Comparing Vivosport and Fenix 5s Plus
Garmin Fenix 5s Plus and Garmin Vivosport are two prominent smartwatches from Garmin, a brand known for its reliable and high-quality wearables. While picking the right watch is crucial, considering different factors such as design, features, functionality, user experience, and price can play a significant role in the decision-making process.
Garmin has built a solid reputation in the wearables market, thanks to its extensive experience in GPS technology and commitment to providing robust and feature-packed devices. In this article, we’ll discuss the design, build, features, user interface, and price of both the Fenix 5s Plus and the Vivosport. This comparison will help you make an informed decision on which watch best suits your needs.
Design and Build
Garmin Fenix 5s Plus
The Fenix 5s Plus features a stainless steel or diamond-like carbon (DLC) titanium bezel and a high-quality build. Its dimensions are 42 x 42 x 15 mm and weigh approximately 65g or 85g, depending on the chosen material. The watch has a 1.2-inch full-color, sunlight-visible, and transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display with a 240 x 240-pixel resolution.
Garmin Vivosport
The Vivosport is a sleek and lightweight fitness tracker, built with a durable silicone band and plastic casing. Its exact dimensions are not available, but it has a slim profile and lightweight, making it highly comfortable for everyday wear. The watch features a smaller MIP display with a 72 x 144-pixel resolution.
Comparison of design and build quality
Both devices are built for an active lifestyle, with the Fenix 5s Plus offering a more premium and rugged look, while the Vivosport is sleek and minimalistic. The Fenix 5s Plus is heavier than the Vivosport, and their screen sizes and resolutions differ. The choice between these two depends on the design preference and the intended use of the watch.
Features and Functionality
Garmin Fenix 5s Plus
The Fenix 5s Plus runs on Garmin’s proprietary operating system and boasts a variety of sensors, including GPS, accelerometer, barometer, compass, gyro, thermometer, heart rate monitor, and pulse oximeter. It has a battery life of up to 7 days and offers fitness tracking features such as step counting, distance monitoring, sleep tracking, and various sports modes. Other notable features include music playback, smartphone notifications, and Garmin Pay for contactless payments.
Garmin Vivosport
The Vivosport also uses Garmin’s own OS and is equipped with GPS, accelerometer, barometer, compass, and heart rate sensor. Its battery life is also up to 7 days, and it tracks steps, distance, sleep, and multiple sports modes. The Vivosport offers smartphone notifications and music controls but lacks Garmin Pay and additional app support.
Comparison of features and performance
Regarding features and functionalities, the Fenix 5s Plus outshines the Vivosport with a richer offering, such as more sensors, Garmin Pay, and app support. However, the Vivosport excels at providing essential fitness tracking features in a sleek and lightweight package without the added bulk of the Fenix 5s Plus.
User Interface and User Experience
Garmin Fenix 5s Plus
The Fenix 5s Plus offers a vivid display, intuitive navigation with buttons and touchscreen, and customizable watch faces and widgets. It is compatible with Android and iOS smartphones and provides seamless integration with the Garmin Connect Mobile app, allowing users to sync their data and access additional features.
Garmin Vivosport
The Vivosport features a touchscreen and a button for navigation, along with basic customization of watch faces and widgets. Like the Fenix 5s Plus, it is compatible with Android and iOS devices and easily connects to the Garmin Connect Mobile app.
Comparison of user interface and user experience
Both watches provide a pleasant user experience, with the Fenix 5s Plus offering more customization options and a superior display. However, the Vivosport’s slim design and simple interface make it easy to use and comfortable for daily wear.
Price and Value
Garmin Fenix 5s Plus
With a price tag of $799, the Fenix 5s Plus is a high-end smartwatch that offers a comprehensive set of features and a premium build quality.
Garmin Vivosport
At $199, the Vivosport is a more budget-friendly option but still provides essential fitness tracking capabilities and essential smartwatch features in a lightweight package.
Comparison of price and value
While the Fenix 5s Plus offers more in terms of features and a premium build, the Vivosport delivers essential fitness tracking capabilities at a significantly lower price. The choice between the two depends on the desired feature set, budget, and intended use.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision to choose between the Garmin Fenix 5s Plus and Vivosport comes down to preferences, budget, and intended use. The Fenix 5s Plus offers a robust set of features in a rugged and premium design, while the Vivosport provides essential fitness tracking capabilities in a slim and lightweight package. Both watches are solid choices from Garmin; your priorities will ultimately determine the best fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Fenix 5s Plus and Vivosport store music offline?
Yes, both devices can store and play music without being connected to a smartphone.
Are both Fenix 5s Plus and Vivosport water-resistant?
Yes, the Fenix 5s Plus is water-resistant up to 10 ATM, and the Vivosport is water-resistant up to 5 ATM.
Do both watches feature smartphone notifications?
Yes, both the Fenix 5s Plus and Vivosport can display notifications from a connected smartphone.
Can the Fenix 5s Plus and Vivosport track swims?
Both devices can track swimming activities, including laps, distance, and swim stroke recognition.
Is there a significant difference in battery life between the two watches?
No, both the Fenix 5s Plus and Vivosport have a battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode.
