Garmin Vivoactive 5 test: the Apple Watch SE has a serious competitor
Garmin is clearly targeting the Apple Watch SE with the Vivoactive 5 at €300. Like the Apple Watch, it has a vibrant display and excellent fitness tracking options. But unlike the Apple Watch, it works with both Android and iOS. Additionally, its battery lasts up to 11 days when restricting GPS workouts and without the always-on display.
The Vivoactive 5 is the model we recommend for most people looking for a Garmin watch in the $300-$500 range as it offers the best value for money.
Design and screen of the Garmin Vivoactive 5
The build quality of the Vivoactive 5 is nothing special, with its plastic case and silicone strap. It doesn't appear damaged after multiple drops, but it's definitely not as sturdy as the aluminum frame of the Apple Watch or Pixel Watchhttp:// . The choice of colors is nice, but we would like a slightly more qualitative finish given the price.
Fortunately, the 1.2-inch Amoled screen raises the bar. It is very easy to read outdoors and offers two font sizes for better visibility.
The visual interface is also much nicer than previous versions. Menus and settings are easy to access, as is quickly starting a workout with the press of a button. The Apple Watch or Fitbit watches offer a more intuitive experience, but Garmin has planned an update supposed to make the statistics more accessible.
Unlike the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch which come in two sizes, the Vivosmart 5 is only available in a 42mm case, which fits perfectly. The watch is light enough to be forgotten. Its discretion makes it more comfortable to wear for sleeping and tracking sleep than other heavier smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
Garmin Vivoactive 5: health and physical activity tracking
Like all of Garmin's recent watches, the Vivoactive 5 offers a comprehensive set of health and fitness tracking options.
- 30+ sports apps and workout types
- Blood oxygen sensor
- Guided meditations
- Training Benefits Guides and Calculating Recovery Time
- Stress tracking, heart rate and respiration measurements
- Wheelchair mode for tracking specific sports apps and workouts
Like previous Garmin watches, the Vivoactive 5 has a feature called “body battery”. This feature takes into account sleep quality, activity level and heart rate variability to assess daily fitness level. It is a useful indicator to determine if you are able to train or if, on the contrary, you should prioritize recovery. Fitbit offers a similar measurement, but it's missing on the Apple Watch.
Sleep coaching is intuitive. It indicates how much sleep to aim for based on the previous night. The watch also tracks naps, just like the Garmin Venu 3. A very useful feature that the Apple Watch doesn't yet offer.
GPS performance is impressive. Heart rate accuracy, compared to a chest strap, is also excellent.
Unfortunately, the Vivoactive 5 is not equipped with an altimeter for tracking altitude difference. If this measurement matters to you, go for the Venu 3 . Although you can connect to some Bluetooth sensors and ANT+ devices, the Vivosmart 5 does not support cycling power sensors like the Venu 3. This is even more disappointing since WatchOS 10 allows all Apple Watch to connect to power meters.
Connected functions of the Garmin Vivoactive 5
We tested the Vivoactive 5 with iPhone 14 Pro, and everything went well. Notifications arrive almost at the same time as they appear on the phone. Reading text on the watch screen is a real pleasure. You can even view images sent by SMS and respond to them if the watch is paired with an Android phone.
Control of the watch is split between two apps, which can be confusing. Garmin Connect is the primary app we interact with most of the time to view workout, health, and sleep tracking stats and manage settings. Then there's Garmin Connect IQ, which contains the app store and allows you to customize watch faces. It's not as convenient as having all the tools in one app, but you get used to it.
Third-party apps are somewhat limited compared to what the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and Pixel Watch offer.
There are still essentials like Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music for music, Strava and TrainingPeaks for fitness enthusiasts. It should be noted that the Vivoactive 5 lacks an electrocardiogram (ECG) and irregular heartbeat notifications. Functions found on the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch
Battery life of the Garmin Vivoactive 5
We wore the watch for four full days before needing to recharge it. We turned on the always-on display, completed a few 30-minute workouts with GPS, and tracked sleep during that time. The Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 9, Galaxy Watch 6 and Pixel Watch 2 struggle to achieve half of this autonomy under the same conditions.
Garmin also claims that you can use the Vivoactive 5 for 11 days if you use smartwatch mode. This means turning off the always-on display feature and not using GPS or workout tracking.
photo credit: © Lexy Savvides/CNET
Conclusion: our opinion on the Garmin Vivoactive 5
If you need a fitness-focused watch that has a great display and can provide detailed information on sleep, workouts, and activity levels, you can choose the Garmin Vivoactive 5 without hesitation. It's a great alternative to the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch if you're willing to do without an ECG, speaker and microphone.
Is this enough to turn iPhone owners away from the appeal of the Apple Watch? It all depends on whether battery life and fitness tracking are more important to you than the full smartwatch experience that the Apple Watch offers. You can opt for the Apple Watch SE (€279) which costs €20 less than the Vivoactive 5. It is equipped with a speaker, a microphone and a more high-end finish than that of the Garmin. On the other hand, the autonomy of the Vivoactive 5 is far superior.
Leave a Comment