We note Garmin this week introduced two new wearables at the IFA 2022 tradeshow in Berlin, Germany.

First up is the mid-high-tier Venu Sq 2 smartwatch, which is an update to the original Venu Sq model that came out in 2020. Display resolution is doubled, battery life is doubled, and the casing is a little bit thinner. Screen size rises from 1.3 to 1.4 inches, it employs a MediaTek GPS chipset, while the Health Snapshot feature records your vitals from heartrate to stress. While the screen size is still a touch on the small side for us, we like the (much) longer battery life that rises from 6 to 11 days. Hikers or mountainbikers on a week's vacation in Yosemite or Scotland will appreciate this device. The base model is US$250 retail. The music variant, with more storage for songs on the go, costs US$300.

Second up is the Vivofit Jr3 Black Panther fitnessband. This is a premium US$90 fitnessband for younger adults, teenagers or children. Garmin likes to partner with Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney to sprinkle stardust on its products. The Jr3 delivers app adventures, games, and icons related to the Avengers movies. Parents can access an emergency contact widget on the device, or assign chores to their kids in exchange for virtual, redeemable coins. The model carriers a replaceable battery that lasts up to one year, so there will be some added expense further down the line.