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When Garmin first introduced the original Marq collection in 2019, it was intended to be a brand-new premium alternative for customers who needed something distinct from the Fenix range’s ruggedness. There were some successes, but there were also some failures, and now the Marq is back for the second round. It comes with a display that is far better, a battery life that is significantly longer, as well as a couple of distinct features and design notes; nonetheless, the price has remained the same.
The price of one of the five watches in the Marq (Gen 2) series, which comprises the Golfer, Athlete, Aviator, Captain, and Adventurer models, is approximately $2,000 or £1,500. Each model features a distinctive design that sets it apart from the others in the collection. It catapults the Marq (Gen 2) into the same realm as the industry’s most costly smartwatches, including the Apple Watch Series 4 and the Huawei Watch GT.
Garmin Marq 2 SPECIFICATIONS
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 1.4 inches |
| Display Type | Sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) |
| Water Resistance | 10 ATM |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 days (smartwatch mode) |
| GPS | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes |
| Music Storage | Yes |
| Mobile Payments | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Compatibility | Android and iOS |
Garmin Marq 2: Design
Garmin calls the Marq a “modern tool watch.” What this really means is that the company wants you to wear a Garmin that is still a sports watch at heart but looks more like a classic timepiece. The Athlete model, which I’m using here, is one of five watches in the Marq line. As its name suggests, it’s for people who are more active. Garmin has mostly kept the same look for the new Athlete. It has colored highlights on the buttons and a big bezel that looks like a chronograph. It still has a 46mm case, but now it is bigger at 15mm (up from 14.1mm) and lighter at 85g (down from 94g). You can buy this smartwatchu from its official website
Software and features
The Marq uses software made by Garmin, and like other high-end Garmin watches, it can take some time to figure out all of the choices and features. The Garmin Connect app for smartphones is as detailed and full of information as ever, so it pays to take some time to learn what this watch can do. With the addition of touchscreen support, it’s much easier to move around on the watch.
From the watch face, you can swipe up or down to get to your stream of Glances (widgets). The layout of the buttons is standard for Garmin, and the buttons have a nice polished look. If you’ve ever used a Garmin tracker before, you’ll know how this one works. If not, there is a lot to think about. Still, the software works well, the touch screen is nice and fast, and you can make tracking as simple or complicated as you want.
Garmin Marq 2: Health and fitness
People used to say that Garmin was hard to understand and had too much information, but those days are long gone. Even so, you still get a lot of information. You do, and if you want to, you can dig into all of it in the Garmin Connect app. But what Garmin does with all the info now is much easier to use and much more helpful than it was before.
Through the watch’s “Glances” interface, you can see a number of useful data. With “Training Readiness,” things like the time it takes to heal have been added. So not only do you know how long you need to rest, but you also know if you are ready to exercise.
Garmin Marq 2: Battery life
It means that it charges much, much faster than the Epix 2 or the Fenix 7. With this new type of charging puck, it only takes about an hour to go from 0% to 100%, while it used to take between 2 and 3 hours with regular Garmin charging connections.
When we asked back in October if this was something that would be in future releases, Garmin wouldn’t say. This is a bit of a shame, but it is still a very good thing about the Marq.
Final Words
Garmin’s Marq (Gen 2) is much better than the first version. It uses the display technology and battery life improvements that made the Epix 2 such a great gadget. It’s ridiculously expensive, and we’re not sure that the overwhelming tracking experience goes well with the high-end design, but it’s hard to argue that the five watches in the Marq (Gen 2) range are the best-looking watches the company has ever made. In the end, it’s still only a choice for a very small number of smartwatch fans.
Garmin Marq 2 review: THE GOOD AND THE BAD
The Good
- Great sports tracking features
- Good battery life
The Bad
- No smaller case size option
FAQS
The Marq Adventurer (Gen 2) is a great adventure watch that is fun to use and has some of the same parts as classic field watches. It has all of Garmin’s latest fitness-tracking and smart navigation technology in a tough, stylish package.
This is the MARQ Athlete, the least expensive of the second-generation MARQ watches. It is designed for sports training, like the Forerunner and Fenix watches. It’s one of the best running watches and Garmin watches in general if you want high-end quality and don’t mind the price.