Buttons and GPS finally! As someone who used Fenix 5s Plus with 10h GPS battery and 7 days smartwatch I'm genuinely impressed with this one. Finally have something for my wife to replace her Vivoactive 4 as 5th gen came with generic AMOLED smartwatch looks 🤢
This will be an excellent option for a lot of ladies. (I'm constantly asked about smaller form factors, and VA5 didn't have an S model unfortunately). Thanks for the video! With the compass, back to start (straight line) navigation would also be available. That would be a nice addition.
10:28 minor correction: the Fenix 7 Pro uses the ELEVATE V5 sensor. All the more impressive that this much cheaper watch outperforms it while using an older sensor setup. Perhaps we've gotten to a point where single generation sensor improvements have less impact on performance than the quality of the fit, which is likely helped by reduced weight and size.
Many women will wonder what to choose between the Lily 2 Active, Venu 3S (3) or Vivoactive 5... 9 days of autonomy for the Active version is now more interesting to not always be recharging and draining the battery to 0 to have a little freedom...
Loved the review. I'm finally jumping ship from Fitbit into Garmin & am considering the Lily 2 Active or Vivoactive 5. They both seem comparable in terms of features and they're the same price. A couple of questions. Question 1: On the Lily 2 Active, can you completely avoid using the touch screen and swiping at all? In other words, can you get by with using the buttons only to navigate through menus or are some options/menus only accessible with swiping? Question 2: On bike activity profile, will it also show speed in addition to distance? Thank you!
Its funny cause when these companies massively improve a product you will get comments unhappy they bought last years model - and if they dont improve radically you get comments unhappy there is not enough new features haha
So this even looks closer to the Venu 3 than to the Vivoactive line. Obviously minus the oled display and features like music and calls. But also with much larger battery life. Interesting.
Thanks for the video! Interesting to see that the lily 2 active is getting the new garmin coach, but the fenix 6/pro series has not (so far). Is this a hardware limitation on the older fenix models?
I currently have a Fenix 6 sapphire but it is too thick and big for my tiny wrist. I considered this option but want to be able to see my heart rate during activities. Is that possible? Is the Lily 2 classic thinner than the sport?
I am looking for something to replace my WHOOP since it’s very costly. Which sports watch would you recommend? I am most concerned about sleep analysis and HVR. Thank you.
I sleep and walk in my Lily 1 and do other workouts with a 955. Unless I sleep in the 955, it won't calculate training readiness, but I do see body battery (I think.) Will the HRV and other additions to Lily 2 Active do we know if it will calculate Training Readiness (while still sleeping only with the Lily 2 Active)?
These improvements are amazing, but I'm kinda disappointed now because I bought Lily 2 for my wife just 3 months ago... She likes it but I'm sure she would've loved better battery and GPS (plus the standard charging port, so we could use the same cable).
This is a huge upgrade from the Lily 2, but at the same price as a vivoactive 5, why go for this? In Canada, we have the instinct 2, lily 2 active, vivoactive 5, Forerunner 255 and venu 2 for all the same price and very similar features. Apple has the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra
Hi! I just received this as a gift. I think the battery life so far as been pretty impressive in my opinion. I'm new to Garmin, so this is my first device. For example, it was fully-charged before I went out on a 5-hour (?) hike. If I recall, my battery life at the end of the hike was in the 70s percent. Not sure if that's good our bad, but I was expecting it to be much lower given GPS was being used.
Is the Epix Pro (gen2) the only Garmin that will not show you the bpm numbers in the zones setup? It only shows the percentages but not the actual bpm? (I know this is a Lily 2 vid)
@Dcrainmaker, while you're on wearable, would appreciate if you could review Ray-Ban meta for cycling/running. Would be interested to know recording while cycling with helmet and gloves.
I really think it is time for Garmin to stop crippling its watches. Arbitrarily eliminating open water swim, power meters and multi sport (triathlon) from its lower end watches is just petty. There is no hardware reason and they are more likely to lose sales to Apple than to their own high end watches. Not having maps or music is enough of a differentiator and if you are a hardcore triathlete or ultra-runner you are not likely to get this watch. On the other hand doing an open water swim, using a bike with a power meter or doing the occasional multi-sport workout is stupid to just not be able to track. Stop this, Garmin.
