Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Vivoactive 5: Which should you buy?

The now four-year-old Garmin Vivoactive 4 lastly acquired a successor in September of 2023, although it’s a reasonably completely different watch this time round. The Vivoactive 5 borrows extra from the Venu 3 household than it does its predecessor. Is the most recent Vivoactive price selecting up? That’s what we goal to reply on this Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Vivoactive 5 comparability.

The Vivoactive 5 appears rather a lot like a cross between its predecessor and the Venu 3 collection. It borrows the two-side button format of the Vivoactive 4, however its precise chassis has extra in frequent with the Venu. When it comes to measurement, the Vivoactive 5 matches proper in between the Vivoactive 4 and 4S with its 20mm band and a physique measurement of 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1mm. For these questioning, there is no such thing as a Vivoactive 5S; Garmin has opted for only a one-size-fits-all strategy for its.

One factor you’ll discover instantly is the Vivoactive 5 is significantly lighter than earlier Garmin watches within the collection at simply 36g. The Vivoactive 4S weighed 40g regardless of being smaller, and the Vivoactive 4 was a a lot weightier 50.5g.

There are additionally numerous new options discovered inside the most recent Vivoactive. That is most obvious when wanting on the show. Gone is the memory-in-pixel (MIP) display, changed by a beautiful AMOLED that we really feel is far more vibrant and simpler to see in all lighting situations, particularly throughout our evaluation.

The Vivoactive 4 collection does have one benefit over the most recent mannequin: the stainless-steel entrance. The Vivoactive 5 opts for a less expensive and lighter aluminum bezel and polymer casing. This materials change makes it really feel rather less premium, however it’s additionally going to be far more comfy in your wrist. We additionally need to say that it nonetheless appears nice and its smaller footprint, improved show, and design tweaks give it a way more trendy look total.

Chrome steel might maintain up a bit higher to dings and scratches, however at the very least the Vivoactive 5 retains the identical 5ATM water resistance and Gorilla Glass 3 on the entrance of its show.

4 years is a very long time within the smartwatch world, so it’s no shock the Vivoactive 5 has improved sensors. Whereas the Vivoactive 4 has numerous the identical options on paper, newer sensors and improved software program make the Vivoactive 5 a a lot better expertise.

You’ll nonetheless get Pulse Ox readings, a coronary heart charge monitor, and all the opposite goodies like sleep monitoring on the Vivoactive 4. They’re only a lot higher on the Vivoactive 5. There are a number of enhancements to the Sleep Coach, Physique Battery, health monitoring, and exercise monitoring. After all, some options like stress and menstrual monitoring aren’t all that completely different.

For many who care about coronary heart charge monitoring, bear in mind the Gen 4 Elevate coronary heart charge sensor is a soar ahead from the Gen 3 sensor on the older watches. You’ll discover a significant enchancment in accuracy consequently, although the Gen 5 sensor within the Venu 3 household is even higher if this can be a function that basically issues to you.

The remainder of the core options are all fairly comparable together with notification help, Discover My Telephone, climate, music controls, and Garmin Pay. Android customers do have one perk that isn’t accessible on the Vivoactive 4 household. Now you can ship responses to messages straight out of your watch’s keyboard with out having to carry out your smartphone.

Whereas this isn’t a lot a function, it’s essential to notice that the Vivoactive 5 has an improved processor and due to this fact is way quicker when navigating menus and performing different duties.

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 initially arrived for $349.99, and regardless of all of the years which have handed, you’ll nonetheless pay this identical worth in the event you get it new from Garmin. The excellent news is yow will discover it a bit cheaper on websites like Amazon, although solely by round $25-40. The one colour you’ll discover accessible for the Vivoactive 4 is the mannequin with a silver bezel and a shadow grey case. The Vivoactive 4S ($349 at Amazon) could be discovered within the following colorways: Gentle Gold bezel with a Mud Rose case, Rose Gold bezel with a White case, and Silver bezel with a Powder Grey case.

The brand new Vivoactive 5 is definitely $50 cheaper, largely resulting from its cheaper development supplies we’d wager. There are a number of completely different colour decisions to select from. There’s a mannequin that comes with a Slate bezel with a Black case, a Metallic Orchid bezel and case, a Cream Gold bezel with an Ivory case, or a mannequin with a Metallic Navy case and bezel.

You possibly can actually nonetheless purchase a Vivoactive 4, however do you have to? Actually, until you completely are connected to stainless-steel, no. Even then, we’d argue you’d be higher off spending the $100 or so extra to get a Venu 3 ($449.99 at Amazon) as a substitute. It encompasses a comparable development however expands on the Vivoactive 5’s function set, including key coaching instruments like HRV standing, Restoration, and automated nap detection.

The Vivoactive 5 is a significant improve in each manner aside from construct supplies. When you’re a fan of the Vivoactive collection we’d completely get the most recent mannequin, and in the event you’ve been holding off to improve, now is a superb time.