Apple and Garmin are going head-to-head to release new smartwatches; this fall, we will have the biggest showdown of the year.
On September 7, Apple officially decided to say Goodbye to the Series 3 and released the second generation of Apple Watch SE, alongside Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra.
A week before this, Garmin released Venu Sq 2 and Venu Sq 2 – Music editions. Since both these watches fall under the same price category, it’s only fair if we compare and see which one of them is better.
Although the main difference between Apple Watch SE 2 vs. Garmin Venu Sq 2/Venu 2 – Music edition is that the SE 2 comes with better smartwatch functionality. But, at the same time, Venu 2 Sq shines in the battery performance genre.
However, you will have to be patient for our final verdict because we’re about to go neck-to-neck in their features.
General Comparison:
| Product name | Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) | Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 Music edition |
| Predecessor | Apple Watch SE | Garmin Venu Sq, Garmin Venu Sq Music |
| Release date | September 7, 2022 | September 1, 2022 |
| Parent company | Apple | Garmin |
| Operating system | Watch OS 9 | Garmin OS |
| Chipset | Apple S8 | Not specified |
| Compatibility | iOS | iOS & Android |
| LTE connectivity | Yes | No |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz) Bluetooth 5.0, LTE and UMTS17 (Cellular models only) | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
| Competition | Garmin Venu 2, Fitbit Sense 2, Galaxy Watch 5, Fitbit Versa 4 | Garmin Vivoactive 4, Apple Watch SE 2, Fitbit Versa 4, Fossil Gen 6, Garmin Venu 2 |
| Sensors | GPS/GLONASS/Galileo, 2nd Gen Optical Heart Sensor, Compass, Always-on Altimeter, High-g accelerometer, Gyro, Ambient Light Sensor, Barometer | Garmin Elevate Wrist HR monitor, Compass, Altimeter, Thermometer, Ambient light sensor, Pulse OX, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
Of course, one can’t form an opinion over this general comparison. That said, we have gathered all the information regarding the features of these entry-level watches by carefully testing and analyzing them.
So, it’s time to dive into them.
Price:
Let’s look at both watches’ pricing before diving into their comparison.
Apple Watch SE 2 Price range:
Apple Watch SE 2 (GPS, 40mm) – About $249
Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm, GPS) – About $299
Apple Watch SE 2 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) – About $299
Apple Watch SE 2 (GPS + Cellular, 44mm,) – About $329
Garmin Venu Sq 2 Price range:
Garmin Venu Sq 2: About $249
Garmin Venu Sq 2 – Music Edition: $299
Regarding price, both these watches are very competitive, with the basic 40mm variant of each watch costing $249.
However, before deciding, you should be aware of some critical differences between the two watches.
The Apple Watch SE 2 has LTE connectivity, while the Venu Sq 2 does not. Secondly, the Apple Watch SE 2 is available in a 44mm size, while the Venu Sq 2 is only available in a 40mm size.
Instead, Garmin released the Music edition of the Venu Sq 2 watch, with almost the same features, except you can store up to 500 songs, costing around $299.
On the other hand, the 44mm Apple Watch SE 2 comes for around $299, while the Cellular variant of the 44mm watch will set you back $329.
As a result, if you’re looking for a smartwatch with LTE connectivity or larger size, then the Apple Watch SE 2 is the better option.
However, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 could be the right choice if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option.
Design and display:
| Specifications | Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) | Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 Music edition |
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Silver | Slate Aluminum, Cream Gold, Metallic Mint |
| Dimensions | 44mm: 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm 40mm: 40 x 34 x 10.7 mm | 40.6 x 37.0 x 11.1 mm |
| Strap Size | 22mm/24mm | 20mm |
| Display Type | Retina LTPO OLED display | AMOLED |
| Always-on display | No | Optional |
| Display Size | 44mm: 1.78 Inches 40mm: 1.58 Inches | 1.41 Inches |
| Touchscreen/Color Display | Yes | Yes |
| Display Resolution | 44mm: 448 x 368 pixels 40mm: 394 x 324 pixels | 320 x 360 Pixels |
| Screen Material | Ion-x Strengthened Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Bezel Material | Anodized Aluminum | |
| Buttons | 1 button + Digital Crown | 2 buttons |
| Band Material | Nylon | Silicone |
| Weight | 44mm: 33g 40m: 30g | 38g |
When it comes to design, the Apple Watch SE 2 looks very similar to the original Apple Watch SE. It still has the same rectangular body and Crown/button layout and is available in 40mm and 44mm case sizes.
On the other hand, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 features a square body with angular edges. Unlike SE 2, it is available in just 40mm size.
The Apple Watch SE 2 has a usual digital crown and a button on the side of the case, while the Garmin Venu Sq 2 has 2 buttons.
Apple Watch SE 2 has a 1.78-inch Retina LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 448 x 368 pixels. This means that it has excellent pixel density and contrast ratios. Additionally, it is protected by Ion-x strengthened glass.
Apple, to our surprise, didn’t change a bit in the design, display, and case sizing of the Apple Watch SE 2 compared to the previous models.
However, this watch is still 30% larger than the Series 3 (which is now gone for good) and has twice the peak brightness. So not to be biased, we expected a few more changes than this.
On the other hand, Garmin made some changes in the successor of the Original Garmin Venu Sq by increasing the 1.31-inch to 1.41-inch display.
Additionally, they changed the display from LCD to AMOLED and even doubled the resolution to 320 x 360 pixels.
