Comparing Fenix 5s and Vivoactive HR
The Garmin Fenix 5s and Garmin Vivoactive HR are two popular products in the world of smartwatches and fitness trackers. Both devices come from the Garmin brand, known for its high-quality sports and fitness watches. Founded in 1989, Garmin has built a strong reputation in designing and manufacturing wearable tech products. This article will provide a detailed comparison of the two devices, their designs, features, user interfaces, and prices.
Choosing the right watch is essential because it can make a significant difference in the way you track your fitness and monitor your daily activities. This comparison will help you make an informed decision by presenting the similarities, differences, pros, and cons of the Garmin Fenix 5s and Vivoactive HR.
Let’s begin by discussing the design and build of both devices.
Design and Build
Garmin Fenix 5s
The Garmin Fenix 5s sports a premium design with high-quality materials, featuring a stainless steel bezel, a fiber-reinforced polymer casing, and a sapphire crystal lens. The watch weighs 67 grams with a display size of 1.1 inches and a resolution of 218 x 218 pixels.
Garmin Vivoactive HR
On the other hand, the Garmin Vivoactive HR has a more casual design. It’s made of a fiber-reinforced polymer casing, a chemically strengthened glass lens, and a silicone strap. The watch weighs 47.6 grams, has a display size of 1.38 inches, and a screen resolution of 148 x 205 pixels.
Comparison of design and build quality
While the Garmin Fenix 5s offers a more premium and rugged design, the Garmin Vivoactive HR provides a lighter and more casual look. Both watches are designed to be durable and comfortable, but the Fenix 5s has a more sophisticated and robust appearance, making it suitable for various occasions.
Features and Functionality
Garmin Fenix 5s
The Fenix 5s operates on Garmin’s own proprietary operating system and offers numerous sensors, including GPS, GLONASS, barometric altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, and thermometer. With a battery life of up to 9 days in smartwatch mode, the Fenix 5s features a wide range of fitness tracking options, such as heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, calories, distance, steps, and multiple sports activities.
Garmin Vivoactive HR
Similar to the Fenix 5s, the Vivoactive HR runs on Garmin’s proprietary OS and offers various sensors, including GPS, barometric altimeter, compass, and accelerometer. The battery life of the Vivoactive HR ranges from 13 hours in GPS mode to 8 days in smartwatch mode. The device tracks various fitness metrics, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, calories, distance, steps, and multiple sports activities. However, it lacks an oxygen sensor.
Comparison of features and performance
Both watches are feature-rich and offer a variety of fitness tracking options and sport-specific modes. However, the Fenix 5s has additional sensors like oxygen tracking, gyroscope, and thermometer, giving it an edge over the Vivoactive HR in terms of performance and features. Overall, both devices provide excellent fitness tracking capabilities and support for various sports activities.
User Interface and User Experience
Garmin Fenix 5s
The Fenix 5s features an intuitive user interface with customizable watch faces, widgets, and applications. Garmin’s Connect IQ store provides additional apps and watch faces, making it easy to customize the watch according to your preferences. The device offers excellent smartphone compatibility, allowing it to sync with Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices.
Garmin Vivoactive HR
The Vivoactive HR also offers an intuitive user interface with customizable watch faces, widgets, and applications. The Connect IQ store provides additional apps and watch faces to personalize the watch. The Vivoactive HR syncs with Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices, ensuring seamless compatibility with various smartphones.
Comparison of user interface and user experience
Both watches provide a user-friendly interface and customization options, and both support smartphone compatibility for seamless syncing with your device. While their interfaces and user experiences are comparable, the Fenix 5s has a slightly higher resolution screen, offering a better visual experience.
Price and Value
Garmin Fenix 5s
With a price of $599.99, the Garmin Fenix 5s offers premium features and design, making it a suitable option for those looking for a durable and feature-rich fitness smartwatch.
Garmin Vivoactive HR
At $250, the Garmin Vivoactive HR provides an affordable fitness tracker with several features that cater to various fitness and sports activities. The watch offers great value for money for those looking for a casual and versatile fitness tracker.
Comparison of price and value
The Garmin Fenix 5s offers a premium design and better features, but it comes with a higher price tag. The Vivoactive HR, on the other hand, has a more casual design and fewer features at a lower price. It ultimately depends on your preferences and budget when choosing between the two devices.
Conclusion
When comparing the Garmin Fenix 5s and Garmin Vivoactive HR, both devices offer excellent fitness tracking capabilities and multiple sports activity options. The Fenix 5s comes with a premium design and additional features, while the Vivoactive HR offers a casual design and more affordable pricing. Your choice will depend on your preferences, budget, and fitness goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the Garmin Fenix 5s and Garmin Vivoactive HR?
The primary difference between the two devices is the design and additional features found in the Fenix 5s, such as the oxygen sensor, gyroscope, and thermometer. The Fenix 5s also has a more premium and rugged design compared to the Vivoactive HR’s casual look.
Which device has better battery life, the Garmin Fenix 5s or the Garmin Vivoactive HR?
The Garmin Fenix 5s has a longer battery life of up to 9 days in smartwatch mode, while the Garmin Vivoactive HR offers up to 8 days in smartwatch mode.
Are both devices compatible with smartphones?
Yes, both the Garmin Fenix 5s and Vivoactive HR are compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices, ensuring seamless syncing and functionality with various smartphones.
Do both devices offer music control?
Yes, both the Garmin Fenix 5s and Vivoactive HR support music control functionality, allowing users to control music playback on their smartphones from their watches.
Can both devices track swimming activities?
Yes, both the Garmin Fenix 5s and Vivoactive HR offer swim tracking capabilities, making them suitable for swimmers and multi-sport athletes.
