Considering an upgrade or a new Garmin smartwatch? The vivoactive series has long been a popular choice for its blend of fitness tracking and smart features. Now, with the arrival of the vivoactive 5, it’s time to see how it stacks up against its predecessor, the well-regarded vivoactive 4S.
The vivoactive 4S, known for its compact design and comprehensive health metrics, set a high bar. But the vivoactive 5 aims to push boundaries further with new innovations and an evolved user experience. This comparison will dive deep into what sets these two capable devices apart.
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting your wellness journey, understanding the key differences between the vivoactive 4S and the vivoactive 5 is crucial. We’ll explore everything from design and display to advanced health tracking and battery life, helping you make the informed decision.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | vivoactive 4S | vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 1.1-inch | 1.2-inch |
| Display Type | Sunlight-Visible, Transflective Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) | AMOLED |
| Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Strap Material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Water Rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking | Basic | Advanced |
| Body Battery Energy Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Stress Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Music Storage | No | Yes |
| Garmin Pay | Yes | Yes |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Display
- Vivoactive 4s: Features a 1.1-inch Chroma Display with 218 x 218 pixels. It’s sunlight-visible but can be a bit less vibrant and detailed compared to newer AMOLED screens. Visibility in bright light is good, but blacks aren’t as deep.
- Vivoactive 5: Boasts a larger 1.2-inch AMOLED display with 390 x 390 pixels. This offers significantly brighter colors, deeper blacks, and a more modern, vibrant visual experience. It also supports an always-on display mode.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
Design & Build
- Vivoactive 4s: Has a 40mm case size, making it a more compact and lightweight option, ideal for smaller wrists. It’s constructed with a fiber-reinforced polymer bezel and case, with a silicone band. It’s durable and water-rated for swimming.
- Vivoactive 5: Features a slightly larger 42mm case size. While still relatively lightweight, it’s a touch bigger than the 4s. It also uses a fiber-reinforced polymer construction and offers a comfortable fit. The aesthetic is generally sleeker.
- Winner: vivoactive 4s
Health & Wellness Tracking
- Vivoactive 4s: Offers comprehensive tracking including heart rate, Pulse Ox, Body Battery, stress, sleep, and respiration. It provides a good overview of daily wellness metrics. Advanced sleep stage tracking is present.
- Vivoactive 5: Introduces new features like Sleep Score and nap detection, providing more detailed insights into sleep quality. It also includes a new Energy Score (similar to Body Battery) and a morning report for a quick daily overview. Offers ECG app for Afib detection.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
Sports & Fitness Features
- Vivoactive 4s: Comes with over 20 built-in sports profiles, GPS tracking, and Garmin Coach for guided workouts. It’s a capable fitness tracker for a wide range of activities. Offers on-screen workout animations.
- Vivoactive 5: Expands on the 4s with more sports profiles (over 30), including new ones like HIIT and wheelchair mode. It retains GPS, Garmin Coach, and on-screen animations. The addition of interval training tools is a plus for dedicated athletes.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
Battery Life
- Vivoactive 4s: Advertised to last up to 8 days in smartwatch mode and up to 6 hours in GPS mode. Actual battery life can vary depending on usage, especially with continuous GPS or Pulse Ox.
- Vivoactive 5: Offers up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 21 hours in GPS mode. This is a significant improvement over the 4s, allowing for longer periods between charges and more extensive GPS tracking sessions.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
Smartwatch Features
- Vivoactive 4s: Includes music storage, Garmin Pay, smart notifications, and access to the Connect IQ store for apps and watch faces. It provides a solid set of everyday smartwatch functionalities.
- Vivoactive 5: Retains all the smart features of the 4s but adds voice assistant compatibility (via your phone) and enhanced music playback control. The app ecosystem through Connect IQ is also well-supported.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
GPS Accuracy
- Vivoactive 4s: Utilizes built-in GPS for tracking outdoor activities. While generally reliable for most users, it can sometimes be less precise in challenging environments like dense urban areas or under heavy tree cover.
- Vivoactive 5: Also features built-in GPS. Garmin often refines its GPS chipsets with newer models, and while specs may seem similar, users often report slightly improved accuracy and faster satellite acquisition with the vivoactive 5 in various conditions.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
Price & Value
- Vivoactive 4s: As an older model, it can often be found at a more budget-friendly price point, especially on sale. It still offers a robust feature set for its cost, making it a good value for those who don’t need the absolute latest technology.
- Vivoactive 5: Being the newer model, it comes with a higher initial price tag. However, the significant upgrades in display, battery life, and health features justify the increased cost for many, offering better long-term value and performance.
- Winner: vivoactive 5
Winner by Category
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Display Technology | vivoactive 5 (AMOLED) |
| Music Storage | vivoactive 5 |
| Sleep Tracking | vivoactive 5 |
| Design & Size Options | vivoactive 4S (for smaller wrists) |
| Overall Value (at launch/older pricing) | vivoactive 4S |
| Latest Features | vivoactive 5 |
What They Have in Common
- Gps Tracking: Both the vivoactive 4S and vivoactive 5 offer built-in GPS, allowing you to accurately track your outdoor activities like running, cycling, and walking without needing your phone.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Comprehensive heart rate tracking is a core feature of both devices, providing continuous monitoring throughout the day and during workouts to help you understand your fitness levels.
