Garmin Lily 2 Review

In a market saturated with powerful, screen-dominant smartwatches, the Garmin Lily 2 carves out a niche by asking a simple question: what if a fitness tracker looked less like a gadget and more like a piece of jewelry? This device is a deliberate exercise in subtlety, blending Garmin’s robust health monitoring into a design that prioritizes elegance and discretion above all else. It’s a compelling proposition for anyone who has felt alienated by the bulky, utilitarian aesthetic of most wearables.

The Lily 2’s design is its undeniable headline feature. Building upon the original’s successful formula, Garmin has refined the concept with a full aluminum case and a new 14mm quick-release band system that makes customization a breeze. The 35mm watch case remains exceptionally small and lightweight, making it comfortable for all-day wear and a perfect fit for smaller wrists. The magic, however, lies in the patterned lens that overlays the display. When inactive, the Lily 2 looks like a stylish, traditional watch; a flick of the wrist or a tap on the screen reveals the hidden monochrome liquid crystal display beneath. While this effect is striking, the display itself is a major point of compromise. It’s not the vibrant, colorful OLED you’d find on a Venu or Apple Watch, and its visibility can suffer in direct sunlight. There is also no always-on option, a curious omission for a device that so effectively mimics an analog timepiece.

Under the hood, the Lily 2 is pure Garmin. It delivers the brand’s class-leading suite of health and wellness tracking, including Body Battery energy monitoring, advanced sleep tracking with a sleep score, stress tracking, and SpO2 monitoring. New additions like the Dance Fitness activity profile and a “move alert” with different exercise suggestions show a continued focus on holistic wellness. For basic fitness, the watch reliably tracks steps, heart rate, and calories, using Move IQ to automatically detect activities. However, a significant limitation for more serious athletes is the lack of a built-in GPS; the Lily 2 relies on a connection to your smartphone for accurate distance and pace tracking during outdoor workouts.

The smart features have received a welcome, albeit modest, upgrade. The most significant is the inclusion of Garmin Pay on the more premium Classic models, finally allowing for contactless payments from the wrist. You still get reliable smartphone notifications, a handy Morning Report to summarize your day, and access to Garmin’s safety and tracking features. Yet, the experience remains intentionally simple. There are no third-party apps, no music storage, and no ability to take calls on the watch. This simplicity contributes to an excellent battery life, which Garmin quotes at up to five days. In practice, with regular use, you can comfortably get four full days between charges, a figure that puts most mainstream competitors to shame. This places the Lily 2 in a unique position. It’s not trying to replace your phone; it’s a sophisticated health tracker that offers just enough smarts to be genuinely useful, without the constant distractions and charging anxiety of its more powerful rivals.

Ultimately, the Garmin Lily 2 is a statement piece for a very specific user. If your priority is a feature-packed wrist-computer with a brilliant display and a robust app ecosystem, this is not the device for you. But if you’ve been searching for a capable, long-lasting health tracker that seamlessly blends with your personal style and doesn’t scream “tech gadget,” the Lily 2 is one of the most compelling and well-executed options on the market today. It successfully merges fashion and function in a way few others have managed.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon