Garmin fans are curious as to whether there will there be a Garmin Marq 2 now both the Epix 2 and Fenix 7 have launched. We think it’s likely, based on Garmin’s previous patterns around new launches. We’ve devised a list of speculations and what we’d like to see if they release the second generation of this exquisite sports watch.
Marq 2 release date
Currently, the original Marq stock is getting very low, which is a good sign for the release of an updated version! (And this goes for forecasting new releases across brands). Whilst the Fenix is still one of the most popular devices from the brand, we expect the focus to stay on the Fenix 7 range a little longer.
Though it’s been said that the price point of the Marq 2 would be such that the target market would be slightly different from the Fenix 7. The issue for Garmin is that a number of companies are now releasing top of the range products that compete with the Marq.
What we’d like to see on the Garmin Marq 2
Essentially, Garmin fans want the best of everything in the Marq 2. We want to take all that’s great about the original Marq, Epix 2, and even some features from the Venu 2 Plus.
LTE version
Having a 4G/LTE cellular connection on your smartwatch allows you to connect to your carrier’s data plan without connecting your phone.
As a result, you can make and receive phone calls; listen to music; use apps, send and receive messages, and participate in all the other typical smartphone activities, all without your phone being present. There are other watches, though, that embrace this connectivity for different reasons, which we’ll discuss in more below.
It is necessary for a smartwatch to be able to connect to the same network provider as your phone in order to replicate it. You must also attach your smartphone’s phone number to receive calls.
Garmin, for the most part, has avoided the LTE crowd. Vivoactive 3 Music was the first to receive linked functionality, but the company hasn’t made a major push to include it in other watches. The Forerunner 945 LTE was Garmin’s first LTE-capable device.
The triathlon and running watch were given additional connectivity powers.
Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watches have similar capabilities. However, both devices don’t use them in the same way. When it comes to safety features, Garmin has incorporated LTE so that you can share your whereabouts with family and friends, as well as get motivating messages via voice and text messages during races. So we’d love to see this as an option for the Marq 2.
Speaker and microphone
Until April 2021, Garmin devices didn’t come with a speaker and microphone. Then the Venu 2 Plus came along, meaning users can use it as a hands-free speakerphone and use their wrist to place calls.
With this feature, the smartwatch is compatible with your smartphone’s personal assistant. As a result, it can be used over Bluetooth rather than installed directly on the smartwatch.
One of the complaints about the Epix 2 is the lack of a microphone and speaker for making/taking calls during runs. Or even voice memos, as one user on the Garmin forum mentioned, as he does his best thinking during a run.
Hopefully, this is something that can we will see on the Marq 2, following in the Venu 2 Plus’ footsteps.
Check out the Venu 2 versus the Epix 2.
Better (AMOLED) display
Garmin brought an AMOLED touchscreen display that provides brightness and clarity to the new Epix (Gen 2), which incorporates many of the capabilities of the recently announced Fenix 7. It’s an excellent sports watch that gets even better, with clearer graphs and maps that are simple to read regardless of the illumination.
Users were somewhat disappointed by the display on the expensive Marq 1. It was widely found that it simply wasn’t bright enough for outdoor adventures. This is in comparison to the beautiful AMOLED display on the Epix 2. However, the Marq isn’t alone here. A big flaw with the Fenix 7 is its color memory-in-pixel display, which some say lacks contrast. The Epix (Gen 2) is every bit as remarkable as the Garmin Venu 2 and has no such difficulty. So we know Garmin can produce a dazzling screen, and we’d like to see it on their next Marq release.
Touchscreen
Garmin foregoes a touchscreen in favor of five pushers on the casing of the Marq 1. This means that in order to experiment with many of the watch’s capabilities and fully personalize it to your needs, you must do so through the watch itself.
Perhaps the next variant will include a touchscreen, like its siblings; the Vivoactive 4, original Epix, Epix 2, and Fenix 7.
Customized smart features
The Marq 1 is a simple smartwatch when it comes to notifications and alarms. Whenever you receive an email, text message, or other unexpected notification, you’ll get a vibrating alert on your phone.
These features can be disabled one at a time, but the watch assumes you want them all turned off at the same time anyway. When configuring the watch, it would have been helpful to be able to select which types of notifications I receive. I don’t need a notification on my wrist telling me when someone wants to connect with me on LinkedIn, but I do want to see my incoming text messages.
Marq will alert you to incoming messages, but you will still need to use your phone to respond or delete them, unlike other smartwatches that directly operate with phones. The Marq is a “phone-connected” smartwatch, but its real strength is in what it can do without a phone. As a result, we hope that the Marq 2’s notifications will become more personalized.
Battery life
The Fenix 7 offers the best battery life at 18 days, with the Epix 2 coming in at 16 days and the original Marq at just 12. Again, the Fenix 7 is considerably more performant than the others in GPS mode, offering 136 hours. Of course, this is dependent on how you use it and for how long, but it would be great to see an improvement to match the most recent offerings from the brand.
Though, we realize you can’t have it all. If the display is to be improved, this would significantly impact the battery life. Perhaps there’s a possibility that Garmin could produce a Solar version as it does with the Fenix range. We can dream!
Garmin Marq 2 – Conclusion
The original Marq was a well-made watch, so the Marq 2 has a lot to live up to. Customers who just want an activity tracker or smart notifications on their wrist already have many smartwatch options. But, the Marq range is a development of the Garmin Fenix Chronos, the company’s first attempt at a “mature smartwatch.”
Although it’s clear who the Marq watches are geared for, this could be a disadvantage if they prove to be limiting. Just because I want to use the Marq Driver’s driving features doesn’t mean I don’t covet the Aviator, for example. Garmin has thoroughly pigeonholed the Marq’s potential buyers from the start, from the styles to the features.
The Marq range isn’t for people who are only superficially interested in aviation, sailing, driving, etc. They aren’t watches for folks who enjoy a little sailing one week and a brief trip up a mountain the next. They are serious, focused, and dedicated watches for serious, focused, and dedicated people. Everything from the design to the interior elements emphasizes this. That’s not necessarily a downside when the likes of the Epix 2 and Fenix 7 exist for the more general adventurers.
We’re excited for the Marq 2, and we’ll let you know everything about it as soon as we find out.
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