Garmin launched the Venu 2 Plus smartwatch more than a year ago, and now it is getting support for ECG following the FDA's approval of the ECG App. The Venu 2 Plus is a round-faced smartwatch that sits between the Venu 2S and the Venu 2 in size. However, it is the most expensive of the Venu 2 series, with a $450 price tag, making it more expensive than competitors like the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 5.
When the Venu 2 Plus was announced at CES 2022, Garmin didn't mention the smartwatch would eventually have support for detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib), so its recent announcement about the smartwatch gaining the feature comes as a surprise. Garmin says that the ECG App for the smartwatch is the company's "first FDA-cleared smartwatch feature.” With this new feature, users can record an ECG at any time and anywhere.
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Available Only In the U.S. For Now
The ECG App uses available but previously inactive sensors on the Venu 2 Plus to record electric signals that track how a user's heart beats. The recorded heartbeats are then analyzed to detect signs of AFib. The result is displayed on the smartwatch's screen, but users can also choose to sync the result to the Garmin Connect app on their smartphone. The app allows users to view previous results and share them with their doctor. For now, the ECG feature is available only for customers in the United States. However, it plans to launch it in other regions once it receives regulatory approval.
For anyone in the U.S. who want to set up the feature, Garmin says they have to update their Garmin Connect app to the latest version. Users can do so by going to the Play Store on an Android smartphone, or App Store on iOS. Search for the Garmin Connect app and select update if one is available. In addition to updating their app, they must run the latest version of the Venu 2 Plus software. Garmin warns that the ECG feature should not be used by anyone under the age of 22 years.
In addition to recording an ECG, the Venu 2 Plus smartwatch can also measure heart rate and notify users if it is too high or too low while at rest. There is also support for other health features like respiration tracking, hydration tracking, stress tracking, women's health tracking, and blood oxygen saturation monitoring. The smartwatch has more than 25 indoor and outdoor sports modes, some of which have animated on-screen workouts. Users can also use the watch for Bluetooth calls, smart notifications, and NFC payments. Garmin Venu 2 Plus users can also download their favorite podcasts from Spotify for phone-free listening.
