Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Apple Watch SE and Garmin Venu 2 Plus lie in the same cost bracket and people should consider both alternatives when looking for a mid-budget smartwatch. We look at the differences between the Apple Watch SE and Garmin Venu 2 Plus in our detailed study below.

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iOS and Android support – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Apple Watch SE is an Apple ecosystem product. It will work with iPhone and does not support Android phones. This could be a deal breaker for Android mobile phone owners. However, Garmin’s Venu 2 Plus has inherent support for Apple iPhone and the Android mobile operating systems. This makes it a universally acceptable smartwatch that does not depend upon the paired phone’s mobile operating system. It works well with Android phones and it works reasonably well with an iPhone as well.

Cellular or LTE options – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Apple Watch SE comes with options to get LTE or Cellular models. This would mean that you could use your watch when you are not carrying your phone. The LTE or Cellular models are very useful in making emergency calls in the event of fall detection. If your country supports emergency calling, Apple Watch SE could make emergency calls to seek help if it detects a hard fall and the wearer is not responding.

Garmin Venu 2 Plus does not have any LTE or cellular model. As of March 2022, the only Garmin watch that has LTE connectivity options is the Garmin Forerunnner 945.

LTE or Cellular models are generally expensive. However, they are a boon for athletes and runners because you do not need to carry the phone at all times to record your training activity.

Fall Detection – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

For elders, the fall detection feature is one of the most sought after features on a smartwatch. The best fall detection feature is available on the Apple smartwatch ecosystem, including the Apple Watch SE. The fall detection feature on Apple smartwatches has been tested quite effectively in the past. Most Apple smartwatch users vouch for the fall detection feature’s veracity and reliability. With an LTE model of the watch, an Apple Watch can also make emergency calls in the event it detects a fall. Otherwise, it does share the GPS location with the designated emergency contacts.

Garmin Venu 2 Plus does have an incident detection feature. It lacks the killer performance of Apple’s fall detection though. And, it does not have the ability to make emergency calls. It can send in your GPS location to three designated emergency contacts and hope for them to help or seek you in the event of a fall. Garmin’s incident detection works well but lacks the punch that an Apple Watch offers. This includes the Apple Watch SE smartwatch model as well.

Screen size and display quality – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Apple Watch SE easily trumps Garmin Venu 2 Plus in terms of its sleek and lightweight model. The basic differences in the screen size and weight of Apple Watch SE and Garmin Venu 2 Plus are mentioned below:

Apple Watch SE has a bigger screen size of 1.78″ and the Venu 2 Plus has a screen size of 1.3″ only.
Apple Watch SE is lighter at 36.7 g and the Garmin Venu 2 Plus has a weight of almost 50 g.
Apple Watch SE is sleeker with a thickness of 10.7 mm while the Garmin Venu 2 Plus has a thickness of 12.6 mm.
Apple Watch SE is narrower than a Garmin Venu 2 Plus smartwatch. Apple Watch SE has a width of 38 mm and the Venu 2 Plus is nearly 43 mm.

In terms of display and weight, an Apple Watch SE represents an Apple product that has evolved over the previous generations. It has been refined to bring in better display resolution in a sleeker smartwatch case.

Each person has individual preferences. Garmin Venu 2 Plus looks more sturdy than an Apple Watch SE. But, Apple Watch SE ticks all the boxes to emerge as a modern Apple Watch to work with the times we are in.

Bezel – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Garmin Venu 2 Plus has a stainless steel bezel in a fiber-enforced polymer casing. The steel bezel accords a premium feel to the Venu 2 Plus smartwatch. This also causes the Garmin Venu 2 Plus smartwatch to weigh more than the Apple Watch SE.

Apple Watch SE has an aluminum casing. Apple Watch SE is very aggressively priced, and part of it could be explained due to the aluminum casing.

The casing of a smartwatch is a very personal decision. Not many people bother to get into the details of the casing of the watch they intend to buy. However, for watch enthusiasts, stainless steel is sturdier and looks better.

Over and above the stainless steel bezel, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus has a rear cover made of steel.

Battery Life – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

An Apple Watch SE comes with a backup of fewer than 24 hours. Garmin watches are known to have exceptionally long battery life. Garmin watches’ battery is designed to last longer for the athletes and fitness enthusisasts. You need to charge an Apple Watch SE every day, without fail. A Garmin Watch SE can easily stretch to 9 days of battery backup on the smartwatch mode.

For someone who finds charging the battery a tedious activity, Apple Watch SE could become an irritant. Also, for the people on the move, Apple Watch SE or the Apple Watch 7 need to be charged every day. So, you need to prepare your expectations accordingly. Garmin Venu 2 Plus does not have such limitations. You can run around the city without even bothering to look at the battery levels on a Venu 2 Plus.

Multi-sport functionality – Apple Watch SE vs Garmin Venu 2 Plus

Garmin watches come with a set of features that make them an ideal multi-sport watch. Most buyers of the Garmin watches would track some sort of activity or sport.

Venu 2 Plus has a GOLF mode to offer information about the Golf courses and help you run a game.
Venu 2 Plus has a swimming mode to measure your performance in the pool.
Venu 2 Plus has in-built outdoor recrreation profiles. Some of the recreation profles include Hiking, Indoor Climbing, Bouldering, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing.
Venu 2 Plus also has a cycling profile that helps cyclists track and measure performance.
Venu 2 Plus has separate running profiles for different type of run routines like Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running.
Venu 2 Plus also has multiple in-built GYM profiles that include Strength, HIIT, Cardio and Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing, Breathwork, Pilates, Yoga.

Aside from these existing specialized profiles, Garmin Venu 2 Plus also offers information about generic fitness parameters. These include:

Calories burned.
Step counter or pedometer.
Floor climbed.
Intensity minutes.
Move Bar.
Move IQ

Garmin Venu 2 Plus can also track calorie intake, water intake and it can measure your body weight as well. For someone who is into weight management, a Venu 2 Plus will track and report the weight of the wearer.

Summary

Apple Watch SE and Garmin Venu 2 Plus are smartwatches for a specific set of customers. If you are into running and fitness regimes, a Garmin Venu 2 Plus should be the preferred option on account of a wide range of activity tracking features. For smartwatch only usage, Apple Watch SE is a cost-friendly option that works well in offering the basic smartwatch functionality.

Aside from the major differences reported above, there are multiple miscellaneous differences. We will list these for your ready reference:

You may also like to read more content related to Garmin and Apple smartwatches in the links below:

Helen Kurt

Helen Kurt is a geeky nerd who loves to cover the wearables space. She has over 5 years of experience in the smartwatch domain. You can reach her on email at [email protected].