The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is an impressive fitness and health companion, offering a plethora of features at a more affordable price than the Garmin Venu 3 and Vivoactive 4. It boasts advanced health statistics, over 30 sports applications, workout options, and improved sleep and stress coaching.
Compared to its predecessor, the Vivoactive 4, the Vivoactive 5 excels as an on-wrist health and fitness coach, although it falls slightly behind the more sports-focused Forerunner series and the Garmin Venu.
One of the noteworthy enhancements in this latest Garmin offering is the updated AMOLED display, which replaces the older MIP display and refreshes the existing health and fitness features from the Vivoactive 4.
While the case size has been reduced from 45mm to 42mm, the smaller display still delivers bright clarity and a sleek appearance. The device boasts an array of health and fitness features, including 24/7 sleep coaching, stress tracking, and new activity modes that even recognize eBike activity.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 earns high marks as one of the best fitness trackers and top Garmin watches, particularly if you’re considering an upgrade, given its notable new features.
A Closer Look at the Design of Garmin Vivoactive 5
The latest iteration in Garmin’s Vivoactive series, the Vivoactive 5, brings notable design changes, setting it apart from its predecessors. Here is the detail.
1. Size Matters: Unlike its predecessors, the Vivoactive 5 opts for a single size, featuring a 42mm case and a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen. The screen’s aesthetic bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch Series 9, aligning closely with the Garmin Venu 3. While some might wonder if the smaller screen affects the overall quality, it is, in fact, a comfortable fit, particularly for those with smaller wrists.
2. Lightweight Build: In terms of materials, the Vivoactive 5 takes a departure from the stainless steel design of its forerunners, embracing a silicone strap, aluminum bezel, and a polymer case. This combination results in an incredibly lightweight smartwatch, to the extent that wearers often forget they have it on.
3. Button Layout: Garmin has retained the two-button layout, with the second side button serving as a back button within apps. A press and hold action on this button grants quick access to watch face, clock, and settings. However, some users may find it slightly challenging to use while in motion. The top side button, on the other hand, provides direct access to apps and activities, facilitating smooth navigation through a range of sports and exercises. The touchscreen interface is exceptionally responsive, mirroring the functionality found in the Garmin Connect app.
4. Comparisons with Garmin Venu: For those seeking a mid-sized option that falls between the Vivoactive 4 and 4S, the Garmin Venu is recommended. It features a slightly larger case than the Vivoactive 5 (43mm) and boasts an AMOLED display, earning it the title of the Goldilocks choice between the two.
5. Affordable Smart Fitness: The Garmin Vivoactive 5 comes at a price point of $299/£259.99, offering a cost-effective option compared to the Garmin Vivoactive 4 at its initial release price of $349 and the higher-priced Garmin Venu 3, which is priced at $449.99/£459.99.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 introduces a fresh design perspective with a lightweight build, a single size choice, and a responsive touchscreen. Its affordability adds to its appeal, making it an attractive option for fitness enthusiasts.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 – Elevating Fitness to New Heights
Prepare for a fitness overload with the Garmin Vivoactive 5. This latest iteration boasts over 30 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, a significant upgrade from the Vivoactive 4’s lineup of 20. The extensive array of activities includes pool swimming, cycling, running, strength training, and workouts tailored for wheelchair users, making it a standout choice among the best running watches available.
Traditionally associated with runners and outdoor enthusiasts, the Vivoactive 5 expands its horizons by introducing even more personalized training plans and pre-made workouts. These resources are conveniently accessible for download through the Garmin Connect app. But that’s not all—the Vivoactive 5 offers new guided meditations, HIIT sessions, yoga routines, Pilates workouts, and activities like pickleball and padel.
The fitness tracking capabilities are dialed up to provide a superior user experience. You’ll still have access to Garmin Coach, VO2 max estimation, Sleep Coach, stress monitoring, and body battery tracking. For runners, Garmin Coach offers training plans for 5K, 10K, and half-marathons. Wheelchair mode caters to users by tracking daily pushes, issuing weight shift alerts, and offering customized workouts and sports apps.
An intriguing feature is the ability to estimate your fitness age using a comprehensive set of metrics, including VO2 max, resting heart rate, body fat percentage, and BMI. Based on these metrics, Garmin provides actionable steps to improve your fitness age.
The Vivoactive 5 equips users with an extensive range of workout options. You can create step-by-step workout plans from a library of 1,600 exercises and seamlessly send them to the watch. Additionally, you have the flexibility to build interval workouts for running and cycling and gauge your perceived exertion post-workout. The watch continues to excel in standard activity tracking, capturing data on daily steps, recovery, and calorie burn.
For those intrigued by muscle engagement during strength workouts, the muscle-mapping feature provides insights into which muscles you’re activating, when, and the associated benefits. However, it’s worth noting that the helpful on-screen animations found in the Vivoactive 4 and Venu 3 have been omitted in the Vivoactive 5, a surprising choice by Garmin.
