbit Versa, along with the Vivoactive 4, which is another Garmin activity tracker.

In contrast to the first version, which was only available in a 43 mm diameter size, the second version offers an option between two different types. While the Venu 2 comes with a 45mm shell, the Venu 2s only has a 40mm one. These watches have a little more than 12 millimeters thick, and they are water resistant to depths of up to 50 meters.

The Venu 2 Plus maintains the same footprint as its predecessor in terms of its size. It is only available in a single diameter size of 43 millimeters.

The most recent version, compared to the first two, has a third physical button on the right-hand side. In comparison to earlier iterations, this represents a tremendous advancement. Only two buttons are present on devices of the first and second generations. But later on in this post, you'll learn more about this and the functions of the third button.

Beautiful AMOLED display

The stunning AMOLED display is definitely a standout feature of this watch. The display on the original device is 1.2 inches in addition, it possesses a resolution of 390 by 390 pixels; it is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The display on the Venu 2 now measures 1.3 inches and has a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels, while the display on the Venu 2s measures 1.1 inches and has a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels.

The Venu 2 Plus has a body that is only 43 millimeters in diameter, but it still manages to fit a display that is 1.3 inches in size. This is made possible by the reduction in the size of the bezels surrounding the device's perimeter. The resolution is the same as what you'll find on Venu 2, so don't worry about that.

Utilizing the touch display, you navigate the many options. This is combined with the physical buttons that were discussed previously.

Because Garmin is aiming to sell this watch to a more diverse audience of consumers, the second edition of this watch comes in a variety of different sizes. It should be no surprise that the 2s version is aimed at female consumers. Because you do not have that option with the iPhone 2 Plus, the iPhone 2s is the ideal alternative for you if you are interested in a compact device.

The availability of a variety of colors for the 2s also reflects the larger popularity that the product has. You will receive a light gold stainless steel bezel with a case that is light sand, a silver stainless steel bezel with a case that is mist gray, and a rose gold stainless steel bezel with a case that is white. In addition, the watch is merely 38 grams in weight.

The 49-gram Venu 2 is available in a variety of masculine colorways. The Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with the Granite Blue Case and the Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with the Black Case are two examples. All of this is held together with a band made of silicone.

The Venu 2 Plus, which weighs 51 grams, also offers a similar selection. This consists of a Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with a Mist Gray Case, a Slate Stainless Steel Bezel with a Black Case, and a Cream Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with an Ivory Case.

Elevate 4.0 technology is included with the Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus

You'll find virtually exactly the same technology under the hood. The Elevate 4.0 heart rate sensor is the only sensor that has been improved since the first version of the product. This brings improvements to the accuracy of the exercise tracking during workouts on the Venu 2 and 2 Plus.

A barometric altimeter, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, temperature, SpO2 sensor, and ambient light sensor are the additional features that come with the watch. In addition, GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO, as well as NFC, are available for use with contactless payments.

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More space for storing music on the Venu 2 and the Venu 2 Plus

The capacity of the gadget to store music has increased marginally since the first generation model was introduced. You were only allowed 500 music to save on your device before, but now you have room for 650 tracks. Even though it's not a major adjustment, it could be important to some people. It is possible to download music and offline playlists through the use of the services Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music. It is assuming, of course, that you have the necessary subscriptions in place.

Battery life is satisfactory overall

Moving on to the all-important battery life, this is one of the essential advancements that the second generation has over the first. The first generation was lacking in this regard. The first iteration has a battery life that can last for between 5 and 6 days on a single charge. This battery life estimate for Venu accounts for the absence of an option to keep the screen illuminated at all times. If you make some adjustments, you can cut the time down to between 2 and 3 days.

This number generally doubles after the second generation. Additionally, the battery life when using the GPS mode has been enhanced by a few hours. The watch comes equipped with a mechanism for rapid recharging, making it possible to replenish its power supply quickly. After roughly ten minutes of charging, the battery will last for approximately one day in smartwatch mode and around one hour in GPS with music tracking mode.

In this regard, the Plus edition is just as capable as the standard one. In smartwatch mode, it has a battery life of around nine days, which is two days shorter than the Venu 2. Battery life is unaffected when the device is set to GPS mode. The device's decreased size and increased capability also contributed to the slightly lower battery life.

The Venu, Venu 2, 2s, and Venu 2 Plus are all summarized in the following table, which compares and contrasts their respective features.

