The Garmin vívosmart 5 is best suited to people who want a slim band for everyday activity, sleep and health tracking—not a standalone running watch. Garmin lists continuous heart rate, sleep estimates, stress, Body Battery and other daily metrics, while outdoor route tracking depends on a compatible connected GPS source, typically your phone. Its monochrome screen and phone-dependent GPS are the key trade-offs; comfort and sleep tracking are strengths noted by independent reviewers.
What the vívosmart 5 is designed to do
Announced by Garmin on April 20, 2022, the vívosmart 5 is a narrow fitness band with a touchscreen and physical button. Garmin says its display is 66% larger than the vívosmart 4’s, but it remains monochrome rather than a color smartwatch screen. Garmin also lists smart notifications, calendar reminders and safety features that require a compatible smartphone. Garmin’s launch announcement is the source for those product and feature claims.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Garmin lists continuous heart-rate monitoring, sleep score and insights, stress tracking, Body Battery, respiration, Pulse Ox, steps, calories, intensity minutes and multiple activity profiles. Pulse Ox availability varies by country. These features make the band more compelling as a day-and-night wellness tracker than as a tool for detailed training analysis.
GPS: the main limitation for outdoor workouts
The vívosmart 5 does not have onboard GPS. Garmin says it can connect to compatible GPS for outdoor walk, run and ride distance, pace and speed; in typical use, that means taking a compatible paired phone along. TechRadar’s tracker guide likewise identifies the lack of onboard GPS and reliance on a phone for outdoor route tracking.
#1 Best Overall
- Easy-to-use, comfortable smart fitness tracker, once setup through the Garmin Connect app, has a touchscreen and button interface plus a brighter, bigger display than vívosmart 4 for larger text.Supported Application:Heart Rate Monitor,Sleep Monitor,GPS,Fitness Tracker,Contacts,Messages,Calendar. Connectivity technology:Bluetooth.
- Get an uninterrupted picture of your health with up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode; safe for swimming and showering, too
- Understand your body by monitoring your respiration, Pulse Ox (Pulse Ox not available in all countries; it is not a medical device), Body Battery energy levels, women’s health, hydration, stress and heart rate (This device is intended to give an estimate of your activity and metrics) with low and high heart rate alerts once set up through the Garmin Connect app
- Get a score for your sleep quality, plus get further insights on how to improve your sleep via the Garmin Connect app
- Reach your fitness goals through fitness age, step tracking, calories burned, intensity minutes and more
If you want a route recorded without carrying a phone, this is a meaningful drawback. If you already bring your phone on walks or runs and mainly want the band for everyday metrics, connected GPS may be an acceptable compromise.
Health, sleep and activity tracking
Daily health metrics
Garmin’s listed metrics include heart rate, stress, respiration and Body Battery, a measure Garmin uses to represent energy reserves. Pulse Ox estimates blood oxygen saturation, but it is not available in every country. Garmin says the vívosmart 5 is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or monitor a medical condition; treat its readings as wellness information, not a substitute for clinical advice or measurement.
Sleep tracking
Garmin describes its sleep score as an estimate based on sleep quantity and quality indicators, including time in sleep stages, movement and stress. It can provide a useful overview in the Garmin app, but it is not a clinical sleep assessment. TechRadar praises the band’s sleep tracking, and Tom’s Guide reports that it performed well in that publication’s own testing as a sleep and fitness tracker. Those are reviewers’ judgments, not results from this review.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
- Easy-to-use, comfortable smart fitness tracker, once setup through the Garmin Connect app, has a touchscreen and button interface plus a brighter, bigger display than vívosmart 4 for larger text.Supported Application:Sleep Monitor,Heart Rate Monitor,GPS,Fitness Tracker,Contacts,Messages,Calendar. Connectivity technology:Bluetooth.
- Get an uninterrupted picture of your health with up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode; safe for swimming and showering, too
- Understand your body by monitoring your respiration, Pulse Ox (Pulse Ox not available in all countries; it is not a medical device), Body Battery energy levels, women’s health, hydration, stress and heart rate (This device is intended to give an estimate of your activity and metrics) with low and high heart rate alerts once set up through the Garmin Connect app
- Get a score for your sleep quality, plus get further insights on how to improve your sleep via the Garmin Connect app
- Reach your fitness goals through fitness age, step tracking, calories burned, intensity minutes and more
Activity tracking
Garmin lists multiple activity profiles and metrics such as steps, calories and intensity minutes. TechRadar highlights automatic activity tracking as a strength. The feature mix is aimed at keeping tabs on everyday movement and common workouts, rather than replacing a dedicated sports watch for athletes who need onboard GPS or advanced training tools.
