Garmin Venu 2 vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus
The Verdict
Both Garmin Venu 2 models deliver premium fitness tracking with AMOLED displays and exceptional battery life, but they target different priorities. Venu 2 excels with its larger 45mm case, superior 11-day battery endurance, and 8-hour GPS music capability via Bluetooth 5.1, making it ideal for extended outdoor adventures. Venu 2 Plus counters with an extended 24-hour GPS runtime, more compact 43mm form factor, and improved daily portability for smaller wrists. Health tracking features remain identical across both: SpO2, heart rate, and sleep monitoring without ECG functionality. At $50 more, Venu 2 Plus justifies its cost through enhanced GPS performance rather than additional health sensors. Choose Venu 2 for maximum everyday battery life and music on the go; select Venu 2 Plus if you prioritize longer single-session GPS tracking and prefer a slimmer profile.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Garmin Venu 2 if…
- →Stunning AMOLED display with always-on option
- →11-day battery life outperforms most AMOLED smartwatches
- →Comprehensive fitness tracking with 25+ sport profiles
Buy the Garmin Venu 2 Plus if…
- →Built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist
- →Vivid AMOLED display is one of the best on any Garmin
- →Voice assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby) via phone
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Garmin Venu 2
Pros
- Stunning AMOLED display with always-on option
- 11-day battery life outperforms most AMOLED smartwatches
- Comprehensive fitness tracking with 25+ sport profiles
- Health Snapshot for quick 2-minute wellness checks
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments via NFC
Cons
- No ECG or blood pressure monitoring
- No cellular option — requires phone for notifications
- Limited smart features compared to Apple Watch or Wear OS
- Third-party app ecosystem is limited
- $399 is expensive for a non-cellular watch
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Pros
- Built-in speaker and microphone enable phone calls from the wrist
- Vivid AMOLED display is one of the best on any Garmin
- Voice assistant support (Siri, Google Assistant, Bixby) via phone
- 9-day battery with AMOLED is excellent
- On-watch music storage with Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer
Cons
- No cellular — phone calls require Bluetooth connection to phone
- No multi-band GPS — less precise in urban canyons
- $449 approaches Apple Watch Ultra territory
- Stainless steel bezel adds bulk at 51 g
Full Specifications
| Spec | Garmin Venu 2 | Garmin Venu 2 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Garmin proprietary OS | Garmin OS (Connect IQ) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 49 g | 51 g |
| Case material | Stainless steel bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case | Stainless steel bezel with fiber-reinforced polymer case |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 11 days (smartwatch), 8 hrs GPS with music | Up to 9 days (smartwatch), 24 hrs GPS |
| Display | ||
| Size | 45mm | 43mm (1.3 inches) |
| Type | AMOLED Always-On | AMOLED |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 416 x 416 | 416 x 416 |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Garmin custom SoC | Garmin custom processor |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.0 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Garmin products or all Garmin products. View full details for the Garmin Venu 2 or the Garmin Venu 2 Plus.