For those who want a square-faced smartwatch that is not the Apple Watch, Garmin's new Venu Sq 2 and Fitbit's Versa 4 are two great alternatives, but which one of them is worth buying? Despite more than ten different smartwatch series, the Venu Sq series is Garmin's only smartwatch line with a square dial, with the rest sporting a round dial. There are pros and cons to both designs.
Many people prefer round-faced watches to square-faced ones because of the belief that watches are meant to have a round dial, thanks to years of conditioning by traditional timepieces. However, those who prefer square-faced smartwatches justify their decision that a smartwatch with a square face has a larger viewing area and doesn't chop off text like a round watch.
Even though both smartwatches have a square dial, they are distinct in appearance and can't be tagged Apple Watch clones. The Venu Sq 2 has a Gorilla Glass 3-protected display, an aluminum bezel, a fiber-reinforced polymer case and 20mm quick-release silicone straps. It also has two physical buttons on the right side of the case. On the other hand, the Versa 4 has a more curved design, an aluminum case, 24mm straps and a single button. In addition, both watches have a 5ATM water-resistant rating. Garmin sells the Venu Sq 2 in six different colors, while the Versa 4 is available for purchase in four colorways.
Garmin's Venu Sq 2 Has Superior Battery Life
The Venu Sq 2 has a 1.41-inch touch AMOLED display with a 320 × 360 resolution, so it is more of a rectangle than a square. Fitbit doesn't say what the screen size of the Versa 4 is, but it has been reported that it has the same 1.58-inch touch display as the Versa 3. The two watches have all-day heart rate tracking with heart rate alerts, blood oxygen level monitoring, stress tracking, sleep tracking and respiration rate tracking. Garmin has also equipped its watch with a body battery energy monitor, hydration tracker, and support for women's health tracking. On the other hand, the Versa 4 supports Fitbit's irregular heart rhythm notifications, which can detect signs of atrial fibrillation, skin temperature variation and menstrual health tracking. In addition, the Versa 4 supports monitoring of up to 40 different sports which is more than the 25+ of the Venu Sq 2. Thankfully both watches have built-in GPS.
The Versa 4 and Venu Sq 2 support Bluetooth voice calls, call, messages and app notifications; Find My Phone; Find My Watch, and NFC (Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay). The Versa 4 also has Alexa built-in. Both watches also have support for Android and iOS devices. Garmin's smartwatch boasts up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, almost double the six-plus days that the Versa 4 can achieve. However, while the Venu Sq 2 doesn't have fast charging, Fitbit claims a 12-minute charge of the Versa 4 will provide a day's worth of battery life.
Garmin has priced the Venu Sq 2 at $249, which is just a tad higher than the $229 price of the Fitbit Versa 4. The former has better battery life but fewer sports modes. While Fitbit's smartwatch is cheaper, has more sports modes, and can detect signs of AFib, buyers should note that a subscription service is needed to get the best out of the watch. It costs $9.99 per month. However, the Versa 4 comes with a free six-month subscription.