Vivosmart 5 is Garmin’s first fitness tracker in more than three years. Larger and more capable in all areas, it comes with many new features compared to previous models, albeit at a higher price.

Garmin dominates the sale of heart rate monitors (licensed by Polar) and has an impressive range with different lines for anyone looking for a competent activity tracker for sports and healthcare monitoring. If you have everything you can look for in a watch format, with a bracelet design, the offer is more discreet compared to competitors such as Fitbit.

Actually, more than three years have passed since the launch of its latest model, the Vivosmart 4. The fifth generation is here, and even though it took a while, it comes perfectly updated for the occasion.

Vivosmart 5: much better, a bit more expensive

Garmin has retained the general design of the series, but you will immediately notice that it is very different. The display is much larger, with rounded edges and without metal edges. The increase in size of 66% is staggering and it is also clearer to improve its outdoor use and the size of the texts has also increased.

The screen is also more sensitive thanks to a new digitizer for touch control and in addition it has a built-in physical button that facilitates control and navigation. In this way, Garmin solves the most controversial issues of the previous model.

Vivosmart 5 debuts a new heart rate sensor which constantly monitors HR at rest, during sports activity and warns of too high or low levels. It also provides your body’s “energy level” throughout the day, so you can find the best times for activity and rest, while the Pulse Ox sensor monitors blood oxygen saturation at any time of the day or night while you sleep.

There are many functions for monitoring health and activity, from sleep scores to monitoring stress depending on whether you have a calm, balanced or stressful day, through hydration levels, monitoring the menstrual cycle or pregnancy in women or monitoring breathing. Also profiles activities for running, cycling or swimming (5 ATM ratings for water resistance), walking, yoga, pilates, cardio, mindful breathing, strength training and more.

The new smart bracelet can pair with Android and iOS smartphones Receive GPS functions via Bluetooth, receive emails, texts and notifications directly on tape and you can even reply to text messages (Android). It also supports the Garmin Connect platform, where you can connect, compete, and share with other users.

Garmin has abandoned the unibody design and offers removable straps that replace the included silicone and promises up to 7 days of battery life in smart watch mode. Undoubtedly. The Vivosmart 5 is bigger, better and more capable, but it is expected to increase the price level compared to the previous ones because it stands $ 149 and is now available in selected regions in white, black and mint.