TechRadar Verdict
The Garmin Lily 2 Active is light, slim, and packed with fitness features.
This sporty update to the original Lily 2 adds built-in GPS and a solid nine days of battery life.
Thats mostly thanks to the built-in GPS.
In the other models, youd need to connect to your phone to track routes.
Here, you’re able to leave your phone behind.
Its 38mm case and narrower strap make it one of the most wearable fitness watches out there.
Back when wearables first hit the market, many felt chunky and oversized.
But dont let the smaller size fool you, this is a fully-fledged fitness smartwatch.
The black-and-white liquid crystal screen looks moreKindlethanApple Watch, which wont appeal to everyone.
Its not ultra-bright, and the touchscreen experience is a little different.
But I actually liked it.
As youd expect, fitness tracking is excellent.
Read on to find out what I thought after a full month of testing the Garmin Lily 2 Active.
In terms of competition, the Lily 2 Active sits in a bit of a grey area.
Its pricier than many of thebest fitness trackers, but still cheaper than most of the full-featuredbest smartwatches.
But while smart rings excel at sleep and recovery data, theyre not fitness-first devices.
In short, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is fairly priced for what it offers.
This is a slim, lightweight smartwatch built with smaller wrists in mind and it nails that brief.
But in the case of smartwatches, thereisa real need for smaller options.
Its a clear reminder that not everyone wants, or needs, a chunky wearable.
While youcanfit smaller straps to other Garmin models, the slimmer casing here makes doing so more appealing.
Whether thats a good thing or not depends on your taste.
Personally, I like it; I dont miss the bright screen.
In fact, I love the trade-off for longer battery life.
Bold, bright displays look great, but they drain power fast.
Design-wise, theres a decent range of colors and combinations, with both strap and casing options.
I tested the Jasper Green version and really liked it subtle, classy, and stylish without being flashy.
This one gets the balance just right.
So if looks are your only concern, you might not notice much difference.
The real upgrades are under the hood.
Unlike the original Lily 2, which relies on connected GPS (i.e.
using your phones signal), the Active version has its own GPS onboard.
Thats great news for outdoor workouts.
It means more accurate tracking and one less reason to bring your phone along.
You also get Garmin Coach, an in-app coaching tool designed for structured training plans.
As for health and wellness features, the Lily 2 Active is surprisingly packed for such a compact watch.
That ease of use is crucial when youre collecting this much data it means the insights are actually useful.
Fitness tracking is another strong suit.
Press the top left button to start a workout, scroll through the list, and off you go.
The GPS was quick to connect and reliably mapped my routes on runs and walks.
I used it mainly for running, where GPS performance was solid and the mapping worked well.
Outside of workouts, the watch is simple but easy to use.
Garmins Body Battery feature is something I genuinely found useful.
Stress tracking is another interesting one.
Again, its not just tracking data, but helping youunderstandit.
And then theres sleep tracking, which is honestly fantastic.
Despite being a watch, it held its own against the smart rings I tested it alongside.
And finally, the battery life.
Garmin claims up to nine days, and in my testing, I regularly hit eight to nine.
Thats a huge win.
The Lily 2 Active, with its low-power screen, comfortably lasted over a week per charge.
Thats a game-changer for anyone who doesnt want to be constantly tethered to a charger.
Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Small, sleek, and thoughtfully designed ideal for smaller wrists.
Performance
Accurate tracking, smooth syncing, and a comfortable fit make it a joy to wear.
A few small display quirks.
Should I buy the Garmin Lily 2 Active?
Plus, it comes in a variety of case styles.
Read our fullApple Watch Series 10 review
A sleek, circular smartwatch with excellent health and fitness features.
Safe to say, its been tested across all kinds of configs and activities.
