Garmin's best-looking smartwatch just got a major GPS and battery life upgrade

Smartwatch maker Garmin has revealed a stylish and athletic new smartwatch — the Lily 2 Active. For this model, the company introduced several changes that focus more on health and wellness while maintaining the chic design the Lily 2 series is known for.

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One of the most notable changes is the addition of a built-in GPS for tracking your outdoor activities. Older models required you to connect the wearable to your smartphone to gain the same functionality. An independent GPS provides you the freedom to leave your phone behind so you can focus on your workout.

The data collected from exercises is fed into both new and returning Activity Profile apps. The strength, cardio, and biking profiles from the older Lily 2 devices are back, but users also receive golf, tennis, and skiing profiles, among others. If you prefer guided exercises, Garmin noted, you can download and follow on-screen “workouts for strength, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), yoga, and more.”

The Lily 2 Active has heart-centric features that are not present in the other versions. The Pulse Ox Sensor tracks your body’s blood oxygen saturation, and HRV Status highlights your heart rate variability while you sleep.

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The Lily 2 Active’s design is similar to the other models, with a few differences. This smartwatch is slightly bigger, at 38 x 38 x 11mm and 29g. However, the touchscreen is still a 1-inch display with an image resolution of 240 x 201 pixels. Two new buttons on the side allow users to start or stop activities as well as flip through screens.

Battery life has also been upgraded, as the wearable can last up to nine days on a single charge. By comparison, the old Lily 2 only lasts up to five days. Be aware that activating GPS Mode drains the Lily 2 Active’s battery significantly; nine days can drop to nine hours when the GPS is on.

Other notable features of the Lily 2 Active include smart notifications, Body Battery Energy Monitoring (which tells users their energy levels throughout the day), and a “hidden display” that obscures the device’s UI, leaving behind the patterned watch face.

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You can purchase the Lily 2 Active on Garmin’s website for $299.99 in two colors: Lunar Gold with the Bone Silicone Band and Silver with the Purple Jasmine Silicone Band. There is also a Jasper Green pre-order option; however, it won’t ship until December at the earliest. ZDNET’s Matthew Miller will be testing the smartwatch, so stay tuned for his thoughts and expert buying advice.