- Pulse Ox Sensor: Both smartwatches are equipped with a Pulse Ox sensor to measure blood oxygen saturation levels, offering insights into your body’s oxygen uptake and potential sleep disturbances.
- Body Battery Energy Monitoring: The Body Battery feature is present on both models, analyzing your heart rate variability, stress, sleep, and activity to estimate your body’s energy reserves.
- Stress Tracking: Users can monitor their stress levels throughout the day with both the vivoactive 4S and vivoactive 5, helping to identify patterns and manage daily pressures.
- Smart Notifications: Both devices provide smart notifications for calls, texts, and app alerts directly to your wrist, keeping you connected without constantly checking your phone.
Vivoactive 4S Vs Vivoactive 5 Buying Guide
Who is the Vivoactive 4S for?
The Vivoactive 4S is an excellent choice for individuals who prioritize a more compact and lightweight smartwatch experience, particularly those with smaller wrists. It offers a robust set of fitness tracking features, advanced health monitoring, and a good selection of smart notifications, making it a reliable all-around companion for daily activity and moderate workouts. Its established presence in the market also means you might find it at more attractive price points. (See Also: Demeyere 5 Plus Vs Atlantis )
Who is the Vivoactive 5 for?
The Vivoactive 5 is designed for users seeking the latest advancements in wearable technology from Garmin. It appeals to those who want enhanced sleep tracking with sleep scores, a brighter display for better readability, and potentially new workout features or improved sensor accuracy. If you’re looking for a device that offers a more modern interface and the newest health insights, the Vivoactive 5 is the way to go.
Key Differences to Consider
When comparing the two, the most significant differences lie in the display technology and advanced health metrics. The Vivoactive 5 boasts a vibrant AMOLED display, offering superior contrast and brightness compared to the Vivoactive 4S’s transflective memory-in-pixel screen. Furthermore, the Vivoactive 5 introduces features like advanced sleep tracking with detailed scores and body battery optimizations, which are more sophisticated than what the 4S offers.
Budget and Value Proposition
Your budget will play a crucial role in your decision. The Vivoactive 4S, being an older model, is likely to be more affordable, offering excellent value for its comprehensive feature set. The Vivoactive 5, with its newer technology and enhanced capabilities, will command a higher price. Consider how much you’re willing to invest for the latest features versus a proven, reliable performer. (See Also: Nikon 50 1 8 Vs 1 4 )
Who Should Buy What?
Buy vivoactive 4s If…
- You prefer a smaller watch face and a more compact design.
- You don’t need on-device music storage.
- You are looking for a reliable and feature-rich GPS smartwatch at a potentially more affordable price point.
- You are comfortable with a transflective MIP display that is excellent in bright sunlight.
Buy vivoactive 5 If…
- You want a brighter, more vibrant display with an AMOLED screen.
- On-device music storage is a must-have for your workouts.
- You desire more advanced sleep tracking and recovery insights.
- You are looking for the latest Garmin features and a slightly larger screen for better readability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main display differences?
The Vivoactive 5 features a modern AMOLED display, which provides vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent brightness, making it easy to read even in direct sunlight. In contrast, the Vivoactive 4S uses a transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) display, which is always-on and very power-efficient but lacks the visual pop and contrast of AMOLED. For indoor use or less intense lighting, the MIP is perfectly adequate.
How does sleep tracking compare?
The Vivoactive 5 offers a significantly more advanced sleep tracking experience. It provides detailed sleep scores, breaks down sleep stages more granularly, and offers insights into sleep quality and consistency. The Vivoactive 4S also tracks sleep, but its reporting is less detailed and doesn’t offer the same level of analysis or actionable advice that the Vivoactive 5 provides for improving sleep habits.
Is the Vivoactive 5 significantly better for fitness tracking?
While both devices are excellent fitness trackers, the Vivoactive 5 introduces some newer metrics and potentially improved sensor accuracy. Features like the ‘Nap Detection’ and more refined Body Battery insights on the Vivoactive 5 offer a slightly more comprehensive view of your daily energy levels and recovery. For most users, the core fitness tracking (steps, heart rate, GPS) is robust on both, but the 5 offers a more nuanced look. (See Also: Samsung Pro Vs Evo 850 )
Which watch is better for smaller wrists?
The Vivoactive 4S is specifically designed with smaller wrists in mind. Its ‘S’ designation signifies a smaller case size and band compared to its larger counterparts. While the Vivoactive 5 is also relatively compact, the Vivoactive 4S will generally offer a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing fit for individuals with petite wrists. It avoids feeling bulky or overwhelming.
Which watch offers better battery life?
Battery life can vary depending on usage, but generally, the Vivoactive 4S, with its MIP display, tends to offer longer battery life in smartwatch mode compared to the Vivoactive 5’s AMOLED display. However, the Vivoactive 5 is still quite efficient for an AMOLED watch. If maximum battery longevity is your absolute top priority, especially for multi-day adventures without charging, the 4S might have a slight edge.
Final Verdict
The Vivoactive 5 emerges as the superior choice for most users seeking a modern, feature-rich smartwatch. Its vibrant AMOLED display, advanced sleep tracking, and refined health metrics offer a compelling upgrade over the Vivoactive 4S. While the 4S remains a capable and reliable option, especially for those with smaller wrists or on a tighter budget, the Vivoactive 5 represents the cutting edge of Garmin’s mid-range offering.
Winner: Vivoactive 5