	Venu 2 Plus	Venu 2	Venu 2s	Venu
Material	a fiber-reinforced polymer chassis with a stainless steel rear cover and bezel, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3	bezel made of stainless steel, body made of fiber-reinforced polymer, and display made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3	fiber-reinforced polymer, stainless steel bezel, Corning Gorilla Glass 3	bezel made of stainless steel, fiber-reinforced polymer with a polymer rear cover, and Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Quick release bands	20mm silicone	22mm silicone	18mm silicone	20mm silicone
Physical size	43.6 x 43.6 x 12.6 mm. Fits wrists with a circumference of 125-190 mm	45.4 x 45.4 x 12.2 mm. Fits wrists with a circumference of 135-200mm	40.40 x 40.40 x 12.10 mm. Fits wrists with a circumference of 110-175 mm	43.2 x 43.2 x 12.4 mm. Fits wrists with a circumference of 125-190 mm
Display size	1.3? (33.0 mm) diameter	1.3? (33.0 mm) diameter	1.1? (27.90 mm) diameter	1.2? (30.4mm) diameter
Display resolution	416 x 416 pixels	416 x 416 pixels	360 x 360 pixels	390 x 390 pixels
Display type	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED	AMOLED
Number of physical buttons	3	2	2	2
Weight	51.0 g	49.0 g	38.2 g	46.3 g
Water resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM	5 ATM	5 ATM
Sensors	Sensors for barometric altitude, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, temperature, heart rate (4th generation), SpO2, and ambient light	Barometric altimeter, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, thermometer, heart rate (4th generation), SpO2, Ambient light sensor	Barometric altimeter, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, thermometer, heart rate (4th generation), SpO2, Ambient light sensor	Including but not limited to: barometric altimeter, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, temperature, heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor, and ambient light sensor
Built-in GPS	GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO	GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO	GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO	GPS + GLONASS + GALILEO
Microphones & speaker	Yes	No	No	No
Music storage	up to 650 songs	up to 650 songs	up to 650 songs	up to 500 songs
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Battery life (base model)	Smartwatch mode: Up to 9 days GPS mode with music: Up to 8 hours GPS mode without music: Up to 22 hours	Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days GPS mode with music: Up to 8 hours GPS mode without music: Up to 22 hours	Smartwatch mode: Up to 10 days GPS mode with music: Up to 7 hours GPS mode without music: Up to 19 hours	Smartwatch mode: Up to 5 days GPS mode with music: Up to 6 hours GPS mode without music: Up to 20 hours
Colors	Bezel made of slate stainless steel, case made of black stainless steel, bezel made of cream gold stainless steel, case made of ivory stainless steel, and bezel made of silver stainless steel, case made of mist gray stainless steel.	Granite Blue Case with Silver Stainless Steel Bezel; Black Case with Silver Stainless Steel Bezel	Light Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with Light Sand Case; Silver Stainless Steel Bezel with Mist Gray Case; Rose Gold Stainless Steel Bezel with White Case	Bezel made of slate stainless steel, case made of black stainless steel; bezel made of rose gold stainless steel, case made of light sand; bezel made of silver stainless steel, case made of granite blue; bezel made of gold stainless steel, case made of black stainless steel.
RRP	$499	$399	$399	$350

Garmin Venu 2 Plus vs. Venu 2 vs. Venu: Functionality

Physiological and functional health

Your fitness, sleep, and activity levels will be accurately monitored by any Garmin watch you choose to wear around the clock. This aspect of the business is handled very well by the corporation. Venus is equipped with most of the features and capabilities that Garmin offers, such as blood oxygen, respiration rate, and more.

When it comes to Venu 2, 2s, and 2 Plus, tracking your health and fitness is exactly the same. There is no difference. When you compare these two to the original Venu, you will notice that there is a difference.

With the release of the second generation and Venu 2 Plus, the company has enhanced the functionality of the sleep tracking feature. The most recent version 4 of the Elevate heart rate sensor, which should assure greater accuracy, is one factor that contributes to this. In addition, users are provided with their Sleep Scores as well as insights. This now makes use of algorithms from Firstbeat. It's also been suggested that the Body Battery is superior.

Another improvement over the device of the previous generation is the incorporation of Fitness Age into the Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus directly on the wristwatches themselves. This considers your age, exercise level, resting heart rate, and body mass index to determine whether or not your body is older than your chronological age. Garmin will give you tips on becoming younger if you fall further and further behind.

