Garmin Vivoactive 5 Smartwatch Hands On. Garmin vivoactive 5, an advanced smart GPS watch. This device stands out with its vibrant AMOLED display, enhanced battery life, and a suite of premium features aimed at sports and health tracking.
The vivoactive 5 is ideal for individuals of various ages and fitness levels, offering an array of health monitoring tools. It’s designed to encourage a more active lifestyle, provide insightful data about one’s health, and assist in setting and achieving fitness objectives.
Table of Contents
New features of Garmin vivoactive 5 that were not present  in the previous version of the model:
- Vibrant AMOLED display for clear viewing of workout data, body conditions, and smart notifications.
- Extended battery life up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, reducing the need for frequent charging.
- Advanced sleep analysis with personalized recommendations for optimal sleep duration.
- Features pulse oximetry and heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring.
- Morning report including sleep summary, recovery rate, HRV status, and weather forecast (with a compatible smartphone).
- Body Battery Control to monitor daily energy levels, influenced by sleep, stress, and physical activities.
- Wheelchair mode for activity tracking and specialized workouts for wheelchair users.
- Meditation routine to aid in stress reduction and anxiety management.
- Customizable font size for easy viewing of notifications, workout data, and other information on the device’s display.
Specification
| Garmin Vivoactive 5 | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin |
| Price | $249.99 |
| Model Name | vivoactive 5 |
| Band Width | 20 mm |
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Screen Size | 1.2 Inches |
| Touch Screen | Yes |
| LED Flashlight | No |
| Device Dimensions (LxWxD) | 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1 mm |
| Display Size | 30.4 mm |
| Display Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Smartwatch Mode Battery Life | Up to 11 days |
| GNSS Mode with GPS Only | Until 21 hours |
| All-Systems GNSS Mode with Music | Up to 8 years |
| All-Systems GNSS Mode | Up to 17 years |
| Memory/History | 4 GB |
| Music | Yes |
| Display Glass Material | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Strap Material | Silicone |
| Housing Material | Fiber reinforced polymer |
| Bezel Material | Anodized aluminum |
| Color Display | Yes |
| Energy Saving Mode | Up to 21 days |
| Waterproof | 5 ATM |
| Weight | 26 g (36 g with strap) |
| Health Monitoring | |
| Daily Heart Rate at Rest | Yes |
| Respiration Rate (24×7) | Yes |
| Fitness Age | Yes |
| Sleep Trainer | Yes |
| Relaxation Breath Timer | Yes |
| Alert about Abnormal Heart Function | Yes (high and low heart rate) |
| Advanced Sleep Monitoring | Yes |
| Rest Reminder (Breath Tracking) | Yes |
| Sleep Monitoring | Yes |
| Meditation | Yes |
| Health Snapshot | Yes |
| Breathing Exercises | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Sensor (Pulse Oximeter) | Yes |
| Snooze Detection | Yes |
| Wrist-Based Heart Rate Measurement | Yes (continuous, every second) |
| Stress Level Tracking | Yes |
| Women’s Health Tracker | Yes |
| Hydration Tracking | Yes |
| Body Battery (Energy Levels Analysis) | Yes |
| Watch Features | |
| Time/Date | Yes |
| Timer | Yes |
| Sunrise/Sunset Times | Yes |
| GPS Time Synchronization | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes |
| Automatic Summer/Winter Time Changeover | Yes |
| Daily Smart Features | |
| Text Reply/Reject Phone Call by Text | Yes (Android only) |
| Smartphone Compatibility | iPhone, Android |
| Smart Alerts | Yes |
| Morning Report | Yes |
| Finding a Smartphone | Yes |
| Search for Watches | Yes |
| Weather | Yes |
| Notification Image Viewing | Yes (Android only) |
| Protocol Support | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| Smartphone Music Control | Yes |
| Calendar | Yes |
| Music Storage | Yes |
| Watch Music Play and Control | Yes |
| Garmin Pay (Contactless Payment) | Yes |
| Connect IQ on Device | Yes |
| Connect IQ | Yes |
| Battery Saver Mode | Yes |
| Sensors | |
| Thermometer | Yes (requires a tempe sensor) |
| Compass | Yes |
| Light Sensor | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Sensor | Yes |
| Garmin Elevate Heart Rate Monitor | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
| GLONASS | Yes |
| GALILEO | Yes |
| Activity Profiles | |
| Swimming Profiles | Swimming in the pool |
| Cycling Profiles | Bicycle, Exercise bike |
| Running Profiles | Running, Treadmill, Trail running |
| Outdoor Activity Profiles | Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross-country skiing, Rowing, Vertical rowing |
| Gym Activity Profiles | Stepper, Rowing, Yoga, Strength training, Cardio, Pilates, HIIT |
| Tactical | |
| Quickly Clear History | No |
| Dual Coordinate Systems | No |
| Night Vision Mode | No |
| Stealth Mode | No |
| Security and Surveillance | |
| Incident Detection Notification | Yes |
| Assistance | Yes |
| Incident Detection in Certain Activities | Yes |
| LiveTrack | Yes |
| Activity Tracking | |
| Shock Tracking | Yes |
| Weight Change Notification | Yes |
| Intensity Minutes | Yes |
| Traveled Distance | Yes |
| Step Counting | Yes |
| Garmin Connect Challenges App | Yes |
| Calories Burned | Yes |
| Automatic Goal Setting | Yes |
| TrueUp | Yes |
| Move IQ | Yes |
| Move Reminder | Yes |
| Gaming Opportunities | |
| Game Activity | Yes |
| Compatibility with Gameon Software | Yes |
| Indoor Training Features | |
