Description
Garmin Vivoactive 5 Review: A Fitness and Health Companion
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is an exceptional smartwatch that packs advanced health and fitness tracking features into a sleek, colorful design, making it a standout option at its KSh 39,000 price point in Kenya. With its bright AMOLED display and impressive battery life, this smartwatch offers great value for anyone serious about tracking their health and fitness journey.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 specs and price
| Category | Feature |
|---|---|
| Sleep Insights | Sleep score and advanced sleep tracking |
| Battery Life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days (5 days with always-on display) |
| Battery Saver mode: Up to 21 days | |
| GPS-only mode: Up to 21 hours | |
| All-Systems GNSS mode: Up to 17 hours | |
| All-Systems GNSS with music: Up to 8 hours | |
| Pulse Ox | Yes (spot-check, optional all-day and sleep monitoring) |
| Garmin Pay | Yes |
| Music Storage | Yes |
| Display Type | AMOLED (optional always-on mode) |
| Display | Touchscreen |
| Water Rating | Swim, 5 ATM |
| Wheelchair Mode | Yes |
| Strap Material | Silicone |
| Lens Material | Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 |
| Bezel Material | Anodized aluminum |
| Case Material | Fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Quick Release Bands | Yes (20 mm, Industry standard) |
| Physical Size | 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1 mm |
| Fits Wrist Size | 125-190 mm |
| Weight | 23 g (36 g with band) |
| Display Size | 1.2″ (30.4 mm) |
| Display Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Battery Life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 11 days |
| Charging Method | Garmin proprietary plug charger |
| Memory/History | 4 GB |
| Clock Features | GPS Time Sync, Alarm clock, Timer, Stopwatch, Sunrise/sunset times |
| Health & Wellness | HR monitoring, Respiration rate, Fitness age, Body Battery™ energy monitor, Sleep coach, etc. |
| Sensors | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Pulse Ox, Thermometer (requires tempe™ sensor), etc. |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®, Garmin Connect™ Mobile, etc. |
| Smart Notifications | Text, Call rejection, Weather, Realtime sync, etc. |
| Compatibility | iPhone®, Android™ |
| Activity Profiles | Gym (HIIT, Strength, etc.), Wellness (Walking, Yoga, Pilates, etc.), Swim, Cycling, Running, etc. |
| Safety & Tracking Features | Incident detection, Assistance, LiveTrack |
| Gaming Features | GameOn™ app compatible |
| Activity Tracking | Step counter, Calories burned, Distance, Intensity minutes, Move IQ™, etc. |
| Training & Analysis | Customizable data pages, HR zones, HR alerts, VO2 Max, HRV status, Recovery time, etc. |
| Running Features | GPS-based distance, cadence, Running workouts, Auto Lap®, etc. |
| Golfing Features | Yardage, Automatic shot distance, Garmin AutoShot™, Digital scorecard, etc. |
| Outdoor Recreation | Area calculation, Fish forecast, Sun/Moon info, Back to start |
| Cycling Features | Varia™ radar compatibility, Speed/cadence sensor support (ANT+ or BLE), etc. |
| Swimming Features | Open-water swim metrics, Pool swim metrics, Stroke detection, Underwater HR, etc. |
| Languages | Multiple languages supported |
| Price in Kenya | KSh 39,000 |
Stunning AMOLED Display
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Vivoactive 5 is the vibrant AMOLED display. The colors pop, making it easy to read your stats at a glance, whether you’re outside on a sunny day or indoors. Plus, the display has an optional always-on mode, so you can always check your data without having to activate the screen manually. With a 1.2″ display and 390 x 390-pixel resolution, it’s sharp and clear enough to show all your important stats, including health metrics, workout data, and more.
Long Battery Life
The Vivoactive 5 doesn’t just impress with its display; it’s built to keep up with your active lifestyle. With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode (and up to 21 days in Battery Saver mode), you don’t have to worry about constantly charging it. Even with the display always on, you’ll get up to 5 days of use, which is more than enough for most users. Whether you’re using it for GPS tracking during a run, cycling session, or for everyday wear, the Vivoactive 5 can keep up without skipping a beat.
Body Battery & Sleep Insights
Garmin’s Body Battery energy monitoring feature takes personal health tracking to the next level. It helps you understand when you’re feeling energetic and when your body needs rest. This is incredibly useful for optimizing your workouts and recovery. Pair that with advanced sleep tracking and a personalized sleep coach, and you’ve got a detailed understanding of your overall health. The sleep score, HRV (heart rate variability) status, and sleep coaching offer actionable insights, helping you improve your rest and overall recovery.
Advanced Health Monitoring
The Vivoactive 5 offers a wide array of health monitoring features, including wrist-based heart rate tracking, stress tracking, and menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking. The device also includes morning reports, fitness age, and even meditation tools for mindfulness. For wheelchair users, the Vivoactive 5 includes wheelchair mode, which tracks pushes instead of steps, offering preloaded workouts and challenges tailored to the wheelchair community. This inclusivity makes it an excellent option for all types of users.
Fitness Tracking & Sports Apps
With more than 30 preloaded sports apps, the Vivoactive 5 has something for everyone. Whether you’re into walking, running, cycling, swimming, yoga, HIIT, or even golf, this smartwatch covers all your bases. For those looking to improve their fitness levels, the Vivoactive 5 offers advanced features such as workout benefits, which help you understand the impact of each workout on your body, and recovery time to ensure you’re allowing yourself the proper amount of rest between sessions.
Music and Workout Motivation
Music is a huge motivator during workouts, and the Vivoactive 5 delivers on that front as well. You can download your favorite playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer directly onto the watch, and pair it with your wireless headphones for a phone-free listening experience. This makes it a great companion for outdoor runs or gym sessions, allowing you to focus on your workout without distractions.
The Verdict
At KSh 39,000, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is packed with high-end features typically found in more expensive models. It offers superb battery life, an excellent AMOLED display, comprehensive health and fitness tracking, and an array of useful apps. Whether you’re an athlete, a wellness enthusiast, or someone just looking to improve your daily fitness routine, this smartwatch delivers everything you need — and more.
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