An additional innovative concept is something that's been given the name Health Snapshot. This quick test only takes two minutes and measures your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, breathing, stress levels, and heart rate variability. The metric is intended to provide you with an instantaneous snapshot of your current position. It could even serve as an excellent indicator of how well rested or exhausted you are at the moment.

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More sports modes

The Venu 2 and the Venu 2 Plus have a total of 25 different sports modes. This encompasses activities such as jogging, cycling, swimming, golf, and even more. The high-intensity interval training (HIIT), climbing, and hiking are the three extra ones that are added on top of the original.

Finally, in response to feedback from gym goers, Garmin improved the functionality of the Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus. This contains a Comprehensive Strength Training activity profile that displays PRs right at your wrist and offers on-screen graphics that portray which muscle areas you worked.

	Venu 2 Plus	Venu 2	Venu 2s	Venu
Fitness age	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (in app)
Sleep Score and Insights	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Health snapshot	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Garmin Connect Challenges App	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Gym activity profiles	Strength, Cardio, HIIT and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Yoga, Pilates and Breathwork	Strength, Cardio, HIIT and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Yoga, Pilates and Breathwork	Strength, Cardio, HIIT and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Yoga, Pilates and Breathwork	Exercises including weightlifting, cardio on an elliptical machine, stair climbing, floor climbing, rowing machines indoors, yoga, Pilates, and breathing exercises
HIIT workouts	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
On-screen workout muscle maps	Strength only	Strength only	Strength only	No
Outdoor recreation profiles	Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, and Rowing are just a few of the activities available.	Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing	Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing	Skiing, snowboarding, XC skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, rowing

Intelligent functionalities

As was previously said, the Venu lineup is Garmin's attempt to compete with popular wrist watches such as the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. They are light years behind in terms of the usefulness of smart devices. However, given that this watch is primarily intended for fitness purposes, they do a respectable job.

Displaying smartphone notifications, responding to incoming text messages, and rejecting incoming phone calls with a text message are all capabilities included in the Venu. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Ant+, and Wi-Fi; watch faces, data fields, widgets, and applications are downloadable through Connect IQ. Additional features include a calendar, a weather forecast, a "Find my Phone" feature, a "Find my Watch" feature, and more. You can not only use the watch to manage the music on your smartphone, but you can also upload your own music to the watch itself. At long last, Venus has support for the contactless payment system Garmin Pay.

The Venu 2 Plus comes with a few significant upgrades and improvements. This Venue is the only one of its kind to feature a speaker and a microphone, which enables users to manage their smartphones and digital assistants with voice commands. When your smartphone is within Bluetooth range, you may activate Siri, Google Assistant, or Bixby to perform tasks such as asking inquiries and controlling smart devices without having to use your hands. In addition to that, you may use your voice to respond to messages, as well as answer and make phone calls. The functionality is brought into play by pressing the third physical button.

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Garmin Venu 2 Plus versus Venu 2 vs Venu: Verdict

Those who want to wear an appealing GPS health device on their wrist may find the Garmin Venu 2 to be an excellent choice. In a variety of ways, the newer generation is an advancement over the earlier one.

The changes include:

• The new Elevate heart rate sensor.
• A significantly increased battery life.
• Significantly more storage space for music.
• Some additional health features are delivered in the form of software updates.

The availability of both a large and small size ensures that there is now something that will appeal to all customers.

All of these capabilities are enhanced with the Venu 2 Plus by the addition of a microphone and speaker that are integrated right in. When connected to your smartphone, these can be used for a variety of purposes, including making calls, texting, and communicating with your voice assistant. It's possible that the functions are significant to some people but not to others. The difference in cost between the Venu 2 and the Venu 2 Plus is fairly substantial, coming in at roughly $100 (you can check the price on Amazon).

If you are interested in purchasing a new watch, we recommend that you go with either the Venu 2 or the Venu 2s. You have a good selection of sizes to choose from, so there is something there for everyone.

Choose the Venu 2 Plus if you believe you will make use of the voice feature and if the difference in the price of $100 is not something that will concern you (check price on Amazon). Keep in mind, though, that there is only one size option available to you, and it falls about in the middle between the Venu 2 and the 2s. Despite this, the screen is the same size as it was on the Venu 2, which is a significant improvement.

But what if you already possess the first copy? Are the enhancements compelling enough for you to consider trading in your current watch in exchange for the new model? We don't think so for the vast majority of folks.

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Last but not least, keep an eye out for sales. Garmin will have significant price reductions for the first generation, and you will get some very sweet deals on the Venu 2 and the Venu 2s.