| Power Training | Yes |
| Pilates | Yes |
| Muscle Training Map | Yes (on-screen) |
| Cardio Training | Yes |
| Yoga | Yes |
| Wheelchair User Exercises | Yes |
| Automatic Repeat Counting | Yes |
| HIIT Workouts | Yes |
| Training, Planning, Analysis | |
| GPS Speed and Distance | Yes |
| Exercise Breathing Rate | Yes (tools for yoga, mental health, meditation) |
| Recovery Time | Yes |
| HRV Status | Yes |
| HR Alerts | Yes |
| Touch/Button Lock | Yes |
| Advanced Workouts | Yes |
| Calorie Calculation via Heart Rate | Yes |
| Customizable Activity Profiles | Yes |
| Improved Interval Training | Yes |
| Downloadable Training Plans | Yes |
| ANT+ Heart Rate Data Transfer | Yes |
Design
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is remarkably comfortable to wear, thanks to its compact dimensions. With a case size of 42mm, a thickness of 1.1cm, and a weight of 36g (including the strap), it is lightweight and non-intrusive, making it suitable for all-day wear. Whether you’re working out or sleeping, you won’t be bothered by its presence.
Additionally, the watch’s sleek design, featuring a blue casing with a stylish blue accent, gives it an elegant and sophisticated look. The aluminum bezel and plastic case feel great to the touch, enhancing the overall user experience. The standard silicone strap is comfortable, and if desired, can be easily replaced with another style.
Display
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers 1.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels. The screen delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. The automatic brightness sensor works flawlessly, ensuring optimal readability in any lighting condition.
The watch offers a wide range of customizable watch faces through the Garmin Connect app, allowing users to personalize their device. It also features an always-on display mode, which conveniently shows the time and selected data at all times.
Sports and Fitness Features
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 excels in its sports and fitness capabilities. Equipped with internal sensors, it provides accurate measurements for daily activities and various sports. Whether you’re running, swimming, or walking, this smartwatch offers detailed statistics, graphs, and insights to help you track your progress and improve your performance.
The built-in GPS ensures precise tracking during outdoor activities, while the heart rate monitor delivers consistently accurate readings. However, it’s worth noting that some users have reported minor discrepancies in swim tracking, where the watch may occasionally count laps twice. Nevertheless, the overall sports performance of the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is commendable.
Health and Wellness
One of the standout features of the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is its focus on health and wellness. The smartwatch functions as a personal trainer, providing valuable insights throughout the day. It offers detailed sleep tracking, allowing users to monitor and optimize their sleep patterns. The Body Battery feature provides information on energy levels, while stress tracking helps users manage and reduce stress.
These health-focused features, combined with the Garmin Coach app, set the Vivoactive 5 apart from its competitors. It’s a comprehensive device that supports not only athletic endeavors but also overall well-being.
Smart Features
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers a range of smart features that enhance its usefulness in everyday life. When paired with an Android smartphone, it allows users to receive and respond to notifications, including messages, emails, and WhatsApp. While the lack of a speaker and microphone prevents the ability to answer calls, the watch excels in other smart functionalities. It enables music control, allowing users to manage their playlists directly from the watch.
Additionally, users can install third-party apps through the Garmin Connect IQ store, expanding the watch’s capabilities with maps, weather updates, and various other applications. The inclusion of Garmin Pay allows for convenient contactless payments, adding further convenience to the smart features of the Vivoactive 5.
Battery Life
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers an impressive battery life that eliminates the need for frequent recharging. With the always-on display disabled, the watch can last up to 10 days on a single charge, even with moderate usage and 4-5 hours of workouts.
Enabling the always-on display reduces the battery life to approximately 5 days, still providing ample power for an entire week without needing to recharge. The long battery life is a significant advantage for those who prefer not to worry about charging their smartwatch daily.
Conclusion: Garmin Vivoactive 5 Smartwatch
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is an exceptional smartwatch that seamlessly combines sports, health, and smart features. Its comfortable design, accurate sports tracking, and extensive health and wellness capabilities make it a standout device in its price range.
The smart features, while slightly limited when used with an iPhone, still offer a range of practical functionalities. With its long-lasting battery life, the Vivoactive 5 is a reliable companion for all-day wear. Whether you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or simply someone looking for a versatile smartwatch, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a compelling choice.