Plus, it has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, ensuring it doesn’t get damaged easily. So although it might not be as scratch-resistant as Apple Watch SE 2, it still does the trick.
The most significant difference between the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the lack of an always-on display on the latter.
The always-on display is a handy feature that lets you see different parameters without waking up the screen by tapping. Of course, you can live without it, but it’s a valuable addition nonetheless.
Health monitoring:
| Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) | Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 Music edition | |
| Heart rate tracking | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | No | No |
| Sleep monitoring | Yes (Advanced) | Yes (Advanced) |
| HRV alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox | No | Yes |
| Stress tracking | No | Yes |
| Hydration/Body battery monitoring | No | Yes |
| Women health tracking | Yes (only cycle tracking) | Yes |
Regarding health monitoring, Venu Sq 2 beats Apple Watch SE 2 fairly. Firstly, the SE 2 doesn’t have the optical heart rate sensor, ECG tracking, Blood oxygen level monitoring, or the new temperature sensor the Apple Watch 8 possesses.
Although it can still track your heart rate and sleep, it gives HRV (heart rate variability) alerts and tracks respiration rate and menstrual cycles.
On the other hand, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 can even track your blood oxygen levels, stress levels, hydration levels/body battery levels, heart rate, sleep, HRV, and menstrual cycles.
So, if you choose the watch with the most comprehensive health-monitoring features among these two, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the better choice.
Sports/Fitness features:
| Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) | Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 Music edition | |
| All-day activity tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-sport modes | Yes | Yes |
| Training features | Advanced Workouts and Activity Profiles | VO2 Max, Advanced Workouts, Customizable activity profiles, Auto/Manual Laps, Physio Trueup |
| Satellite-systems | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo |
| Water-resistance | 50m (5ATM), Suitable for swimming & showering | 50 (ATM), Suitable for Swimming & Showering |
Both these watches are packed with features that can track your all-day activities and provide detailed insights into your health and fitness. Plus, both watches can be used for swimming because of their 50m water resistance.
However, the Venu Sq 2 has a few more tricks up its sleeve for sports and fitness enthusiasts.
For starters, it offers advanced training features, including interval training, VO2 max, and recovery advisor. It also provides more detailed tracking for specific activities such as running, cycling, golfing and swimming.
The Apple Watch SE 2 is still a good choice for tracking all-day activities and multi-sport modes, but it doesn’t offer the same level of details or customization as the Venu Sq 2.
So, clearly, if you’re looking for a watch to help you train for a specific event or want more data to analyze your workouts, the Venu Sq 2 is definitely the better option.
Smart features:
| Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) | Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 Music edition | |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth & Standalone calling/texting | Yes | No |
| Microphone/Speaker | Yes | No |
| Voice Assistant | Yes (Siri) | No |
| Find my Phone/Watch | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes | 500 songs (Only in Sq 2 Music edition) |
| Incident Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Companion App | Multiple | Garmin Connect App |
| NFC payments | Yes (Apple Pay) | Yes (Garmin Pay) |
Although both watches can receive smart notifications, have NFC payment, and incident detection, the Apple Watch SE 2 still has a clear edge over the Garmin Venu Sq 2.
Perhaps most notably, the Apple Watch SE 2 offers Bluetooth and standalone call capabilities, meaning you can leave your phone at home and still stay connected.
The Watch SE 2 also features a voice assistant, built-in music storage and control, and other handy features that the Venu Sq 2 simply doesn’t offer in its standard variant.
In short, if you’re looking for a smartwatch with more to offer in terms of functionality, the Apple Watch SE 2 should be your choice.
Battery life:
| Apple Watch SE 2 (2022) | Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 Music edition | |
| Standard battery life | 18 hours | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days |
| Battery modes | No | Battery Saver Smartwatch mode: Up to 12 days GPS-Only GNSS mode: Up to 26 hours All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 20 hours |
| Fast Charging | No | No |
Lastly, Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a different beast regarding battery life.
The Apple Watch SE 2 has the same old 18-hour battery life, and after all these years and watches from Apple, we’re yet to see a watch that tops this.
Although the Apple Watch SE 2 might go on for 36 hours with the new power-saving mode introduced in Watch OS9.
That said, the watch itself doesn’t have an always-on display, so we’re not quite sure how the power-saving mode will improve its battery life.
In contrast, Garmin Venu Sq 2 can last 11 days. Plus, it comes with many different battery modes, which helps save battery life using GNSS, which simply isn’t available on the Apple Watch SE 2.
So, if you’re looking for a watch that can go the distance, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the way.
Apple Watch SE 2 vs. Garmin Venu Sq 2/Sq 2 – Music: Is there a winner?
Both these entry-level watches have their perks. Apple Watch SE 2 might not be as packed with features/sensors compared to the flagship model, Apple Watch 8, but if you don’t want to burn a hole in your wallet, it’s a good fit for iOS users.
Venu Sq 2, on the other hand, has quite decent features, but it lacks an always-on display or Bluetooth/standalone calling capabilities. That said, it might be a more affordable pick if you go for the standard variant.
Ultimately, it all comes down to one’s preference, but Apple Watch SE 2 might be an overall winner in this comparison.
Meet Osama – a passionate techy writer with a particular interest in wearable devices. With over four years of experience in the field, he brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to his articles and reviews. From smartwatches to fitness trackers and beyond, he covers the latest trends and innovations in wearable tech. His dedication to providing informative and engaging content is matched only by his love for exploring the world of wearables.