Garmin Vivosmart 5
$149.99
Garmin Vivosmart 5 is a slim, stylish fitness tracker with sleep, stress, and heart rate monitoring. It offers detailed insights into your daily activities and sleep patterns.
Our take
An ideal choice for health-conscious individuals.
So, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is like your personal cheerleader on your wrist, but it’s not all pom-poms and sunshine. This little gadget is solid for tracking your steps, heart rate, and sleep. It’s got a nice, clear display that’s easy to read, even when you’re squinting at it during a run. But here's the thing — it doesn’t have built-in GPS. If you’re someone who loves mapping your runs without dragging your phone along, this might be a bit of a bummer.
One thing that's pretty neat is the battery life. You don’t have to plug it in every night like some other wearables — it can last up to a week on a single charge, depending on how much you use it. But keep an eye on the battery if you’re fiddling with it a lot. The more you poke at it, the quicker it drains, especially if you’re using the pulse ox feature a lot. So, it’s a bit of a tradeoff between having all the data and keeping the battery alive.
The fit is comfy, but it’s not exactly a fashion statement. It’s got a basic band that comes in a few colors, but it’s mostly functional rather than flashy. If you’re looking for something to match every outfit, you might need to look elsewhere or get creative. It’s more about function than style, and it does the job it was made for — keeping track of your health stats without being a pain to wear.
Now, let’s talk smarts. While it does sync up with your phone for notifications, it doesn’t let you respond directly from the device. So, you’ll still be reaching for your phone a lot. It’s more of a heads-up than a replacement for checking your messages. And if you’re an iPhone user, you might find that it’s a little less integrated than with Android. It works fine, but it’s worth noting if you’re expecting seamless connectivity.
Finally, if you’re not a tech wizard, don’t worry. It’s pretty straightforward to set up and use. The Garmin Connect app is where all your data lives, and while it’s packed with info, it’s pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. It’s not perfect, but it’s reliable for keeping track of the basics and giving you a nudge to move more. Just don’t expect it to do everything under the sun, and you’ll probably be happy with it.
