Garmin Vivoactive 5 Review

The Vivoactive 5 isn't the most rugged or athletic-looking watch in our lineup. Its slim fit makes it easy to wear under sleeves and keeps the look unassuming. While this may not be the top pick for a GPS watch, it's great for those who are health-conscious and won't need an altimeter or advanced navigation features. Unless you need a multi-day battery life, this is a great option.

Performance Comparison

Accuracy

Our accuracy assessment involved evaluating the performance of the GPS chipset and heart rate sensor. To assess GPS accuracy, each watch was taken through the same route on the same day in the same weather conditions, and its total distance was compared against the actual 2.8-mile distance traveled. To determine heart rate accuracy, each watch was worn while we ran half a mile, then, readings were compared to those of our scientifically validated Polar H10 chest strap. The resulting scores from both tests were averaged to derive an overall accuracy score. The watches for heart rate testing were all securely fastened to maintain a uniform fit.

The Vivoactive scored well, but not perfect in our heart rate testing +/-2.30BMP. It did great in our GPS testing, closely matching the 2.8 control milage and only being off by +/-0.05. While other watches perform better, many of the sensors are shared by our watches, so expect some daily variations. We've found each watch provides consistent accuracy, and in the scheme of things, two beats per minute should be close enough for most people.

Activity Use

The unit has a great display that's visible in a variety of conditions. Keep in mind that the unit is AMOLED, which requires more battery if you like having the display always on. While the model is smaller, it still does a good job of providing useful stats while recording. The lack of dedicated buttons makes the touch screen required to flip through data pages. We prefer the sureness of dedicated buttons, which makes for easier usage on the go. After using the Vivoactive 5, we found the model more akin to a daily health tracker with GPS capabilities. While there are plenty of included health modes, we think athletes would benefit from other series like the Forerunner. The unit lacks useful sensors like altimeter, barometer, and compass, and there are no navigation features.

Everyday Use

The Vivoactive 5 excels in everyday fitness and health tracking for items like sleep, stress, steps, and daily heart rate. There are also other handy features like notifications, Garmin Pay, and widgets like weather. The Garmin Connect app pairs with the device, which is where you can view all of your data further in depth. This recently got a home screen makeover, and now it is much easier to view and configure. The other, higher end Garmin options have additional features like daily workout suggestions and additional sensors like the ECG.

Extra Features

Other features that could be beneficial are options like Nap detection, meditation modes, mindful breathing, and hydration reminders. These can be accessed within the widgets, which are easily scrollable and customizable. Garmin also has a great toolset; by holding the button, you can access many different settings and turn them on/off. The watch also has a flashlight and red light mode thanks to its super bright AMOLED display.

Wearability

This model is unique from the other Garmin models in our lineup. It's more slim and less athletic-looking than others, designed more as a daily health tracker with the ability of GPS tracking. Its slim design fits easily underneath jackets and clothing. There is only one dedicated wake button, and the touch screen is required to operate the device. The watch straps are removable without a tool, and there are plenty of other options if you get tired of the colors. After our testing, we liked this watch for its simplicity and sleek design, and we opted for it on days when we didn't plan for any serious activities but still wanted our health stats to be recorded.

Battery Life

The Vivoactive 5 lasted roughly 20 hours of continuous GPS tracking. It takes 98 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%, but keep in mind that this could change based on the charger you are using. The unit matched Garmin stats for continuous smartwatch usage and daily tracking, roughly 11 days. If you plan on using the always-on display, this will be dramatically reduced, but we find it worth it to always see the time displayed.

Should You Buy the Garmin Vivoactive 5?

We recommend the Vivoactive 5 for those who want daily health tracking and plan to do some shorter GPS activities. More serious athletes may want a device that has a larger screen, more sensors, and navigation.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?

For athletes that want to spend a similar amount, consider the Garmin Forerunner 165, which has more sensors and a breadcrumb navigation mapping. If all you need is daily health tracking and you like a minimal design, check out the Fitbit Charge 6.