Wear OS gives the E4 a solid app ecosystem, helped by TAG Heuer’s extra software layer.
One review describes Garmin’s wellness ecosystem as comprehensive, especially for turning health data into useful summaries.
Straps are generally high quality, comfortable, and secure.
The silicone band is described positively for comfort and feel.
Battery life is respectable: usually around a full day, with up to roughly two days or a bit more in lighter-use scenarios on larger models.
Battery life is widely praised, with most reviews citing around nine days and some testers stretching well beyond a week.
Reviewers explicitly state that blood oxygen measurement is not included.
Pulse Ox is present and generally viewed positively, with one reviewer calling the SpO2 readings spot-on.
Bluetooth syncing is described as noticeably faster thanks to Bluetooth 5.0.
Bluetooth support is consistently mentioned for sensor links, heart-rate broadcasting, and phone connectivity.
Screen brightness stands out and helps the watch show off its faces.
One reviewer said the screen can be hard to read in very bright conditions, even at maximum brightness.
Build quality is a standout, with luxury-level finishing called out repeatedly.
The move from a plastic case to a metal case is presented as a quality upgrade.
The crown and pushers have a satisfying mechanical feel and make control easier.
The new physical buttons are one of the most praised upgrades, especially for workouts and easier navigation.
The watch does not handle calls on-device; incoming calls still push you back to the phone.
Calorie estimates are available, but reviewers note that weak heart-rate accuracy can make them less trustworthy.
Calorie data is available, but one review said calories burned ran slightly off compared with another watch.
The included stand or cradle is convenient and more polished than a basic puck.
Charging is improved by the standard Garmin cable or simple magnetic setup, and reviewers call the new approach more convenient.
Charging speed is good rather than class-leading, with full charges commonly landing around 70 to 90 minutes.
Charging speed is good, with reviewers reporting roughly a full charge in about an hour.
Guided and animated workouts are a consistent strength across reviews.
Garmin Coach and structured workouts are widely praised for offering guided plans and flexible goal-based training.
Comfort is generally excellent for daily wear, though some straps can get sweaty.
Comfort is a standout strength, with reviewers repeatedly saying the watch is light, easy to sleep in, and easy to forget on the wrist.
The companion app is attractive and useful for faces and fitness data, though setup can still involve multiple apps depending on platform.
Garmin Connect gets mixed marks: reviewers praised setup and data usefulness, but one found the app less clear than it could be.
Google Pay support is straightforward and works as expected.
Garmin Pay is repeatedly noted as convenient and easy for on-the-go payments.
The watch works with both Android and iPhone, but Android gets the fuller experience.
One review explicitly says the watch works with both iOS and Android phones.
Customization is a clear plus, with interchangeable straps and plenty of face or theme options.
Reviews note good customization for watch faces, widgets, data pages, training plans, and notifications, even if flexibility is not unlimited everywhere.
The display is consistently praised as sharp, vibrant, and premium-looking.
The hidden monochrome display earns praise for clarity and contrast, though it remains intentionally simple rather than rich or colorful.
Scratch-resistant ceramic and sapphire, plus robust construction, support a durable feel.
Durability impressions are mixed, with Gorilla Glass noted positively but aluminum scratch resistance called out as a weakness.
Reviewers explicitly state that ECG is not available.
Reviews explicitly note that the Lily 2 Active does not include ECG support.
Fit is helped by adjustable clasps and the choice of a smaller 42mm size.
The compact size and lightweight build earn strong praise for smaller wrists and all-day wear.
The watch is acceptable for casual tracking, but several reviews say it falls short for serious fitness use and can misread workout data.
General fitness tracking is reviewed very positively, with performance described as accurate and comparable to pricier Garmin models.
GPS starts quickly and is usable, but accuracy is only decent overall and some runs were over-reported.
GPS is a standout strength, with multiple reviews calling it accurate, fast to connect, and very close to higher-end Garmin devices.
Broader health tracking is not a strength here, mainly because core sensor outputs—especially heart rate—can run high or low versus reference devices.
Heart-rate accuracy is mixed at best: one review called it fine, but several others reported notable deviations versus chest straps, Apple Watch, Garmin, or Oura.
Multiple reviews say heart-rate tracking was very solid or spot-on, with only minor lag during quick changes in effort.
