Garmin Venu 2 and Google Pixel Watch are two trending smartwatches in the market today. While both come with advanced features and functionalities, they differ in some ways. Venu 2 is known for its fitness and health tracking capabilities, while the Pixel Watch is an excellent option for those looking for a smartwatch integrated with Google services. In our Garmin Venu 2 vs Google Pixel Watch comparison, we’ll take a closer look at both smartwatches, specifically their features, performance, design, and price, to help you decide which is the better fit for you.
Garmin Venu 2 Vs Google Pixel Watch: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Specification | Garmin Venu 2 | Google Pixel Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 1.3 Inch | 1.4 Inch |
| Brand | Garmin | |
| Model | Venu 2 | Pixel Watch |
| Operating System | Android | Android Wear OS |
| Colors | Black | Grey |
| Shape Surface | Circular, Flat | Circular, Flat |
| Screen Resolution | 416 x 416 Pixels | 450 x 450 Pixels |
| Display Technology | AMOLED | OLED Display |
| Battery Life | Up to 11 Days | Up to 3 Days |
- Choice of two colors with a bright AMOLED display
- Tracks and monitors health, energy, fitness, and more
- Over 25 built-in apps for workouts
- Free-preloaded workouts + adaptive training plans
- Over 600 song downloads to your watch
Garmin Venu 2 Vs Google Pixel Watch: What’s the Difference?
While Garmin Venu 2 and Google Pixel Watch share some standard features such as fitness tracking, music streaming, and notifications, they differ in design, operating system, battery life, and other functionalities. Let’s explore the differences between the Garmin Venu 2 and the Google Pixel Watch in detail.
©Garmin media kit – License
Connectivity
The Garmin Venu 2 supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to receive notifications, control music playback, and track your workouts without needing your phone nearby. It also features GPS and NFC, which means you can make contactless payments. However, it does not have cellular connectivity, so you’ll need your phone to make calls or send messages.
The Google Pixel Watch has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity, and cellular connectivity. You can use the watch to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and access the internet. It also supports NFC for contactless payments.
Screen Size
The Garmin Venu 2 has a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 416 x 416 pixels. It also features an always-on display mode, allowing you to see the time and your fitness stats without waking up the watch.
The Google Pixel Watch hit the market with its larger and clearer 1.4-inch OLED display, giving users a more immersive experience. With a resolution of 450 x 450 pixels and a density of about 320 ppi, the Pixel Watch guarantees crystal-clear visuals. The watch also features an always-on display mode, allowing users quickly access notifications, messages, and other vital information.
Battery Life
The Garmin Venu 2 has a long battery life of up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 8 hours in GPS mode with music. You can use it for a whole week on a single charge, making it ideal for fitness enthusiasts and people who want the freedom of operating without a charger. Additionally, the Garmin Venu 2 has a quick charging option and can juice up the device in just a few minutes.
The Google Pixel Watch has a battery life of up to 3 days, which is significantly lower than Venu 2’s. This means that the Pixel Watch needs to be charged more frequently, which may be a hassle for some users.
Design
The Garmin Venu 2 has a circular, flat design that looks stylish and modern. It is made of high-quality stainless steel and has a comfortable silicon strap that’s easy to replace. Similarly, Google Pixel Watch has a circular, flat design. Made from anodized aluminum, it is accompanied by a silicone strap available in various colors.
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Operating System
The Garmin Venu 2 runs on the Android operating system, which is known for its user-friendly interface and easy customization. It is compatible with Android and iOS devices, making it a versatile choice for most users.
Google Pixel Watch runs on the Wear OS operating system, designed specifically for smartwatches. It has helpful features and is compatible with Android and iOS devices. While both operating systems are good, the Android operating system on the Garmin Venu 2 is more versatile and offers greater customization options.
Sensors
Garmin Venu 2 is perfect for fitness enthusiasts looking for a high-performance smartwatch with a wide range of sensors. Because it supports various external sensors, such as heart rate monitors and temperature sensors, this versatile device can cater to almost any fitness need. Golfers will love the added convenience of golf club sensors, while cyclists can benefit from ANT+ cycling lights and radar. Despite its many features, the Garmin Venu 2 does not support Running Dynamics sensors for serious runners.
