If there’s one thing Garmin seems to know better than other wearables companies, it’s that athletes love buttons. And, it looks like the company has finally added a utility button to its latest fitness tracker, the $149.99 Vivosmart 5.
The Vivosmart 5 is an updated version of the Vivosmart 4, which was first launched in 2018. It retains much of the same design as the Vivosmart 4, but instead of having an elegant vibe, it opts for a more functional, sporty look. The strap itself has rounded edges, and there’s no longer a metal bezel around the display. In its press release, Garmin also highlighted that the display is 66 percent larger and has larger text, making it easier to read. But the biggest difference is that the Vivosmart 5 has a proper button, and the swipe-based touchscreen is easier to use.
I tested the Vivosmart 3 and 4 and both trackers had the same problem: the display. The Vivosmart 3’s screen looked blurry, wasn’t easy to read in sunlight, and swipes weren’t easy to register. The Vivosmart 4 fixes blur, but its menu “buttons” don’t always work, and the touchscreen isn’t as responsive as it should be. This makes starting and ending activities tedious — especially when your fingers are sweaty.
The $149.99 Vivosmart 5 is available in white, mint, and black.Image: Garmin
I’ve been playing around with the Vivosmart 5 and it seems Garmin has fixed both of these issues.button work And it bulges slightly from the display, making it easier to find by feel. Again, I found the touchscreen to be more responsive and easier to use. I still need to test the Vivosmart 5, but so far this is a significant improvement over the biggest problem with the Vivosmart line.
Garmin also addressed another issue with the Vivosmart line. Previous Vivosmart trackers had a one-piece design, which meant you couldn’t change the strap. However, the Vivosmart 5 introduces replaceable straps. All you have to do is pop up the tracker.
While most of the changes in the Vivosmart 5 come from the design, Garmin has also added more software features. That said, the Vivosmart 5 brings abnormal heart rate alerts to the tracker line. It also includes Garmin’s personal safety features. Pressing the button for a few seconds will trigger an assistance alert to the assigned emergency contact. Other than that, the Vivosmart 5 maintains its predecessor’s continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 sensor, tethered GPS, stress tracking, and 7-day battery life.
The $149.99 Garmin Vivosmart 5 is available starting today in black, white, and cool mint.