Display, comfort and everyday use
The screen is monochrome, a drawback TechRadar calls out, so it is a functional way to see tracking data and notifications rather than a vivid display for rich watch apps. Garmin says it is larger than the vívosmart 4’s and combines touch input with a button. The small band format may appeal if you do not want a full-size smartwatch on your wrist.
TechRadar praises the vívosmart 5’s comfort, and Garmin documents interchangeable bands. Confirm that a particular replacement band is compatible before buying; the sources cited here do not establish compatibility for every third-party option.
Rank #3
- Easy-to-use, comfortable smart fitness tracker, once setup through the Garmin Connect app, has a touchscreen and button interface plus a brighter, bigger display than vívosmart 4 for larger text.Supported Application:Heart Rate Monitor,Sleep Monitor,GPS,Fitness Tracker,Contacts,Messages,Calendar. Connectivity technology:Bluetooth.
- Get an uninterrupted picture of your health with up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode; safe for swimming and showering, too
- Understand your body by monitoring your respiration, Pulse Ox (Pulse Ox not available in all countries; it is not a medical device), Body Battery energy levels, women’s health, hydration, stress and heart rate (This device is intended to give an estimate of your activity and metrics) with low and high heart rate alerts once set up through the Garmin Connect app
- Get a score for your sleep quality, plus get further insights on how to improve your sleep via the Garmin Connect app
- Reach your fitness goals through fitness age, step tracking, calories burned, intensity minutes and more
Battery life and water rating
Garmin’s online owner manual specifies up to seven days of battery life. Garmin characterizes this as a typical laboratory value and notes that actual life depends on enabled features, notifications, GPS status, sensors and environmental factors. Treat seven days as a maximum claim, not a guaranteed interval between charges for every setup.
The manual rates the device at 5 ATM, which Garmin describes as pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 metres. This is the manufacturer’s rating, not an independently verified depth result or a blanket promise for every water activity. Consult Garmin’s guidance for the conditions in which you plan to use the band. Garmin’s owner manual provides the specification details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Phone support, subscriptions and ownership
Garmin’s launch announcement says the band works with Apple and Android phones for notifications and connected features. Check current Garmin support requirements for your specific phone before purchase, particularly if connected GPS and notifications matter to you.
Rank #4
- Easy-to-use, comfortable smart fitness tracker, once setup through the Garmin Connect app, has a touchscreen and button interface plus a brighter, bigger display than vívosmart 4 for larger text.Supported Application:Sleep Monitor,Heart Rate Monitor,GPS,Fitness Tracker,Contacts,Messages,Calendar. Connectivity technology:Bluetooth.
- Get an uninterrupted picture of your health with up to 7 days of battery life in smartwatch mode; safe for swimming and showering, too
- Understand your body by monitoring your respiration, Pulse Ox (Pulse Ox not available in all countries; it is not a medical device), Body Battery energy levels, women’s health, hydration, stress and heart rate (This device is intended to give an estimate of your activity and metrics) with low and high heart rate alerts once set up through the Garmin Connect app
- Get a score for your sleep quality, plus get further insights on how to improve your sleep via the Garmin Connect app
- Reach your fitness goals through fitness age, step tracking, calories burned, intensity minutes and more
TechRadar notes that core vívosmart 5 features do not require a subscription. Keep that claim scoped to the device’s core features rather than assuming every optional Garmin service is included. Garmin’s 2022 US launch announcement set a suggested retail price of $149.99; that is historical launch pricing, not a current price. Check current retailer listings for availability and price.
Who should buy the Garmin vívosmart 5?
- Consider it if you want a compact band for everyday health metrics, sleep tracking and basic activity monitoring, and value comfort over a large display.
- Look elsewhere if you need onboard GPS for phone-free route tracking, a color screen, or more advanced training features.
- Compare before deciding if GPS, screen size or training depth are priorities. Tom’s Guide’s coverage compares tracker alternatives including the Fitbit Charge 6, while DC Rainmaker’s 2022 review video examines the vívosmart 5 against the Fitbit Charge 5. These sources identify comparison points, not a definitive current ranking.
Overall, the vívosmart 5 is a focused everyday tracker rather than an all-purpose smartwatch. Its appeal rests on a discreet form, sleep and health features, and Garmin’s ecosystem; the clearest compromise is that outdoor GPS tracking requires a compatible connected source.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
