When the Garmin Vivosmart 4 first debuted in 2018, we wanted to adore it. With a wonderful collection of fitness monitoring functions for the price, it was a stylish yet effective fitness band. With the exception of one significant flaw the touchscreen it was practically flawless. Swipes failed to register as they should have, and the capacitive button proved considerably more problematic. So, when we first opened the Garmin Vivosmart 5 package, which costs $149.99, we exhaled a big sigh of relief. There was a lovely physical button down there on the display. It might not seem like a game-changer to add a button, but in this instance, it most definitely is. Touchscreens that are unresponsive have always been a problem with the Vivosmart line. Even though the Vivosmart 4 was an upgrade from the Vivosmart 3, using it was still unpleasant. Swipes wouldn’t register correctly, and occasionally you had to strike your wrist to initiate an action. It’s the kind of irritation that festers over time until you finally decide to just put an otherwise wonderful tracker in a drawer to gather dust. also you will learn our article on Garmin Vivosmart 5 review.
Garmin Vivosmart 5 review: Design
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is not pretty; it just works. The Vivosmart 5’s core module, which has a tiny monochrome OLED screen and a single physical button on it, is housed in the dimpled silicone strap. The polycarbonate module on the band can be simply removed and replaced with one of the $30 replacements that Garmin sells. Our review model is black, but you can get it in several colours to make it look more vibrant. It’s as straightforward and unremarkable as they come, especially in dull black. The case is extremely bulbous, so even when we try to conceal it beneath our cuff, it never fits snugly. The keeper does not want to let go of the strap while trying to take the Vivosmart 5 off, and it persists on cruelly grasping our arm hair in an attempt to stop us from abandoning it. This is a curiously particular comfort issue that may only effect me. It forces us to remove it like a Band-Aid.
Interface and controls
The interface that Garmin’s designers created does a superb job of cramming a lot of data onto the small display with the help of often scrolling text. It’s not perfect, though. Contrary to smartphone notifications, which can feel packed and need for some squinting to read, widgets are perfect for quick glances. also you can check our article on Garmin Vivosmart 5 review. For larger fingers, the touchscreen itself can be challenging. Swiping between widget displays is quick and simple, but you have to place your touches precisely where you want them to go, which can be challenging during a contentious session. The front-mounted button on the Vivosmart 5, which replaces the capacitive touch screen from its predecessor with a physical input, is helpful in this situation. On the Garmin Vivosmart 5, this serves as a back button and can be used to wake up the device and access the menu. Activity commands have a small learning curve because you must press and hold to stop a recording, but once you get the hang of it, they’re not too difficult. Once you have anything that responds with a cosy tactile click, you’ll soon be hammering your way back to the home screen.
Garmin Vivosmart 5 review: Display
The little OLED panel has a simple 154 × 88 pixel resolution and an acrylic lens covering it. The touchscreen is responsive and dependable, and it is bright enough to be viewed in direct sunshine. Those who disliked the haptic button on the Vivosmart 4 will appreciate the physical button, however it ages the appearance of the current model. The Vivosmart 5 is so simple to use with just a fast push to access functions and a lengthy press to conclude a workout that we’ll accept this trade-off. An OLED display that is 66% larger than the previous model is front and centre on the Vivosmart 5. Even though it may seem like a significant improvement, the Vivosmart 4’s display was already quite small. So even after being updated, the readout is still quite small, measuring just 0.410.73in. With a resolution of 88 by 154, it is likewise a monochrome number. Although it is sharper than the Vivosmart 4, the Vivosmart 5 looks dated in comparison to the Fitbit Charge 5’s colourful AMOLED display. Additionally, there is no option for an always-on display, so to activate it, you must flick your wrist or press the button.
Tracking
On paper, using Garmin’s tried-and-true tracked metrics is the most alluring feature of the Vivosmart 5 bundle. It might not have all the features a true sports watch like the Garmin Fenix 7 does, but it’s still a terrific place to start. The Vivosmart 5 differs from earlier trackers in that it has features like Body Battery, Fitness Age, Respiration Tracking, Stress Tracking, Sleep Score and Monitoring, in addition to 24/7 heart rate monitoring. Of course, this is in addition to tracking modes specifically designed for activities like running, cycling, strength training, walking, yoga, and more. These stats almost always have a respectable baseline level of accuracy because Garmin’s heart rate tracking is often among the best in the industry. We compared the Vivosmart 5 to the Wahoo Tickr X chest strap throughout our testing, and we didn’t really notice much of a drop-off during strength training. As usual with optical heart rate monitors, it did take a bit longer than a chest strap to detect changes, but following a 40-minute workout, the overall number of calories monitored was normally within a narrow range. However, the sleep tracking algorithm does have some ups and downs, as we’ve observed with other Garmin models. It can compete favorably with devices like the Google Nest Hub when it’s functioning, which is unfortunately still the majority of the time. As a result, metrics like Body Battery and Sleep Score that rely on it perform to their fullest capacity.
Garmin Vivosmart 5 review: Battery life
When the Vivosmart 5’s all-day blood oxygen monitoring feature was disabled, Garmin’s estimate of the device’s battery life of seven days seemed to be fairly accurate. The battery life was shortened to no more than three days when the 24-hour monitoring was on. Even while it is significantly longer than watches like the Apple Watch Series 7, it is still not the best. However, we contend that blood oxygen monitoring is most beneficial for tracking sleep, so you probably don’t need to leave it on constantly. Garmin does, however, give you the option to turn it on only when you are sleeping. We were able to last about five days between charges by recording at least one workout every day and using blood oxygen monitoring at night. The battery took about two hours to fully charge from zero.
Price and configurations options
In April 2022, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 went on sale for $149.99/£129.99/AU$229, which is about average these days for a fitness tracker. As of this writing, the tracker is offered in cool mint, white, and black. you can read our article on Garmin Vivosmart 5 review. It’s less expensive than devices like the Fitbit Charge 5, which costs $179.99, and the Garmin Lily, which starts at $199, but if you’re serious about cycling or running, we’d argue that it’s worth investing in the Charge 5 to get on-board GPS or the Garmin Forerunner 55, a great entry-level running watch. While you’re here, look over our Garmin promo codes to see if you can get a deal.
Conclusion
Overall, we’d describe the Garmin Vivosmart 5 as a mixed bag of an update. It’s a significant improvement in appearance. The larger screen is more useful, the physical button is superior to the previous capacitive one, and the ability to switch bands is also a pleasant addition, even if some of the device’s uniqueness has been lost in the process. However, there aren’t many noteworthy new features to speak of. Given what it does to battery life, the addition of 24/7 Ox Pulse tracking isn’t a major seller for us. Respiration rates, fall detection, and sleep ratings, on the other hand, are “nice to haves” rather than necessities. On the other hand, it is frustrating because it lacks the capacity to count the number of steps ascended.
