As smartwatches pack more power and capability than ever, they’re becoming viable gaming companions right on your wrist. Between bright touchscreens, built-in speakers, WiFi connectivity and voice controls, the latest models from Garmin and Apple offer portable playgrounds for casual gameplay to augment your phone.
But how do these flagship wearables stack up for gaming? In this face-off, we’ll compare the gamer-centric strengths of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus versus Apple Watch Series 7 across four key categories:
- Design & hardware
- Smart gaming features
- Gaming-focused metrics
- Overall performance
Let’s dive in to see which smartwatch claims mobile gaming supremacy!
Design & Hardware for Gaming
First up, the physical watch hardware itself plays a big role in determining gaming suitability. You need something visually engaging yet durable enough to tag along anywhere without worries. Here’s how the Venu 2 Plus and Series 7 gaming cred holds up:
Display Brightness & Outdoor Visibility
The Venu 2 Plus packs an OLED display reaching up to 1000 nits brightness for easy viewing even in harsh daylight. Combined with a mirrored lens for reduced glare, it keeps game graphics crisp across the vivid 1.3” touchscreen. The Apple Watch screen gets even brighter at 1200 nits, making the sharp 1.9” display readable in the brightest conditions. That expansive real estate makes gaming more immersive.
Durability & Water Resistance
Ready to level up your gameplay beyond the couch? Both watches carry an IP68 rating for dust and water protection. That means they can withstand submersion down to 50 meters, far exceeding the pressure found in a typical swimming pool or daily wear exposure to rain and sweat. The Series 7 also introduces crack resistance through its crystal display and robust case design. So Apple is really reinforcing this latest model to stand up to active gaming on the move.
Band Style Options
While smartwatches need to survive adventures, you still want to game in style. The Venu 2 Plus uses standard 20mm bands, opening up a world of aftermarket leather, metal, silicon and nylon pickups to customize your look. Apple offers exclusive sport bands and premium link bracelets specially made for their lugs and attachment mechanism. So beyond first party options, third party Apple Watch bands give gamers oodles of stylish choices from rugged to refined suiting any persona.
Overall for hardware, both watches earn top marks for readable, vibrant displays suited even for gaming marathons outdoors. Their improved waterproofing gives peace of mind, and quick-change bands cater to any personal flair. The Apple Watch Series 7 nudges ahead with its expansive screen real estate and reinforced glass for most immersive portable gaming. But the Venu 2 Plus retains batter stamina that high-intensity gaming demands.
Smart Gaming Features
These flagship smartwatches do more than just act as tiny viewports for biting zombies or lining up pipe puzzles. Here are some of the built-in smart features that can enhance or even transform your gameplay:
Gaming App Availability
While lacking a dedicated app store, the Venu 2 Plus provides access to limited games like Tetris and some casual titles through Garmin’s Connect IQ store. Where Apple dominates is their vast App Store bursting with thousands of games in every genre optimized specifically for Apple Watch. Top titles span from RPG Runescape to arcade classic Fruit Ninja. Some apps even support multiplayer against others online for ultimate portability.
Voice Controls & Digital Assistants
Both devices allow some degree of voice command during gaming by summoning Siri or Google Assistant to launch apps or ask for help mid-level. The Venu 2 Plus goes further by including a built-in assistant so you don’t need to connect headphones to chat. This lets you dictate messages or trigger actions hands-free. Apple is rumored to bring similar mic access natively to Series 8 models later in 2023.
AR Gaming
As augmented reality matures on phones, Apple is pushing the boundaries on wrist-based experiences too. A great example is Lifesaver: AR on Apple Watch Series 7 which uses real-time visual, auditory and haptic cues to guide CPR chest compressions in an emergency. As the next generation of AR glasses evolves, the Apple Watch promises to sync experiences blending real and virtual worlds. Garmin may look to add AR features down the road given its expansion into smart eyewear products as well. But Apple presently has a leg up here.
For smart gaming tricks that create revolutionary gameplay possibilities beyond small screens, the Apple Watch Series 7 leverages the powerful Apple ecosystem. Meanwhile Garmin makes strides in voice controls in their pursuit to catch up on apps and connectivity.
Gaming Performance & Metrics
Modern gaming obsesses over benchmarks and tools to measure system performance. Let’s see which smartwatch hardware best keeps up with nonstop gaming thanks to tweaked processors and tuned tracking capabilities:
Processor & Responsiveness
The Venu 2 Plus runs on a faster refreshed CPU which helps reduce lag to keep up with quick taps and swipes once the action intensifies. Both watches feel smooth navigating menus, but Apple’s deep OS optimization gives it an edge for faster launch times jumping back into supported games after reading a text or app switch. The Apple S7 SiP processor also handles more demanding graphics and visual effects better if you enable higher settings.
Connectivity
Staying connected is crucial for multiplayer gaming, streaming entertainment and peak performance. While the Venu 2 Plus has sensors out the wazoo, it lacks the Apple Watch’s LTE option for untethered gaming beyond WiFi. The Series 7 does plan to add satellite connectivity later in 2023 allowing off-grid communication possibilities too. Gamers craving flexibility give Apple the connectivity crown.
Audio Quality
With gaming, crisp stereo sound immerses you into vivid worlds. Each watch enables Bluetooth headphone connection for cable-free audio. Reviewers praise the Series 7 speaker and mic for louder, clearer sound ideal for gaming or voice chat. The Venu 2 Plus sounds decent at normal volumes but starts to suffer distortion and tininess cranked up louder during intense gameplay.
Distraction & Focus Tracking
Gaming demands laser mental focus to catch every subtle visual cue and nail the perfect line of actions. The Venu 2 Plus aims to help gamers zone in by detecting stress then guiding meditation exercises if you feel overwhelmed. However Apple goes further by using heart rate variability signals to measure your attention span then push notifications to get you back on track once it starts slipping.
Across core performance metrics from fluid graphics rendering to focus recovery, the Apple Watch leverages leading heart rate technology and intuitive software enhancement specifically for immersive, responsive gaming you’ll keep coming back for.
Summary – The Ultimate Gaming Smartwatch Is…
When combining all gaming-related strengths across both platforms, the Apple Watch Series 7 emerges as the superior mobile gaming sidekick versus the Garmin Venu 2 Plus.
Apple Watch Series 7 Gaming Highlights:
- Larger, brighter edge-to-edge display
- Faster processor reduces lag
- Massive app catalog full of games
- Tighter iPhone integration
- Louder, clearer audio
- Advanced focus tracking features
Garmin Venu 2 Plus Gaming Highlights:
- Long battery life for gaming marathons
- Visible screen even in daylight
- Built-in voice controls
- More durable for active gaming
While the Venu 2 Plus puts up a fight with its long-lasting battery and voice assistant access, the Apple Watch’s gaming-tailored strengths ultimately make it the choice for serious mobile gamers. From expansive viewable area for immersive worlds to the vast iOS gaming ecosystem at your fingertips, it’s a proven portable powerhouse.
Yet Garmin still warrants consideration from workout gamers wanting robust activity metrics or long GPS-tracked adventures beyond a wall outlet’s reach. So choose the Apple Watch Series 7 if you prioritize cutting edge gaming tech and performance above all else. But the Venu 2 Plus retains appeal for athletes gaming on the go across backcountry trails off the beaten path.