Garmin Venu SQ

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

In an interesting contrast to yesterday’s Fitbit Sense review , the Garmin Venu SQ has actually grown on me slightly since I started using it (whereas I got more confused the more I used the Fitbit Sense).

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

The arrival of the Venu Sq means you can now pick up a Garmin smartwatch with a color display for less than £200. The problem is that the screen quality and design is inferior to the more expensive Venu. The archaic watch UI and sluggish GPS left us with mixed feelings about the cheaper Venu.

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

A very capable fitness tracker – but its smartwatch credentials can’t keep up

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

The Garmin Venu Sq is a well-priced and powerful jack-of-all-trades smartwatch, which cherry picks some of the best features of Garmin, Apple and Fitbit devices. It’s sports tracking focused, but doesn’t hold back in terms of wellness and body insights that cost a lot more elsewhere.

Garmin Venu Sq review

The Garmin Venu Sq is a decent all-round performer, and we've not seen a Garmin watch with a color screen at this price point before. The problem is that the screen quality and design is inferior to the more expensive original Venu. The archaic watch UI and sluggish GPS left us with mixed feelings about the cheaper Venu. While you get that familiar sports tracking experience, we wished it had more in common with its pricier compatriot in the looks department.

Garmin Venu Sq

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

“This is an excellent health and fitness watch at an affordable price.”

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

Take the Garmin Venu, replace the OLED with an LCD display, and cut the price nearly in half....

Garmin Venu Sq review: The top name in fitness, now at $199

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know Garmin, and more often than not, they’ll know the company’s extensive line of fitness-focused smartwatches. It has a well-deserved reputation for making the highest-end and most-accurate watches for runners, bikers, triathletes, and every other possible outdoor sport. But Garmin doesn’t just want to play in the “pro” space. There’s reason to believe the Garmin name can translate into sales on the affordable end of the scale, competing with entry-level smartwatches and high-end fitness bands. This is where the Garmin Venu Sq comes in. You can’t see it any other way. The Venu Sq looks like an Apple Watch. I know, there are only so many ways to make a rounded-rectangle smartwatch, but it’s hard to miss. Just a couple days after getting the Venu Sq, I was at soccer practice, and a teammate asked how I liked my Apple Watch. That isn’t a bad thing, though. Unlike every other Garmin fitness watch, this isn’t a polarizing design. It’s simp...

Garmin Venu SQ Smartwatch Orchid/Metallic Orchid 010-02427-12 review

The Venu Sq is a new approach from Garmin, looking to offer something a little less sporty in looks, while retaining the potency of Garmin's sporting heritage.