Google Pixel Watch is an advanced smartwatch with innovative features. It includes a compass and altimeter, making it perfect for outdoor activities. It offers an unparalleled user experience with its host of sensors. Pixel Watch has a range of sensors that monitor vital signs and tracks your fitness. These sensors include a blood oxygen sensor, an electrical sensor, an optical heart rate sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and an ambient light sensor. These sensors provide accurate and up-to-date information about your health and fitness levels.
Activity Tracker
Garmin Venu 2 is an advanced activity tracker with various features to help you monitor and improve your fitness. With the Move IQ feature, your watch can automatically detect when you are walking or running and create timed activities for you to save. You can even set a minimum time threshold for running and walking to ensure you get the most out of your workouts. The watch also allows you to set heart rate zones for moderate and vigorous intensity minutes.
Additionally, the Venu 2 comes preloaded with various indoor and outdoor activity apps, including running, cycling, strength training, and golf. When you start an activity, the watch displays and records sensor data, which you can save and share with the Garmin Connect™ community.
The Google Pixel Watch uses advanced technology to help you stay on top of your health and fitness goals. With heart-rate tracking and ECG capabilities, this watch can monitor your heart rate all day and give you detailed stats on your Active Zone Minutes during workouts. You can also track your nightly sleep stages and other essential health metrics to get a complete picture of your overall wellness.
The Pixel Watch is designed to be easy to use and comfortable to wear, with a sleek and modern design that looks great on your wrist. Whether a fitness enthusiast or looking to improve your overall health, the Google Pixel Watch helps you stay on top of your wellness journey.
Garmin Venu 2 Vs Google Pixel Watch: Must-Know Facts
- Garmin Venu 2 and Google Pixel Watch are popular smartwatches with different features and functionalities.
- Designed for fitness enthusiasts, Venu 2 offers a range of health-tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and fitness coaching.
- Google Pixel Watch is more focused on providing a seamless experience for users who rely heavily on Google services.
- Both watches have built-in GPS, NFC for contactless payments, and support for voice assistants.
- Garmin Venu 2 has a longer battery life of up to 11 days compared to Google Pixel Watch’s estimated 3-days battery life.
- Both watches support a range of third-party apps, but Garmin Venu 2 has a more extensive library of health and fitness apps.
- Beautiful circular, domed design with Wear OS
- Convenient activity tracking for fitness enthusiasts
- Track heart rate and learn your sleep activity
- Contactless payments, notifications and directions
- Make calls or respond to text messages
History of Garmin Venu 2
Garmin Venu 2 came out in 2021 and is a solid choice for fitness enthusiasts. The device has a sleek design and packs features that cater to different lifestyles. The Garmin Venu 2 is an upgrade from the original Venu, which launched in 2019, and it comes with exciting features.
One notable feature of the Venu 2 is the Health Snapshot feature, which provides an overview of your body’s overall health. This feature analyzes heart rate variability, respiration rate, and blood oxygen saturation levels. The Venu 2 has an improved battery life of up to 11 days, ample music storage, GPS, and a bright AMOLED display.
Garmin has also introduced new workout modes that cater to different sports and activities. The Venu 2 has preloaded golf, running, cycling, swimming, and many more workouts. The watch also has coaching features that provide personalized tips and guidance to help users reach their fitness goals.
Evolution of Google Pixel Watch
Google Pixel Watch is a fairly new device. Launched on October 13th, 2022, it has been an instant hit with techies and fitness freaks alike. The Pixel Watch is the perfect amalgamation of functionality and style. The watch offers a range of features, including a built-in GPS, heart rate monitor, and multiple workout modes.
With an enhanced processor, the Pixel Watch boasts superior speed and efficiency. Extended battery life and faster recharging make it better than prior versions. It is sleeker, fashionable, and has diverse interchangeable bands in multiple colors and materials. The watch’s health and fitness features have also been significantly upgraded. It can track more workouts, including cycling, swimming, and strength training. The heart rate monitor is more accurate and can track your sleep patterns.