In terms of fitness tracking, the Vivoactive 5 aligns with expectations for Garmin watches. It swiftly acquires GPS signals, accurately maps routes, and blends remarkable battery life with a diverse range of sporting options. However, it’s essential to be aware of a few omissions. The Vivoactive 5 is equipped with the Elevate V4 heart rate sensor rather than the V5 sensor found in the Garmin Venu 3, and it lacks the barometric altimeter and floors climbed features.
Advanced Health Insights
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 isn’t just a fitness powerhouse; it’s also stepping into the realm of health tracking, poised to challenge competitors like Apple and Oura with a robust suite of advanced health insights. These include respiration tracking, blood oxygen levels, sleep monitoring, and stress tracking.
For accurate sleep and readiness scores, wearing the watch to bed every night is essential. A snug fit is necessary to ensure the watch’s sensors can accurately capture your nighttime activities.
The author conducted a comparison between the Vivoactive 5 and the Oura Ring Gen3, which they’ve been using for managing stress and sleep cycles for several years. The results didn’t align, highlighting disparities in the data from the two devices. Oura claims to provide clinical-grade health tracking, but independent verification remains elusive.
The Vivoactive 5 consistently reported shorter total sleep durations compared to the Oura Ring. It also indicated later sleep times and lower overall scores. For instance, on one night, Garmin recorded 5 hours 54 minutes of sleep with a score of 69, while Oura reported a 77 score and 7 hours 30 minutes of sleep with 91% efficiency. Differences were also observed in sleep onset times and REM and deep sleep patterns.
Garmin relies on sleep data to calculate readiness scores, taking into account heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), respiration rate, and body movement data. In contrast, Oura incorporates biosignals like skin temperature into its analysis. The author’s experience indicates that Oura provides the most accurate and in-depth insights, as supported by Oura’s accuracy studies.
Garmin’s body battery feature offers valuable insights into restfulness, and the stress tracking feature categorizes time spent in varying stress states, offering improvement suggestions. The sleep coach feature provides data on naps and recommendations to enhance sleep quality based on lifestyle data and sleep metrics.
While the Vivoactive 5’s health insights are noteworthy, they may not be as detailed or reliable as those offered by the Oura Ring. However, the inclusion of upgraded V5 sensors, as seen in devices like the Garmin Venu 3, could potentially enhance overall accuracy and depth of health data across the board.
Battery Life of Garmin Vivoactive 5
When it comes to battery life, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 truly shines and sets itself apart from the Apple Watch. Garmin claims that in smartwatch mode, the battery can last up to 11 days, and it can extend to five days even with the display always on. Should you opt for the battery saver smartwatch mode, you’ll enjoy an impressive 21 days of usage. Even with GPS active, the Vivoactive 5 can offer up to 21 hours of operation. This estimate proves to be quite accurate, considering that GPS usage typically consumes substantial battery life.
In contrast, a tester using the Garmin Vivoactive 4 reported four days of battery life with both music playback and GPS activated, and seven days in smartwatch mode. When compared to the Apple Watch, which requires daily charging, the Vivoactive 5’s battery longevity is unparalleled.
To preserve battery life, Garmin recommends deactivating the pulse oximeter sensor if it isn’t in use. This simple adjustment can contribute to prolonged usage.
Similar to its predecessor, the Vivoactive 5 allows users to download Spotify playlists with a paid Spotify Premium subscription, as well as access Amazon Music, Deezer, and the Garmin Pay feature. To access third-party apps, widgets, and clock faces, you’ll need to download Garmin’s Connect IQ software. Android users enjoy the convenience of viewing photos and replying to texts from the watch screen, although this feature isn’t available to iPhone users or owners of older Vivoactive models.
Navigating through the Vivoactive 5’s features may initially feel overwhelming and non-intuitive, but this can be attributed to its extensive capabilities. It may take some time to become accustomed to the array of features. However, the new morning reports offer valuable insights, and with a simple swipe up, users can access sleep data, step counts, and more at a glance.
Other notable features include a 5ATM water-resistance rating, catering to swimmers, and 4GB of storage for added convenience.
The Verdict
In a market saturated with smartwatches, upgrading to the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a smart move. This impressive model not only comes at a lower cost compared to the Vivoactive 4 and Venu 3 but also brings a plethora of improvements, making it a worthy successor.
The Vivoactive 5 continues to deliver advanced sports features, boasting an upgraded AMOLED screen design. It inherits many beloved features from the Vivoactive 4, while introducing enhancements such as an upgraded HR sensor (though not the latest), GPS, HRV (heart rate variability), heart rate tracking, and a broader range of fitness options.
One thing is clear: Garmin places a strong emphasis on sports and fitness tracking capabilities. While it may be less intuitive than the Apple Watch, and the Garmin Connect IQ store is evolving to compete with Apple and Google, Garmin sports watches are dependable investments that offer great value, particularly for fitness enthusiasts.
To ensure you find the right Garmin watch for your needs, consider exploring our buying guides for detailed comparisons of each model. Additionally, be on the lookout for early Black Friday deals to see if your preferred watch is on sale. If you’re in search of a sportier model with more in-depth training analysis at an affordable price, don’t forget to check out the Garmin Forerunner 265.
