Compare Xiaomi Watch 2 vs Garmin Lily 2 Active

Activity auto-detection was criticized as trigger-happy and inconsistent about stopping activities.

The app ecosystem was a strength because Wear OS provided Google services, downloadable apps, and broad wrist-based functionality.

The app ecosystem is praised as comprehensive for wellness data and long-term health interpretation.

Band quality was mixed to weak: the included TPU band suited workouts but felt cheap or awkward for everyday use.

Band quality is praised for comfort, quick-release swapping, and easy removal.

Battery life was the biggest split: one review praised two days, but several others found one-day endurance or daily charging disappointing.

Battery life is strongly praised, often beating or matching expectations and lasting around a week or more in real use.

Blood oxygen tracking received positive practical comments, including useful breathing-score context and close comparison to another oximeter-style device.

One reviewer was very positive about Pulse Ox readings, saying the watch routinely matched their normal SpO2 range.

Bluetooth connectivity was praised in one review for staying reliable throughout testing.

Bluetooth connectivity is viewed positively because the watch pairs easily with phones and other devices.

Body temperature tracking was a missing feature and was called a consideration for users who specifically want it.

Brightness was praised as sufficient, including in direct sun or sunny-day use.

Brightness is generally acceptable, with one reviewer noting easy viewing, while another says the screen itself is not ultra-bright.

Build quality ranged from superb or premium-feeling for the price to noticeably less premium than leading watches.

Build quality draws criticism from one reviewer who dislikes the cheaper-material feel.

Button controls were generally usable and customizable, but reviewers missed the Pro model’s crown.

Button controls are a unanimous strength because they make workouts and navigation much easier than touch-only Lily models.

Call handling was consistently positive, with reviewers saying watch calls sounded good or were easy to take from the wrist.

Call handling is useful for glancing at calls on the wrist without pulling out a phone.

Calorie tracking usefulness was weak because Mi Fitness sometimes showed glitched calorie figures that did not match the watch.

Charging convenience was poor because reviewers disliked the proprietary or orientation-sensitive magnetic puck.

Charging convenience improves because the watch uses the standard Garmin cable rather than the older Lily clip style.

Charging speed was consistently praised as fast, often offsetting some frustration with short battery life.

Coaching was mixed: running and workout guidance existed, but sleep advice was described as generic.

Coaching features are well received, with reviewers praising Garmin Coach, adaptive plans, and guided structured workouts.

Comfort was a consistent strength, with reviewers praising the light body for daily wear, workouts, and sleep.

Comfort is one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers saying the small, light watch is easy to forget on the wrist.

Companion app quality was split: some found Mi Fitness intuitive or fine, while Wareable called analysis a chore.

The companion app is useful for setup, coaching, and deeper tracking, with one reviewer preferring it for faster, clearer health logging.

Contactless payments worked well and were convenient, but the required screen lock was an annoyance.

Garmin Pay is considered useful and easy to set up, though one reviewer notes its value drops if a phone is still needed for music.

Cross-platform compatibility was a weakness because the watch is Android-focused and loses potential or support outside that ecosystem.

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed because Android users get quick replies while iPhone users cannot reply from the watch.

Customization was a clear strength, including many watch faces, complications, straps, and Wear OS personalization options.

Customization is mixed-to-good: notifications and data views have useful controls, but watch-face flexibility is more limited than other Garmins.

Display quality was one of the strongest areas, with multiple reviewers praising the AMOLED panel, clarity, and screen appearance.

Display quality is divisive: reviewers like the contrast and hidden-display style, but some dislike the monochrome screen or limited visual richness.

Durability had mixed evidence, with one reviewer feeling confident and another faulting the lack of military durability and sapphire glass.

Durability is a concern for one reviewer, who connects the aluminum casing to easier scratching and reduced durability.

ECG functionality was treated as a missing advanced feature, softened only by the watch’s lower price.

ECG is a clear limitation: a reviewer explicitly wished Garmin had included the hardware for ECG-related features.

Fit was acceptable but size-dependent; reviewers found it large or noticeable despite light weight.

Fit is excellent for the intended user, especially people who want a small watch that sits comfortably on smaller wrists.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mixed: basic tracking worked well for some reviewers, but others found workout data rudimentary or inconsistent in accuracy and usefulness.

Fitness tracking accuracy is a major strength, with multiple reviewers finding pace, distance, and overall workout data accurate.

GPS accuracy was mostly praised for dual-band precision and strong real-world performance, with one reviewer finding it less exact.

GPS accuracy is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly finding quick locks, solid routes, and close agreement with other devices.

Reviewers treated general health data as useful directional guidance rather than professional-grade measurement; one review was positive about raw data while another warned not to treat it as hard fact.

One review gives the broader health-tracking package a very strong assessment, describing fitness tracking as excellent within Garmin’s health ecosystem.

Heart-rate accuracy was split sharply: one tester saw close agreement with a Garmin reference, while others reported unreliable or inconsistent readings.

Heart-rate accuracy is consistently praised, with reviewers noting only minor delays or brief misses during harder efforts.

