Model: Garmin vívoactive 5
Size: 42 mm
Build: Fiber-reinforced polymer with Gorilla Glass touchscreen
Key Features: Built-in GPS, AMOLED display, advanced fitness tracking, health monitoring, long battery life
First Impressions & Design:
When I first unboxed the vívoactive 5, the design felt clean and lightweight. The 42 mm size is perfect — not too big, not too small — and it fits comfortably on the wrist even during sleep. The fiber-reinforced polymer body keeps it light, and the matte finish gives it a sporty yet subtle look.
The AMOLED display is one of the best upgrades over older Garmin watches. It’s vibrant, responsive, and looks sharp both indoors and outdoors, even under bright sunlight.
Daily Use Experience:
The watch is very easy to use. The touchscreen interface is smooth, and the UI is more intuitive than older Garmin models. Swiping through widgets like heart rate, stress levels, and sleep data is seamless.
One thing I noticed is that Garmin really focuses more on health insights than just flashy features — which I personally appreciate.
Fitness & Activity Tracking:
This is where the vívoactive 5 shines:
- Built-in GPS is highly accurate. I used it for outdoor runs, cycling, and long walks — the mapping and distance tracking is spot-on.
- It supports more than 30 sports modes, including strength training, HIIT, yoga, and swimming (it’s water-rated to 5 ATM).
- Workout animations on the screen for guided sessions (like strength and cardio) are a surprisingly helpful touch, especially when trying new exercises.
Health Monitoring Features:
I was genuinely impressed by the amount of detail Garmin gives in this area:
- Sleep tracking is one of the best I’ve used — detailed breakdown of sleep stages (light, deep, REM) plus a Sleep Score.
- The Body Battery feature tells you how much energy you have left based on sleep, activity, and stress — it’s great for planning workouts or rest days.
- Heart rate monitoring is consistent and updates in real-time.
- Also tracks SpO2 (blood oxygen), stress levels, respiration rate, and even morning reports to show your readiness for the day.
All this data is synced to the Garmin Connect app, which is super detailed and customizable — perfect for users who want more than just step counts.
Smart Features:
- You can receive notifications, calls, WhatsApp messages, and calendar alerts from your phone (works with both Android and iOS).
- Supports music controls, and you can even download songs from Spotify (Premium needed) for phone-free workouts.
- There’s no mic or speaker for calls, so it’s not a replacement for a smartwatch like Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch in terms of phone features.
Battery Life:
One of the best things — the battery life is amazing:
- I consistently got 5 to 6 days on a single charge with GPS workouts and always-on display turned on.
- With more conservative use, you can stretch it to 8–9 days.
- GPS mode lasts around 20 hours, which is more than enough for most runs or rides.
Pros:
- Lightweight, comfortable, and stylish
- Bright AMOLED display with always-on option
- Excellent fitness and health tracking
- Long battery life (far better than most smartwatches)
- Works with both Android and iPhone
- Guided workouts and workout animations
Cons:
- No mic/speaker for phone calls or voice assistant
- Some features (like downloading music) require Garmin Connect IQ setup or subscriptions
- More focused on fitness than smartwatch features
- No rotating crown or bezel for navigation (fully touchscreen)
Final Thoughts:
If you’re looking for a fitness-first smartwatch with deep health tracking, excellent battery life, and a beautiful display — the Garmin vívoactive 5 is an excellent choice. It may not have all the flashy features of an Apple Watch, but it more than makes up for it with practical, accurate, and useful data.
Whether you’re into running, yoga, strength training, or just want to track your sleep and health better — this is a solid smartwatch that balances performance with simplicity. And because it’s lightweight and durable, it works great for both everyday wear and workouts.