Garmin has released a new entry in its Vivoactive series . Imaginatively titled the Vivoactive 6 , this fitness tracker straddle the seam between fitness watch and full - squander smartwatch , not by offering more smart features than its sportier counsins , but instead by simply looking an painful lot more everyday . With a sleek and minimalist access to designing , Garmin belike hopes the Vivoactive 6 will be the fitness watch of choice for boardroom bandits , casual runners , and enthusiasts likewise .
I ’ll be dependable , I love a Vivoactive , and had experience reviewing the premature model , theGarmin Vivoactive 5 , which was a solid affair . But by trying to be for everyone , has Garmin reached too far ? Can the Vivoactive 6 hold up up to its pedigree , and hold up Garmin ’s good name ? Can its fresh features sustain up against full - blooded smartwatches like theApple Watch Series 10,Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 , andOnePlus Watch 3 ? I took the ticker for a spin for a few weeks to line up out .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: specs
Garmin Vivoactive 6: design and comfort
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is one of the most comfortable watches I ’ve had the pleasure of testing . I put it on , and quite simply , it disappears .
manifestly it ’s still there , but expect me if I ’m still assume it and I ’ll have to face to retard . In my few weeks wearing it , I ’ve forgotten I was wearing it multiple times , including draw a blank to alert security faculty before walk through a metal detector . dependable to say , the guard was not particularly centripetal to my enthusiastic review of its comfort .
I came from fag the OnePlus Watch 3 , which is n’t an uncomfortable scout to wear by any means , and scores luxuriously in term of wearability — but compare it to Garmin ’s watch and I might as well have link up a radiator to my wrist . Key is the proportional weights between the machine . At just 36 Gram with the shoulder strap confiscate , the Vivoactive 6 is under half the OnePlus Watch 3 ’s 81 gramme free weight . And that makes a self-aggrandizing difference . Speaking of the shoulder strap , the comfort extends to that too . I ’ve remark the shoulder strap is too tight multiple times , but not because I finger it rigorous against my radiocarpal joint , only because I tried to move it , and actualize it would n’t budge . If comfortableness is Martin Luther King Jr. for you , then this is your fitness watch .
It apportion this with other Garmin watches I ’ve fall apart , include the Vivoactive 5 and Forerunner 165 , which is probably because they , er , are quite exchangeable . Garmin has n’t changed up what is a very good design , and the Vivoactive 6 is largely the same as the Vivoactive 5 . Some of the buttons have changed shape , and the proprietary charging port is along the bottom of the twist ’s rear , not to one side , but at a glimpse , you ’d reckon they were the same watch .
That ’s not a literary criticism by any means . I relish how Garmin arrange little touches on each of its watch to show their specific niches within the roster . The Forerunner has a very clear sports - direction in its design , and one look at aFenixand you get it on that rugged son - of - a - gas pedal is built for dangerous undertaking . The slimline and silken Vivoactive 6 is Garmin ’s casual picket , and the figure shine that with a subtle and gently curved body , with an aluminium bezel around the 1.2 - inch AMOLED video display . It ’s have in mind to do its task without drawing inordinate attention to itself , and the design reflects that .
I ’m not a vast rooter of the white form I was sent , though . The colouring material is fine , but it definitely read crap more than the racy Vivoactive 5 did , and the strap is apparently physically ill-gotten — and render as I might , I ca n’t seem to scavenge it . If you do more with your watch than just wear it to the gym and back , then I would consider another colorway or put back the strap when it gets swampy .
If you ’re looking for a program line vigil , this is n’t that . It ’s also not the smartest - looking smartwatch . It ’s comparatively humble and subtle , and does its work without screaming about it .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: display and controls
The 1.2 - inch AMOLED exhibit is smaller than most other smartwatches I ’ve used recently , but do n’t let that put you off — as with the Vivoactive 5 , the display here is gorgeous . The AMOLED tech means it ’s every bit the adequate of choice you may corrupt from Apple or Samsung , with brilliant coloring material that pop off the screen , and cryptical inky blacks . At night , the watchface shifts into a red presentation , which dramatically improves the always - on show in the dark . It ’s still useable , but without blind you like other lookout tend to . It ’s a real bonus , and I ’m surprised I have n’t seen it on other smartwatches .
