Garmin Vivoactive 5

Sharp AMOLED colour screen ; Solid sports tracking modes ; Well integrated smartwatch features

Watch UI still needs some refining ; Can’t track elevation like Vivoactive 4 ; Misses out on useful Training Readiness metric

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a solid and more affordable AMOLED sports watch alternative to Garmin’s pricier Venu, which might not match it for smartwatch smarts, but still offers a great experience all round.

Exceptional fitness and health tracking Long-lasting battery life Gorgeous AMOLED display No subscription needed

Software can be tricky for new users Smart features still limited

It would be churlish of me to say the tricky software had a big impact on my time with the Garmin Vivoactive 5. Yes, when I got annoyed at the watch, it was undoubtedly because of Garmin’s operating system. But those times were relatively few and far...

Upgraded AMOLED display ; On-watch music streaming ; Powerful health and sports tracking options

Minimal buttons ; No barometric altimeter ; No Training Readiness

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers more sports and health tracking metrics than most will need while staying compact and easy to see with that stunning AMOLED display. But this lacks some features that may sway you to pay more for a Forerunner.

Strong GPS and heart rate accuracy Useful Body Battery daily insights Vibrant AMOLED screen Decent smartwatch features

Slightly thick bezel around screen Lacks useful Training Readiness feature

The Vivoactive 5 sees Garmin add yet another solid AMOLED multisports watch that performs as a good smartwatch to its ranks. It also means it has another watch to sit at yet another different price point. When you look at what it’s up against, it...

Great, four-day battery life (with Always-on) ; Plenty of supported workout types ; Comfortable to wear 24/7 ; Affordable price

Uninspiring design, buttons wobble on our unit ; No barometric altimeter ; No advanced sports tracking (triathlon), no maps

Advanced health stats like sleep and stress coaching 30-plus sports apps Upgraded AMOLED display

Inconsistent sleep data Buttons are stiff No barometric altimeter

Despite the saturated market, it makes sense to upgrade your Garmin this time. The Vivoactive 5 costs less than the Vivoactive 4 and Venu 3, and there's more to love than the model before it, including advanced sports features and an upgraded AMOLED...

Vibrant, AMOLED display

Great, bright screen ; Tracks naps! ; Superb battery life

No ECG or heart health features ; Limited third-party apps ; No altimeter