Garmin Vivoactive 5
Buy Garmin Vivoactive 5 at today's best price
5 minute read
Overview
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a versatile smartwatch designed for fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals. This watch is known for its modern AMOLED display and comprehensive health tracking features.
Key Features:
- AMOLED Display: Offers vibrant visuals and improved readability in various lighting conditions.
- Sleep and Health Tracking: Includes Sleep Coach, HRV (Heart Rate Variability) tracking, and nap detection for comprehensive health insights.
- Sport Profiles: Supports a wide range of activities, including open water swimming and wheelchair sports.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is an ideal choice for individuals who prioritize health monitoring and a sleek design for everyday use. Its advanced display offers enhanced visibility, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities.
With an average review score of 81%, it's rated just above the median rating of similar running watches. Based on our monitoring of prices across the internet, it's currently in the cheapest 30% of running watches today.
Verdict
The consensus on the Garmin Vivoactive 5
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a well-rounded smartwatch that excels in health and fitness tracking. Its AMOLED display is a significant upgrade, providing clear visuals in various lighting conditions. The watch offers a range of sport profiles, making it suitable for diverse activities, from running to open water swimming. However, it lacks some advanced features like a barometric altimeter and navigation, which might be a drawback for serious athletes. The heart rate and GPS accuracy are commendable, though not perfect, making it reliable for most users. Battery life is decent, with up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, but it decreases with the always-on display. Overall, the Vivoactive 5 is a solid choice for those seeking a balance between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker. It offers great value for its price, especially for health-focused individuals.
Comparable Watches
The Garmin Forerunner 265 offers more advanced training features, including training load and recovery metrics. It is better suited for athletes who require detailed performance insights and navigation capabilities. However, it comes at a higher price point compared to the Vivoactive 5.
The Garmin Venu 3 is a good alternative for those seeking more advanced features. It includes a barometric altimeter, ECG (Electrocardiogram) capability, and a larger display. While it is priced higher, it offers additional sensors and navigation features, making it suitable for more serious athletes.
The Fitbit Charge 6 is a simpler option for those who primarily need daily health tracking. It lacks the advanced sport profiles and GPS capabilities of the Vivoactive 5 but offers a minimal design and is more budget-friendly.
6 Garmin Vivoactive 5 Pros & Cons
3 Pros
3 Cons
In Depth
Battery life
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers a respectable battery life, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 21 hours with GPS. This makes it suitable for daily use and shorter GPS activities. However, using the always-on display significantly reduces battery life to about 5 days. For those who prioritize running and other outdoor activities, the battery life is generally sufficient, but heavy GPS use will require more frequent charging.
Screen quality and brightness
The Vivoactive 5 features a vibrant AMOLED display, which is a significant improvement over previous models. This display type offers excellent visibility in both bright sunlight and dim conditions, making it ideal for outdoor activities. The screen's brightness can be adjusted, and it supports an always-on mode, which keeps the display visible at all times, albeit at the cost of reduced battery life. This makes it a great choice for those who value a clear and bright display.
Heart-rate monitor accuracy
The heart-rate monitor on the Vivoactive 5 uses Garmin's ELEVATE V4 sensor, which provides reliable accuracy for most users. While it may not match the precision of chest straps, it performs well for everyday health tracking and fitness activities. The sensor tracks heart rate continuously, offering insights into stress levels and sleep quality. However, for those seeking the highest accuracy, especially during intense workouts, a dedicated heart rate strap might be preferable.
GPS accuracy
The Vivoactive 5's GPS accuracy is commendable, closely matching control distances in tests. It supports multi-GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), which enhances its ability to track location accurately across various environments. While it lacks the multi-band GPS found in some higher-end models, it still performs well for most running and outdoor activities. This makes it a reliable choice for users who need consistent GPS tracking without the need for advanced navigation features.
Sleep tracking
The Vivoactive 5 offers comprehensive sleep tracking features, including Sleep Coach and nap detection. These features provide insights into sleep quality and duration, helping users optimize their rest. The watch tracks sleep stages and offers personalized sleep recommendations, although these are based on general age-related baselines. This makes it a useful tool for those looking to improve their sleep habits and overall health.
Who should buy the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is ideal for health-conscious individuals who engage in running and other fitness activities. Its comprehensive health tracking features, including sleep and HRV monitoring, make it suitable for those who prioritize wellness. The watch's sleek design and AMOLED display are perfect for users who want a stylish yet functional device for everyday use. It's also a great choice for those who appreciate a variety of sport profiles without needing advanced navigation or altimeter features.
Who should not buy the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
The Vivoactive 5 may not be the best choice for serious athletes who require advanced features like a barometric altimeter or navigation capabilities. Those who engage in activities that demand ruggedness and multi-day battery life might find this model lacking. Additionally, users who prefer multiple dedicated buttons for easier operation during intense workouts might want to consider other options. For these individuals, models like the Garmin Forerunner series or other Garmin watches with more sensors and navigation features could be more suitable.
Garmin Vivoactive 5: What's it good for?
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is well-suited for everyday fitness tracking and health monitoring. Its comprehensive features make it ideal for running and other fitness activities. The watch's vibrant AMOLED display ensures visibility in various conditions, making it great for both indoor and outdoor use. With its range of sport profiles, it's perfect for users who enjoy a variety of activities without needing advanced navigation or altimeter features.
5 Garmin Vivoactive 5 FAQs
What is the battery life of the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 21 hours with GPS. However, using the always-on display reduces battery life to about 5 days.
Does the Vivoactive 5 have a barometric altimeter?
No, the Vivoactive 5 does not include a barometric altimeter, which means it cannot track elevation changes or stairs climbed.
Is the Garmin Vivoactive 5 suitable for swimming?
Yes, the Vivoactive 5 supports open water swimming and pool swimming, making it suitable for aquatic activities.
How accurate is the heart rate monitor on the Vivoactive 5?
The heart rate monitor on the Vivoactive 5 is generally accurate for everyday use and fitness activities, though it may not match the precision of chest straps during intense workouts.
Can the Vivoactive 5 display smartphone notifications?
Yes, the Vivoactive 5 can display smartphone notifications, and Android users can respond to texts and view images directly on the watch.
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| bestDeal | Show prices | |||||
| priceBand | Price band | |||||
| similarity | Similarity | Very similar | Very similar | Very similar | ||
| released | ReleasedSep 2023 | Feb 2024 | Jan 2024 | Sep 2023 | Apr 2022 | |
| expertReviewScore | Expert Review Score | |||||
| Battery life | Battery life264 hours | 264 hours | 120 hours | 336 hours | 744 hours | 672 hours |
| Battery life – GPS mode | Battery life – GPS mode21 hours | 19 hours | 26 hours | 82 hours | 89 hours | |
| Screen size | Screen size30 mm | 30 mm | 25 mm | 36 mm | 36 mm | 36 mm |
| Weight | Weight | 39 g | 24 g | 96 g | 89 g | |
| Height | Height | 43 mm | 35 mm | 51 mm | 51 mm | |
| Resolution | Resolution | 390 x 390 px | 454 x 454 px | 280 x 280 px | ||
| Pixel density | Pixel density459 ppi | 459 ppi | 458 ppi | 458 ppi | 283 ppi | |
| Charging time | Charging time2 hours | 1 hours | ||||
| Internal storage | Internal storage | 4 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
