It took a few tries, but Fitbit hit the jackpot with the Versa 3. The latest edition has plenty of new perks, making it a worthwhile investment. The notable upgrades include improved heart-rate technology, Active Zone Minutes, Fitbit Pay as a standard feature, and a built-in mic/speaker.
From $229 at Amazon
Pros
- Onboard GPS
- Heart-rate monitoring
- Active Zone Minutes
- Fitbit Pay & music storage
- Google Assistant & Alexa Built-in
Cons
- Slightly more expensive
- Previous Versa bands won’t work
The Garmin Lily will meet your needs when you’re more concerned about how your watch looks than what it does. That said, it still offers some nifty features for a great experience. Aside from the stunning design, you’ll have activity/sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, Pulse Ox, and Body Battery.
$200 at Amazon
Pros
- Heart-rate monitoring
- Activity/sleep tracking
- Body Battery feature
- Stylish, compact design
- Two model options
Cons
- Lacks onboard GPS
- No Garmin Pay or music storage
Garmin Lily vs. Fitbit Versa 3: Pick your priorities
Finding the best Android smartwatch for your needs is easier than you might think. You’ll want to consider your preferences before choosing a model, and you’ll quickly find that watches like the Garmin Lily and Fitbit Versa 3 set out to accomplish different goals.
If you’re seeking a wearable that will serve as an attractive accessory while providing good activity-tracking features, go for the Garmin Lily. It might not be as sophisticated as other devices, but it’s great for basic activity tracking. If you want more than a fashion accessory with basic perks, buy the Fitbit Versa 3 instead. It has all the essentials and detailed monitoring, which is ideal for casual athletes.
The Garmin Lily focuses on fashion first
Source: Courtney Lynch / Android Central
If you haven’t figured it out, the Garmin Lily is about style. The company has referred to this device as the smartwatch women have been waiting for. This might be true for some women, but not that’s a pretty ambitious blanket statement if you ask me.
With that in mind, the Lily does cater to a specific demographic of women who want a small but efficient wearable that offers a feminine design. The case size is just 34mm, the smallest Garmin smartwatch yet.
| Garmin Lily | Fitbit Versa 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1-inch TFT LCD | 1.58-inch AMOLED |
| Dimensions | 34.5×34.5×10.15mm | 40x40x12mm |
| Sensors | HRM, accelerometer, Pulse Ox, ambient light sensor | HRM, accelerometer, altimeter, gyroscope, SpO2, ambient light sensor |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Battery life | Five days | Six days |
| Water-resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Onboard GPS | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Contactless payments | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Color display | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Interchangeable bands | ❌ | ✔️ |
Each model has a shiny bezel, either aluminum or stainless steel, depending on your chosen model. The Classic model has a stainless steel bezel in Light Gold, Cream Gold, and Dark Bronze. The Sport model is aluminum and comes in Cream Gold, Rose Gold, and Midnight Orchid.
Unfortunately, these models use 14mm proprietary bands, so you won’t have many options when deciding to change. Once you get the hang of it, replacing the bars on your Garmin Lily smartwatch is easy.
If you’re an experienced smartwatch user, one discernable difference between the Garmin Lily and other models is the display. You get a liquid crystal monochromatic touchscreen rather than a rich, colorful display. You also won’t have any physical side buttons to rely on, so you’ll have to navigate via the touchscreen and a single capacitive button. The Garmin Lily can last for five days on a single charge.
The Garmin Lily can track your activities, heart rate, stress levels, sleep patterns, and more.
While the design is inarguably the main attraction, some features under the hood might be helpful. The Garmin Lily can track your activities, heart rate, stress levels, sleep patterns, and more.
You can store your seven favorite activities on the watch, which can be changed at any time in the Garmin Connect app. Some popular activity profiles include walking, running, cycling, elliptical, cardio, and yoga. The Lily also offers women’s health tracking for menstrual cycles and pregnancy.
So, what will you be missing? If you’re looking for juicy smartwatch features, there aren’t many to be found here. The Garmin Lily doesn’t have onboard GPS, contactless payments, or music storage. As mentioned earlier, the lack of color display is another disappointing factor. The proprietary band issue also limits your options for changing your style. The Garmin Lily might be perfect for you if these drawbacks don’t bother you.