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©Daxiao Productions/Shutterstock.com
Garmin Venu 2 Vs Google Pixel Watch: Pros and Cons
Garmin Venu 2
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stylish and comfortable design | Too costly for some buyers |
| Large, bright, and vibrant AMOLED display | No always-on display option for battery life conservation |
| Excellent battery life (up to 11 days) | Music playback controls can be finicky |
| Supports various physical activities and workouts | No cellular connectivity |
Google Pixel Watch
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced health features, including ECG and blood pressure monitoring | Limited availability in some regions |
| Seamless integration with Google Assistant | Restricted compatibility with non-Android phones |
| Sleek and modern design | Limited storage capacity |
| Water and dust resistant |
Smartwatches in the News
The Google Pixel Watch is slated to release in late 2023, and in the lead-up to its market reveal there has been a lot of intrigue among consumers. One rumor that’s been commonly discussed is whether or not the Pixel Watch will have a SpO2 heart rate sensor. If this monitor was included, the Pixel Watch would be more directly in competition with fitness and health smartwatches such as Fitbits.
Garmin’s Venu 2 has been compared with the Pixel Watch recently, mostly because of their similar release dates and features. The Venu 2 does include a heart rate monitor, and can also track sleeping habits and GPS location. Both of these watches offer good options for consumers looking for the ease of a smartwatch, and we hope that our comparison series helps you narrow down the selection!
Garmin Venu 2 and Google Pixel Watch: What’s new?
A few of the updates the Garmin Venu 2 and the Google Pixel Watch have received since February 2023 are:
Garmin Venu 2:
- New features: New health and fitness features have been added. A couple of these features are high and low heart rate notifications and auto-pause for runs, walks, and bike rides.
- Security update: There was a security update that fixed a few issues.
Google Pixel Watch
- Temperature sensor: A temperature sensor was added that can be used to track your body temperature.
- ECG technology: The ECG technology can be used to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Garmin Venu 2 and Google Pixel Watch: What’s next?
Improvements to the Garmin Venu 2 and the Google Pixel Watch are expected. Garmin and Google haven’t announced any updates for their watches, but here are some updates we might see in the next six to 18 months:
- Improved battery life. The technology for batteries is constantly advancing. Because of this, newer batteries that have a longer battery life are expected in these watches.
- Better integration with smartphones. Smartphone integration should be improved in both watches allowing for more smartphone features to be accessible on the watches.
- Software updates: Software updates are expected to be done on a regular basis to keep the watches secure and up-to-date.
Garmin Venu 2 Vs Google Pixel Watch: Which One Is Better?
After exploring the Garmin Venu 2 and the Google Pixel Watch, it is evident Garmin Venu 2 comes out on top in most aspects. This wearable offers advanced fitness tracking features, such as GPS tracking, a heart rate monitor, and activity tracking. It also provides personalized workouts and on-screen animations that allow you to follow a workout routine. Moreover, the Garmin Venu 2 has longer battery life and offers more than 20 sports apps, including golf, swimming, and running. It also features an always-on AMOLED display that is highly visible, even in bright sunlight, making it an ideal choice for outdoor activities.
On the other hand, the Google Pixel Watch has a sleeker and more modern design and runs on the latest version of Wear OS. It also offers Google Assistant, Google Pay, and Google Fit, which are convenient for those who rely heavily on Google services. While the Google Pixel Watch provides some impressive features, it’s no match for Garmin Venu 2, which is the clear winner in this comparison.
- Choice of two colors with a bright AMOLED display
- Tracks and monitors health, energy, fitness, and more
- Over 25 built-in apps for workouts
- Free-preloaded workouts + adaptive training plans
- Over 600 song downloads to your watch
Up Next
- Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Garmin Venu 2: Which One Wins? — Next up in our series of smartwatch comparisons is seeing how Venu 2 fares against the Apple Watch Series 8.
- Garmin Venu 2 vs. Galaxy Watch5 Pro: Which One Wins? — How does the Venu 2 compare with the newer Galaxy Watch5?
- Fitbit Versa 4 vs. Garmin Venu 2: Which One Wins? — See how Fitbit’s traditional fitness smartwatch the Versa 4 stacks up against the Garmin Venu 2.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Dennis Sylvester Hurd / CC0 1.0, Flickr.
