Garmin Lily 2 Active vs. Fitbit Sense 2
Naila Syifa
Updated October 2024
Garmin and Fitbit are some of the leading brands in the wearable technology market, and their stylish smartwatch models, the Garmin Lily 2 Active and the Fitbit Sense 2, are both compelling options for those seeking a fashionable and functional smartwatch. Both watches offer a range of features, but which one is the better choice for your needs?
Key Takeaways
Fitbit Sense 2 is better equipped in terms of stress management tools and daily smartwatch functions, while Garmin Lily 2 Active offers superior fitness and sleep tracking capabilities. In terms of design, the Garmin Lily 2 Active has a more stylish and feminine appearance compared to the more conventional look of the Fitbit Sense 2.
Garmin Lily 2 Active | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
---|---|---|
Dimensions | 38 x 38 x 11 mm | 40.5 x 40.5 x 11.2 mm |
Display | Liquid Crystal | AMOLED |
Water Rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Built-In GPS | ✅ | ✅ |
ECG | ❌ | ✅ |
Skin Temperature Variation | ❌ | ✅ |
Speaker & Microphone | ❌ | ✅ |
Music Control | ✅ | ✅ |
Contactless Payment | ✅ Garmin Pay | ✅ Google Wallet |
Maps | ❌ | ✅ Google Maps |
Runtime | 9 Days | 6 Days |
Garmin Lily 2 Active
Small & Stylish Smartwatch
✓ Hidden Display & Patterned Lens
✓ Built-In GPS
✓ Dance Fitness Activity
✓ Meditation & Breathwork
Fitbit Sense 2
Smartwatch for Mind & Body
✓ Body-Response Tracking & EDA Scan App
✓ Exercise Modes
✓ Built-In Speaker & Microphone
✓ Google Maps & Google Wallet
Design & Display
Garmin Lily 2 Active
Fitbit Sense 2 has a larger, rectangular 40.5 mm aluminum case and a 1.58" AMOLED color touchscreen with a 336 x 336 pixels resolution. The Garmin Lily 2 Active, on the other hand, features a more compact and feminine 38 mm aluminum case with a 1" x 0.84" LCD.
While the Sense 2 has a minimalist and stylish look, the Lily 2 Active looks particularly elegant with a patterned lens and a hidden display. When activated, the monochromatic LCD appears floating on top of the patterned lens, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance.
Which model looks more appealing will depend on your personal style preferences, but I think the Garmin Lily 2 Active is more suitable for those who prefer a discreet and feminine smartwatch design, while the Fitbit Sense 2 offers a more typical smartwatch look.
Health & Fitness Features
Fitbit Sense 2
While both watches track the most essential metrics like heart rate, HRV, blood oxygen, sleep, stress, VO2 max, and activities, the Fitbit Sense 2 features a more advanced set of health and wellness tools, including an ECG app, skin temperature sensor, a cEDA sensor, and EDA Scan app.
ECG app can provide irregular heart rhythm notifications and pinpoint signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), while the skin temperature sensor tracks changes in skin temperature over time.
cEDA sensor and EDA Scan app are part of Sense 2's stress management capabilities, with the former identifying physical signs of stress and the latter detecting electrodermal responses during breathing exercises or mindfulness sessions.
Garmin Lily 2 Active
Stress score and mood logging are also available in the Sense 2, making it a more comprehensive stress management smartwatch than the Lily 2 Active, whose stress management features are limited to stress levels, guided breathwork, and meditation.
Garmin Lily 2 Active's advantage lies in its sleep tracking capabilities, which not only detects nighttime sleep but also daytime naps. This rest data, along with physical activity and stress data, is used to provide a Body Battery energy monitoring score, which can help users better understand their energy levels and optimize their daily routines.
The Lily 2 Active also offers a Garmin Coach feature, which provides free adaptive training plans for 5K, 10K, and half-marathon. On-screen workouts for strengths, HIIT, yoga, and more can also be downloaded for guided workout sessions right on the watch. These make the Lily 2 Active more fitness-focused.
Smart Features
Fitbit Sense 2
When paired with a nearby smartphone, both watches can display smartphone notifications, control music playback, and respond to texts (Android phones only). Contactless payment is also available on both watches through their respective mobile payment platforms, Garmin Pay for Garmin Lily 2 Active and Google Wallet for Fitbit Sense 2.
The primary difference is that the Fitbit Sense 2 features a built-in speaker and microphone, which the Lily 2 Active lacks. This allows the Sense 2 to take Bluetooth phone calls directly from the watch, as well as use voice commands with the built-in Alexa.
Fitbit Sense 2 also offers Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation, while the Lily 2 Active has no built-in navigational features.
Both smartwatches have alarm functions, but the Sense 2 again stands out with the Smart Wake Alarm feature, which intelligently wakes the user during their optimal sleep stage within 30 minutes before the set alarm time, avoiding waking up during deep sleep to feel more refreshed.
Battery Life
Garmin Lily 2 Active
The actual battery life varies depending on usage and settings, but the Garmin Lily 2 Active generally offers longer battery life compared to the Fitbit Sense 2.
Garmin Lily 2 Active is rated for up to 9 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 9 hours in GPS mode.
Meanwhile, the Fitbit Sense 2 is rated for up to 6 days of battery life in normal use and up to 5 hours with continuous GPS.
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs. Fitbit Sense 2
Final Thoughts
Fitbit Sense 2
In terms of overall value proposition, the Garmin Lily 2 Active and Fitbit Sense 2 appeal to slightly different user profiles. The Lily 2 Active is better suited for those seeking a more discreet, feminine-leaning smartwatch design with a focus on robust fitness and sleep-tracking features.
Meanwhile, the Sense 2 offers a more conventional smartwatch aesthetic along with a more comprehensive suite of advanced health sensors, stress management tools, and daily smart features. Ultimately, the choice will come down to which set of features and design priorities best align with the individual user's needs and preferences.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Lily 2 vs Lily 2 Active
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Venu 3
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Vivoactive 5
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Vivomove Sport
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Forerunner 165
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Garmin Lily 2 Active vs Fitbit Luxe
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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