Apple Watch batteries are anemic. They require charging DAILY. Those who want a fitness watch won’t put up with cheap batteries that die in under 18 hours. Apple Watch still doesn’t cut it. Those who merely want an iPhone on their wrist buy the Apple Watch.
Hello, my wife just got this and the screen display isnt waking up when she rotates her wrist. She can only wake it up with a double tap. Is there a setting she needs to change?
I just purchased this and I think I also commented on your question on another video. Check to see if it's in do not disturb or sleep mode. When it's your sleep time/schedule, it can only be awakened by double tap, not gesture.
Wish this watch had a more empty background, the lines bother me too much, would look nicer without.. expensive as well... 350,00 euro. Pff, the search for a garmin watch under 41 mm continues.
I'm the only person in these comments who is disappointed that Garmin has released yet another $299+ round faced artificially/software restricted nothingburger instead of putting out something with a different form factor (ring or amoled screen band)?? this one has some weird ?finger print stripe overlay screen thing going on instead of looking like an analog watch, which would be useful at least. Just bizarre IMO.
Thanks! Really upset with garmin!!!! bought one for my wife just 6 months ago. this is really disappointing and never mind for the fenix line ... looking at Apple from now on, for so many reasons
If you are upset for this, maybe it is a good idea not to look at new stuff unless you need something replaced.. If your wife's watch was fine the last 6 months, it will continue to do so for years to come, otherwise you didn't choose the right model in the first place. Maybe a hint: Apple is also just another tech company run by people, so their products have issues too from time to time 😉
Why would you be upset? Either the watch your wife has is fine for her use case, then it shouldn't matter that a better one exists, or it isn't, then you shouldn't have bought it in the first place
@@kayy-03 Product cycles of Garmin for a watch like this is about 2 years. Had we known, we would have waited, and get this watch instead of Lily 2. But they decided to update this watch even before a year has passed. Is it really that hard to understand why this is upsetting?
@@lanternofthegreen it's a bigger and more expensive watch, which doesn't sit to replace, but add to the current Lily watches. I guess the HRV would've been nice to have on the base Lily, but aside from that and some small stuff, GPS is the only difference - and if one wanted a GPS watch, the Lily 2 Classic was simply the wrong one to buy. So I stand by my initial statement. Additionally, Garmin regularly releases watches in a way that defy the usual cycle, like the Forerunner 265/965 with the same internals but a different screen than the not much older 255/955, or the Fenix 8 OLED, which doesn't come long after the newest Epix. Expecting a completely regular release cycle from Garmin is just not realistic
Buttons and GPS finally! As someone who used Fenix 5s Plus with 10h GPS battery and 7 days smartwatch I'm genuinely impressed with this one. Finally have something for my wife to replace her Vivoactive 4 as 5th gen came with generic AMOLED smartwatch looks 🤢
This will be an excellent option for a lot of ladies. (I'm constantly asked about smaller form factors, and VA5 didn't have an S model unfortunately). Thanks for the video! With the compass, back to start (straight line) navigation would also be available. That would be a nice addition.
impressed you filmed part of this an hour before upload! (edit: or maybe you are very east from Europe)
I filmed part of this 30 seconds before pressing upload. 🤣
Wicked! The Lily one has been my nan’s daily driver for the last 3 years, this is a fancy upgrade 🔥
10:28 minor correction: the Fenix 7 Pro uses the ELEVATE V5 sensor.
All the more impressive that this much cheaper watch outperforms it while using an older sensor setup.
Perhaps we've gotten to a point where single generation sensor improvements have less impact on performance than the quality of the fit, which is likely helped by reduced weight and size.
Yup, good point! Brain fart in video review (though, correct in written review).
Thanks for the review. Very thorough. I was on the fence about the watch but this is a great review.
Many women will wonder what to choose between the Lily 2 Active, Venu 3S (3) or Vivoactive 5...
9 days of autonomy for the Active version is now more interesting to not always be recharging and draining the battery to 0 to have a little freedom...
Loved the review. I'm finally jumping ship from Fitbit into Garmin & am considering the Lily 2 Active or Vivoactive 5. They both seem comparable in terms of features and they're the same price. A couple of questions.
Question 1: On the Lily 2 Active, can you completely avoid using the touch screen and swiping at all? In other words, can you get by with using the buttons only to navigate through menus or are some options/menus only accessible with swiping?