LTE is not supported.
Materials such as titanium, ceramic, and sapphire give the watch a premium feel.
Materials get mixed feedback: Gorilla Glass and aluminum are appreciated, but one reviewer still viewed the aluminum as easier to scratch than pricier materials.
Navigation with the crown and buttons is intuitive and efficient.
Menus and widget navigation are generally viewed as straightforward, with swipes and buttons making the watch easier to move around.
Music playback controls work well in the supported review.
Phone-based music controls work well for basic playback tasks like volume and track skipping.
The watch supports downloading songs and playlists for phone-free listening.
Multiple reviews explicitly say there is no onboard music storage, so you still need your phone for music.
Wear OS 2 drew criticism for feeling old or disjointed, while Wear OS 3 noticeably improved the experience.
Outdoor readability is strong, including in bright sunlight.
One review specifically said the screen stayed readable outdoors, even in direct sunlight.
Pairing and reconnection were effortless in the clearest supported review.
Pairing is described as easy and dependable for phones and supported external sensors.
The Sports app can surface an estimated rest time after workouts, but recovery guidance is otherwise limited.
HRV, Body Battery, Training Readiness, and related guidance give useful signals about recovery and when to push or rest.
The clearest supported review reports generally reliable day-to-day connection behavior.
One reviewer explicitly described the watch as very reliable during GPS use.
Compared with mainstream rivals, reviewers note missing extras such as fall detection.
Incident detection, fall alerts, and emergency contact sharing are repeatedly mentioned as reassuring safety features.
Offering both 42mm and 45mm sizes improves choice and wrist fit.
Native sleep tracking is absent in the supported reviews, so there is no sleep accuracy story to lean on.
Reviewers consistently said the watch nailed sleep and wake timing and caught wake-ups well, though one review still wanted deeper sleep-stage detail.
Notifications work well overall, with fuller interaction on Android than on iPhone.
The watch reliably mirrors smartphone notifications, with support for calls, texts, and app alerts.
The E4 is consistently described as a well-rounded general smartwatch for notifications, apps, payments, and activity basics.
Core smartwatch basics are here, including notifications, music control, and Garmin Pay, but the feature set stays focused rather than expansive.
Performance is consistently smooth, snappy, and low-lag across multiple reviews.
One review says day-to-day swiping and opening apps feels smooth.
Step counts were broadly acceptable in one comparison, but another review found them about 1,000 steps high.
One reviewer found step counts close in casual testing, though arm-free walking can still miss steps.
Stress tracking is included across reviews and is described as useful for understanding energy and daily load.
Style and design are major strengths, blending luxury watch cues with smartwatch practicality.
Style is one of the biggest selling points, with reviewers consistently praising the fashionable, minimalist look.
Google Play access and installable apps give the watch meaningful third-party support.
Reviews confirm syncing and compatibility with third-party services such as Strava, TrainingPeaks, and similar fitness platforms.
Touch response feels quick, with no obvious lag in swipe interactions.
Touch input is the clearest weakness in the reviews, with repeated complaints about touches not registering cleanly.
TAG Heuer’s UI layer is attractive, clear, and more premium-feeling than a plain stock experience.
One reviewer describes the interface as very simple to swipe through and interact with.
Materials and design impress, but reviewers repeatedly say value is weak versus far cheaper smartwatches.
Value is mixed but mostly positive: several reviews say the added GPS and upgrades justify the price, while others think rivals offer more for similar money.
Google Assistant was described as accurate and useful in the clearest supported review.
Watch faces are one of the biggest strengths: varied, polished, detailed, and very on-brand.
Watch face options get mixed feedback: the designs suit the look of the watch, but several reviewers wanted more variety or more color.
With 50m water resistance, the E4 is suitable for swimming and general water exposure.
One review states the watch is water resistant to 5 ATM.
Wellness views cover steps, calories, heart rate, and daily activity in a visually appealing way, but the depth is basic.
Body Battery, sleep scores, hormone guidance, and other wellness summaries are a major strength and frequently described as useful.
Workout coverage is broad, with reviews mentioning running, walking, golf, swimming, cycling, and general or fitness modes.
Reviews repeatedly highlight the wide range of sport profiles and workout modes, with the Active adding many more than earlier Lily models.