LTE connectivity was a repeated drawback because the standard Watch 2 lacks cellular support and pushes untethered users toward the Pro model.

Mapping and navigation were mixed: one reviewer found directions unclear, while another showed GPS navigation working well.

Mapping and navigation are mixed-to-weak: GPS mapping after workouts works, but reviewers note no detailed map display and no hiking profile.

Materials quality was mixed: one review praised the premium feel, while another called the materials cheaper than more expensive rivals.

Materials quality is criticized by one reviewer for relying on cheaper materials.

Menu navigation was mostly intuitive, though the lack of a crown made swiping more necessary.

Menu navigation is viewed positively, with one reviewer describing swiping and app opening as smooth.

Music controls worked, but the experience had a caveat because album art was missing in one reviewer’s test.

Music controls work well for controlling phone playback from the wrist.

Onboard music storage was praised as ample for playlists, apps, and offline listening.

Onboard music storage is a repeated downside because the watch lacks local music even though it now has built-in GPS.

Operating system experience was mixed: Wear OS gave strong app access, but reviewers criticized the older Wear OS 3.5 base and uncertain update path.

The operating experience may feel unusual to traditional Garmin users, but the reviewer says the approach makes sense for this type of watch.

Outdoor visibility was strong overall, with reviewers saying the display remained bright or visible outdoors.

Outdoor visibility is mostly strong in sunlight, although one reviewer found bright outdoor conditions could make it harder to read.

Pairing and syncing were positive in the YouTube review that described automatic pairing and syncing with the Mi Fitness app.

Pairing reliability is praised across sensor use, with reviewers noting easy sensor connections and appreciation for expanded external sensor support.

Recovery insights were criticized because suggested recovery times could be unrealistic enough that the reviewer learned to ignore them.

Recovery and readiness tools are praised for helping shape training decisions and fine-tune workouts.

Reliability was positive in Wareable’s Watch 2 review because earlier Xiaomi Wear OS bugs were not encountered.

Reliability is positive in one review, with the reviewer saying GPS remained spot-on and did not drop.

Safety features are praised as reassuring for solo runs and emergency-contact situations.

Size options were a weakness because reviewers noted only one case size and concern for smaller wrists.

Sleep tracking was generally one of the better health features, with several reviewers saying it was detailed or matched their experience, though one noted it was not perfectly precise.

Sleep tracking earns strong marks overall, especially for wake/sleep timing and presentation, though one reviewer wanted more refinement in stages.

Notification handling was polarized: several reviewers found replies and mirroring reliable, while one highlighted Wear OS notification delays.

Smartphone notifications are considered helpful for quickly checking messages during outdoor activity.

Smartwatch features were considered strong for the price, with reviewers calling the watch packed or complete enough for everyday smartwatch tasks.

Smartwatch features are mixed: some reviewers see a well-rounded compact device, while one finds the smart-feature set limited for the price.

Software smoothness was mostly good, with reviewers calling it slick or fluid, though some still saw occasional sluggishness or stutter.

Software smoothness is positive, with reviewers noting smooth syncing and smooth navigation between widgets.

Step counting was included in a positive basic-tracking judgment from one reviewer who felt daily steps were handled well.

Step counting is described as close but slightly high, with limitations when the arm is not moving normally.

Stress tracking is viewed as a useful interpretive metric, especially because it helps explain Body Battery changes.

Style and design divided reviewers: some liked the minimalist look, while others found it plain or characterless.

Style and design are major strengths, with reviewers repeatedly praising the fashionable, subtle, non-smartwatch look.

Third-party app support was a major advantage, with multiple reviewers praising access to Google Play apps and big-name services.

Third-party app support is positive, especially syncing workout data outward and broadcasting heart rate to other devices.

Touch responsiveness was mixed: one reviewer found typing acceptable, while another said responsiveness could be slow after startup.

Touchscreen responsiveness is split, with one reviewer finding it very sensitive and simple, while another calls the controls finicky.

The user interface was easy to learn overall, but small-screen typing and interaction still required patience.

The user interface is praised as simple to learn and easy to swipe through.

Value for money was the strongest consensus point: reviewers repeatedly called it affordable, good value, or a bargain for Wear OS.

Value is mixed-to-positive: many reviewers think the upgrades justify the price, while a few criticize the cost versus fuller smartwatches.

Voice assistant quality was generally useful thanks to Google Assistant, though one reviewer noted recognition could be slow.

Watch faces were praised for looking good on the AMOLED screen and offering customization.

Watch face quality is mixed, with one reviewer liking the selection and another finding the options very limiting.

Water resistance was generally appreciated for swimming or showers, but one review noted the limitation of 5ATM with no IP rating.

Wellness insights were limited; reviewers wanted more proactive tracking and described some health presentation as bare-minimum.

Wellness insights are a standout, especially Body Battery, women’s health context, sleep, stress, and overall body-awareness feedback.

Workout variety was viewed as broad, with 150+ or 160+ modes, though one reviewer cautioned that many modes can feel like simple exercise tags.

Workout variety is broadly praised because the Active adds many sports, workout modes, and training tools for a compact Lily watch.