Question 2: On bike activity profile, will it also show speed in addition to distance?
Thank you!
Its funny cause when these companies massively improve a product you will get comments unhappy they bought last years model - and if they dont improve radically you get comments unhappy there is not enough new features haha
People will always find something to complain about..
So this even looks closer to the Venu 3 than to the Vivoactive line. Obviously minus the oled display and features like music and calls. But also with much larger battery life. Interesting.
I'm so torn between this and Venu s3!
I hope you are having/had a great time in Palma de Mallorca!!!
roses r red
lilies are white
awesome review
that watch is outasight...
This would be awesome if it has hour/min hands ala instinct crossover, will be a very stealthy fitness watch.
I agree that would make it even better and fit right in with the regular watch look
Great review, thanks mate.
Why does the screen have lines all over it
patterns on watch face so it doesn't look plain and empty when the display is off. when on, the display floats over them
Thanks for the video! Interesting to see that the lily 2 active is getting the new garmin coach, but the fenix 6/pro series has not (so far). Is this a hardware limitation on the older fenix models?
I currently have a Fenix 6 sapphire but it is too thick and big for my tiny wrist. I considered this option but want to be able to see my heart rate during activities. Is that possible? Is the Lily 2 classic thinner than the sport?
for one moment I thought it might have a camera on the front bottom there. Would love a watch with a tiny camera built in
What would you use it for?
I never take my phone on runs. It would be nice to be able to random shots when required. Rainbows, sunsets, crowds at events. Tigers. Etc
I am looking for something to replace my WHOOP since it’s very costly. Which sports watch would you recommend? I am most concerned about sleep analysis and HVR. Thank you.
Can it measure your blood pressure at all? I have low bp so it would be nice to have a watch that can tell me if its too low or not when im out
I sleep and walk in my Lily 1 and do other workouts with a 955. Unless I sleep in the 955, it won't calculate training readiness, but I do see body battery (I think.) Will the HRV and other additions to Lily 2 Active do we know if it will calculate Training Readiness (while still sleeping only with the Lily 2 Active)?
These improvements are amazing, but I'm kinda disappointed now because I bought Lily 2 for my wife just 3 months ago... She likes it but I'm sure she would've loved better battery and GPS (plus the standard charging port, so we could use the same cable).
Can you skip a song on your phone/headphones from the watch while running?
Ray do you have any information about the release of the new Garmin Forerunner?
This is a huge upgrade from the Lily 2, but at the same price as a vivoactive 5, why go for this? In Canada, we have the instinct 2, lily 2 active, vivoactive 5, Forerunner 255 and venu 2 for all the same price and very similar features. Apple has the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra
It's about looks and functionality.
What about battery life? Currently my Lily 2 has to be charged almost daily which is a pain especially with the type of charger it uses.
Hi! I just received this as a gift. I think the battery life so far as been pretty impressive in my opinion. I'm new to Garmin, so this is my first device. For example, it was fully-charged before I went out on a 5-hour (?) hike. If I recall, my battery life at the end of the hike was in the 70s percent. Not sure if that's good our bad, but I was expecting it to be much lower given GPS was being used.
@@kw348 Thank you
Does this watch measure altitude?
Is the Epix Pro (gen2) the only Garmin that will not show you the bpm numbers in the zones setup? It only shows the percentages but not the actual bpm? (I know this is a Lily 2 vid)
When we can watch the TRex 3 review??😅😅
When I or Amazfit figures how to get it out of customs jail. 😂
@@Dcrainmaker 😂
The Lily has women specific metrix like menstrual cycles but not the vivoactive and venu isnt it?
Does this support PacePro?
No PacePro here.
@@Dcrainmaker Thanks for confirming. Too bad it doesn't, but still a great upgrade from the 2.
Does this watch tell you muscle recovery time
Will you review amazfit trex 3
Can you use the leather straps from the other Lily's ?
yes
Is it really very different from Vivoactive though?
Significantly in terms of looks/screen/etc. Exact features gets pretty messy.
Is it good for diving?
Does the watch support Spotify offline music?
