Garmin Lily 2 The Best Fashion-Forward Smartwatch for Active Lifestyles
On my last day of vacation, I found myself on a gorgeous beach, sipping a piña colada and admiring the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Over four days, I’d charged my Apple Watch Ultra 2 three times, and it was down to 30 percent. Meanwhile, on my other wrist, the Garmin Lily 2 still had 15 percent battery left — despite not being charged once since I’d left home (I’d even forgotten the charger). While I pondered this, my Ultra 2 buzzed, letting me know about Peloton’s rough earnings day, even though my phone was buried at the bottom of a beach bag. Lily 2 also buzzed occasionally, but its notifications were so tedious to read that I just ignored them.
This small moment perfectly sums up the strengths — and the shortcomings — of the Lily 2.
During my 10-day test, I experienced two very different weeks. The first was hectic, filled with errands and tasks before my trip. The second was pure relaxation as I embraced my inner beach potato. In the chaos of week one, the Lily 2 felt stylish and comfortable, but it didn’t meet my needs. On vacation, its simplicity became a strength, offering just enough functionality without demanding too much attention.
That’s because the Lily 2 isn’t trying to be a mini smartphone on your wrist. It’s more about looking chic, telling the time, and providing basic notifications and fitness tracking. It’s perfect for casual users who miss the simplicity of fitness bands and old-school Fitbits.
The trade-off is that it can be a bit finicky to use. While the Lily 2’s screen is slightly better than the original, it still struggles with swipes and taps. Navigating menus or checking notifications is far less convenient than on a full-fledged smartwatch, making it harder to rely on for daily tasks.
As a fitness tracker, the Lily 2 is decent but not exceptional. It adds improved sleep tracking and new activity profiles, including HIIT, indoor rowing, walking, and meditation. There are also dance fitness options like Zumba, afrobeat, jazz, and line dancing. However, the small screen and touch controls make it impractical for monitoring stats mid-workout.
The Lily 2 also uses your phone’s GPS, which produced mixed results during outdoor runs. One four-mile run logged accurately at 4.01 miles, but a two-mile run came in at 2.4 miles. It’s better for tracking general activities than detailed fitness metrics. For example, it worked well for tracking my casual splashing around in the ocean but wouldn’t be my choice for serious swim training.
Garmin Lily 2 Specs
- Material: Aluminum, liquid crystal touch display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, silicone strap
- OS: Garmin
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Dimensions: 35.4mm x 35.4mm, 10.1mm thick
- Weight: 24.4g
- Battery life: Up to 5 days (less with pulse ox enabled)
- Sensors: Optical heart rate monitor, accelerometer, blood oxygen sensor, ambient light sensor
- GPS: Tethered to phone
- Water resistance: 5ATM
- NFC: Available only on Classic models
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
Garmin Lily 2 is a tracker designed for a simple, active lifestyle. It’s great for casual users who value style and ease over detailed fitness tracking or advanced smartwatch features. It won’t replace a dedicated fitness tracker or a high-end smartwatch, but for what it’s designed to do, it’s a solid choice.
Today’s Best Garmin Lily 2 Deals
Garmin Lily 2 is a stylish yet straightforward hybrid smartwatch that combines a chic analog design with basic fitness tracking and notification features. Priced at $249.97, it offers excellent value for anyone looking for a fashionable and functional wearable.
Get $60 off instantly: Pay $189.99 upon approval for Amazon Visa.
At 35mm, the Lily 2 is slightly larger than the original version but still significantly smaller than most smartwatches on the market. Weighing just 24.4g, it’s one of the lightest options available, making it incredibly comfortable for daily wear. In fact, it’s so lightweight and compact that you might forget you’re even wearing it.
Battery life lasts up to five days, making it a practical choice for those who prefer minimal charging interruptions.
