Comparing VivoActive 4 and Fenix 5
The Garmin Fenix 5 and Garmin VivoActive 4 are both popular smartwatches tailored to fitness enthusiasts from the renowned brand, Garmin. As a leading player in the wearables industry since the early 2000s, Garmin is known for developing cutting-edge GPS navigation, wearables, and wireless devices, extensively used by athletes and adventurers alike.
Choosing the right watch can have a significant impact on your fitness journey, enabling tracking of your workout routines, ensuring seamless connectivity to your digital lifestyle, and offering countless personalization options. Therefore, this comparison aims to delve into the key features, design, and build of both the Garmin Fenix 5 and VivoActive 4. We will also evaluate their user interfaces, user experience, price, value, and frequently asked questions to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Build
Garmin Fenix 5
The Garmin Fenix 5's rugged design uses premium materials, including stainless steel or diamond-like carbon-coated bezel, water-resistant fiber-reinforced polymer casing, and a chemically strengthened glass or durable sapphire lens. The Fenix 5 has a size of 47mm x 47mm x 15.5mm, weighs around 85-196g depending on the model, and features a 1.2-inch display with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels.
Garmin VivoActive 4
The Garmin VivoActive 4, on the other hand, exhibits a sleek and modern design, featuring a stainless steel bezel and polymer case ensuring water resistance up to 5 ATM. The watch measures 45.1mm x 45.1mm x 12.8mm, weighs approximately 50g, and is equipped with a 1.3-inch MIP display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, boasting a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels.
Comparison of design and build quality
Comparing the two, the Fenix 5 is more rugged and suitable for extreme outdoor activities, while the VivoActive 4 sports a streamlined design catering to daily usage. The Fenix 5's sapphire lens provides better durability, compared to the VivoActive 4's Gorilla Glass 3. Additionally, the Fenix 5 has a slightly smaller, yet crisp display, while the VivoActive 4 offers a larger and higher resolution screen.
Features and Functionality
Garmin Fenix 5
Powered by Garmin’s proprietary OS, the Fenix 5 includes top-tier features such as GPS, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, and thermometer sensors. The watch boasts an impressive battery life of up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, and offers extensive fitness tracking including heart rate monitoring, calories burned, sleep quality, and activity recognition for running, cycling, and swimming. The Fenix 5 can be customized by downloading watch faces, widgets, apps, and data fields from the Garmin Connect IQ store.
Garmin VivoActive 4
The VivoActive 4 runs on the versatile Wear OS platform and features GPS, an accelerometer, and a barometric altimeter. The watch provides a broad range of fitness tracking such as heart rate monitoring, sleep analysis, and tracking for running, cycling, swimming, strength training, golf, and more. With a battery life of up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, the VivoActive 4 is capable of music streaming, contactless payments with Garmin Pay, and downloading third-party apps and watch faces from the Google Play Store.
Comparison of features and performance
While both the Fenix 5 and VivoActive 4 excel in fitness tracking, the Fenix 5 seems more appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers due to its extra sensors and robust build. The VivoActive 4, on the other hand, suits everyday users seeking a feature-rich device to help enhance their fitness journey. The VivoActive 4's Wear OS platform offers access to a wider array of third-party apps, whereas the Fenix 5 relies on Garmin’s Connect IQ store for customizations.
User Interface and User Experience
Garmin Fenix 5
The Fenix 5 benefits from a compact design without compromising on display readability, allowing users to navigate the watch with ease using physical buttons. A wide range of apps is available from the Garmin Connect IQ store. Although the watch is compatible with Android and iOS devices, Windows Phone and desktop compatibility are unavailable.
Garmin VivoActive 4
The VivoActive 4 comes with a responsive touchscreen in addition to physical buttons, making navigation a breeze. The Wear OS ensures access to countless apps, watch faces, and widgets from the Google Play Store. Compatibility-wise, the device supports Android and iOS smartphones only, lacking Windows Phone and desktop compatibility.
Comparison of user interface and user experience
Both devices offer a comprehensive user experience, but the VivoActive 4's responsive touchscreen and Wear OS integration result in more straightforward navigation and a broader range of apps available to users. The Fenix 5, catering to outdoor sports lovers, stays true to its roots by providing a user interface robust enough to endure extreme conditions.
Price and Value
Garmin Fenix 5
With an average price of $599.99, the Fenix 5 offers great value for its extensive features and rugged design, catering to the needs of adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Garmin VivoActive 4
For a cost of around $349, the VivoActive 4 is an excellent option for daily users seeking a feature-rich smartwatch suited for tracking various fitness activities and providing ample app customization options.
Comparison of price and value
The Fenix 5, with its several additional sensors and robust build, is more suited to demanding outdoor athletes, while the more affordable VivoActive 4 targets everyday users who prefer a streamlined design and versatile Wear OS platform. Your choice will ultimately depend on your preferred activities, budget, and design preferences.
Conclusion
When deciding between the Garmin Fenix 5 and VivoActive 4, it’s essential to assess your specific needs and preferences. For a more rugged and durable device with superior sensors, the Garmin Fenix 5 is an ideal choice. Conversely, if you desire a sleek, modern design with a more versatile ecosystem and touchscreen capabilities, go for the Garmin VivoActive 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which smartwatch has better water resistance, the Fenix 5 or the VivoActive 4?
The Fenix 5 is rated for water resistance up to 10 ATM, while the VivoActive 4 has a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, making the Fenix 5 more suitable for water-based activities.
Can I download third-party apps on both the Fenix 5 and VivoActive 4?
While both allow for app customization, the Fenix 5 uses the Garmin Connect IQ store, and the VivoActive 4 leverages the Google Play Store, which offers a wider array of apps.
Do both the Fenix 5 and VivoActive 4 support music streaming and control?
Yes, both devices support music streaming and control directly from the smartwatch, ensuring an added convenience during workouts.
Can I use Garmin Pay for contactless payments on both the Fenix 5 and VivoActive 4?
Garmin Pay only works on the VivoActive 4, enabling convenient and secure contactless payments directly from your wrist.
Is the Fenix 5 more suitable for outdoor activities compared to the VivoActive 4?
Yes, due to its more rugged design, durable build materials, and a broader range of outdoor-oriented sensors, the Fenix 5 is better suited for outdoor activities compared to the VivoActive 4.