No music support at all
@@kayy-03 sad 🙁
@@kayy-03 Does this mean you can't control music playing on phone through bluetooth connection? Or just that you can't store music?
no
@Dcrainmaker, while you're on wearable, would appreciate if you could review Ray-Ban meta for cycling/running. Would be interested to know recording while cycling with helmet and gloves.
i have 2 lily users in my house... would've been great to just have one type of charger for all our garmins
I really think it is time for Garmin to stop crippling its watches. Arbitrarily eliminating open water swim, power meters and multi sport (triathlon) from its lower end watches is just petty. There is no hardware reason and they are more likely to lose sales to Apple than to their own high end watches. Not having maps or music is enough of a differentiator and if you are a hardcore triathlete or ultra-runner you are not likely to get this watch. On the other hand doing an open water swim, using a bike with a power meter or doing the occasional multi-sport workout is stupid to just not be able to track. Stop this, Garmin.
Apple Watch batteries are anemic. They require charging DAILY. Those who want a fitness watch won’t put up with cheap batteries that die in under 18 hours. Apple Watch still doesn’t cut it. Those who merely want an iPhone on their wrist buy the Apple Watch.
@@nellieforbes2216 I agree, but that is no excuse for Garmin crippling their software.
Hello, my wife just got this and the screen display isnt waking up when she rotates her wrist. She can only wake it up with a double tap. Is there a setting she needs to change?
I just purchased this and I think I also commented on your question on another video. Check to see if it's in do not disturb or sleep mode. When it's your sleep time/schedule, it can only be awakened by double tap, not gesture.
@@kw348 thank you! It worked for me! I checked and “do not disturb” was on. Now it works perfect :)
The Lily gets nap tracking but it’s still not on the Instinct 2/2X? Come on Garmin!
Forgot the sunscreen, Ray 😂 ?
Wish this watch had a more empty background, the lines bother me too much, would look nicer without.. expensive as well... 350,00 euro. Pff, the search for a garmin watch under 41 mm continues.
🎉
It looks funny on your hand)))
But my wifes Lily 2 classic with leather looks better, don't know why the Lily 2 active has no leather wristband
You can use any existing Lily 2 leather band with it, they're all interchangeable.
I'm the only person in these comments who is disappointed that Garmin has released yet another $299+ round faced artificially/software restricted nothingburger instead of putting out something with a different form factor (ring or amoled screen band)?? this one has some weird ?finger print stripe overlay screen thing going on instead of looking like an analog watch, which would be useful at least. Just bizarre IMO.
And breathe….😂😂😂
Oh my oh my congrats for being feminine side ha ha
First
why is a guy reviewing a watch that is geared toward women?
Odd that nobody else had this problem, no?
@@Dcrainmakerwould you sell this watch to me
As a woman with bigger wrists, I needed to see the size comparison!
Thanks! Really upset with garmin!!!! bought one for my wife just 6 months ago. this is really disappointing and never mind for the fenix line ... looking at Apple from now on, for so many reasons
If you are upset for this, maybe it is a good idea not to look at new stuff unless you need something replaced..
If your wife's watch was fine the last 6 months, it will continue to do so for years to come, otherwise you didn't choose the right model in the first place.
Maybe a hint: Apple is also just another tech company run by people, so their products have issues too from time to time 😉
Why would you be upset? Either the watch your wife has is fine for her use case, then it shouldn't matter that a better one exists, or it isn't, then you shouldn't have bought it in the first place
@@kayy-03 Product cycles of Garmin for a watch like this is about 2 years. Had we known, we would have waited, and get this watch instead of Lily 2. But they decided to update this watch even before a year has passed. Is it really that hard to understand why this is upsetting?
@@lanternofthegreen it's a bigger and more expensive watch, which doesn't sit to replace, but add to the current Lily watches. I guess the HRV would've been nice to have on the base Lily, but aside from that and some small stuff, GPS is the only difference - and if one wanted a GPS watch, the Lily 2 Classic was simply the wrong one to buy. So I stand by my initial statement. Additionally, Garmin regularly releases watches in a way that defy the usual cycle, like the Forerunner 265/965 with the same internals but a different screen than the not much older 255/955, or the Fenix 8 OLED, which doesn't come long after the newest Epix. Expecting a completely regular release cycle from Garmin is just not realistic
If you actually prefer a watch with a cheap battery that DIES in under a day, Apple & Samsung are for you. 🎉
me with my lily 2 classic🥲💔
How do you find your Lily 2?