enduringness - wise , I ’m less impressed . I ’ve had the Vivoactive 6 for a dyad of calendar week now , and it ’s picked up a few scratches on the video display . I have n’t been rock climbing or any sort of especially uttermost variation , so it ’s safe to say this has happened during normal mundane life . It ’s a spot of a shame , but on the plus side , they ’re only really found around the edges of the display , so the chunky bezels hide them well , and they can only really be seen when you angle the watch just correct .
rhytidectomy - to - wake continue to be bad . I ’ve found it to be very treacherous , but this is for the most part just a good intellect to start the always - on showing . While I would unremarkably be hesitant to keep an always - on presentation on all the time due to the impact on the battery , the barrage fire is more than dependable enough to compensate — but more on that later .
On the whole , the Vivoactive 6 ’s showing is excellent . Yes , the bezels are enormous , and it ’s picked up quite a few scratches , but it ’s still opulently colorful , promising , and very readable . As ever , I ’m impressed with what Garmin brings to the mesa .
The ascendency scheme is solid . The Vivoactive 6 has a touchscreen you may use to swish through menus quickly , along with the two buttons arranged around the edges of the case . The top button spread out the scout ’s carte , and press it again , and it ’ll open up a listing of workout . Press it once more , and it ’ll take the first drill on the lean , and you could press it one last clip to start that exercise . Hold the top button and it ’ll open a quick preferences panel , where you could quickly on-off switch modes , or find your telephone . The bottom button is your back button , but if you admit it down you’re able to set up an app shortcut . As a control system , it ’s not the most visceral , and unless you ’re a seasoned Garmin substance abuser , you ’ll get lost a few fourth dimension .
Part of this is because there ’s no central app drawer . Because an app draftsman garner every function on your ticker , getting there will finally mean you get to what you desire without have to go back to the habitation CRT screen . Here , because each function call for you to go a specific mode , it ’s very prosperous to get lost . It gravel easy over metre , but I still terminate up hook through the wrong card fairly on a regular basis .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: fitness and health tracking
But all the honorable looks and comfort in the world do n’t entail a thing if this fitness watch does n’t chase well . And I ’m proud of to slake any of your fears in this regard , as the Vivoactive 6 is as excellent as ever .
Some of Garmin ’s former missteps are still there — like the dull - as - dishwater exhibit during exercises — but there have also been some improvements to Garmin ’s overall seaworthiness tracking .
There are still a massive number of exercises to peck from , and you may clean and choose what shows up on yourActivitiesscreen using theEditbutton at the bottom of the tilt , or by using the Connect app on your earphone .
raw for me is the power to vary your exercise before starting it . Before start an employment , you could set your targets or interval , browse a library of premature physical exertion , follow a carry through program , or even your preceding ego , like aMario Kartghost . you could also choose a map trend to follow , change your setting , and even the screen that will show during your usage , all from your scout . It ’s a vast hike from the previous Vivoactive watch , and one that ’s very welcome . It could be a shade overwhelming if you desire to just run , but open up the menu is completely optional , so you could just bypass it solely if you ’re not concerned .
Sleep tracking is unspoiled , but not sodding . I ’ve had some nights of wiped out sleep , and the Vivoactive 6 has very clearly missed some nights with shorter periods of sleep . Nothing major , only an hour or less , but it has been missed , and that ’s deserving mentioning . MySamsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classicwould incline to pick those up , but the Garmin watch is n’t alone in missing them , as the OnePlus Watch 3 also tended to lose them too . It ’s not a Brobdingnagian deal though , as it ’s far from the usual way you ’d wait eternal rest trailing to be used , and I ’m more than uncoerced to forgive it otherwise .
But of all the feature film Garmin has let in , it ’s the Body Battery I love the most . Samsung has attempted to previously caricature this feature , but only Garmin has really blast it . trunk Battery is Garmin ’s way of estimating quite how much energy you have left in you for the mean solar day . It ’s refilled whenever you rest and gradually depletes as you undertake activities , and it ’s peculiarly useful if you ’re take care to see whether you should cool off or push harder . It ’s not an absolute scale , and you wo n’t break if you let it run all the elbow room down , but it is a fun path of view quite how much vigor you ’ve expended during the daytime , or how much you ’ve go back at night .
With that said , some element are still a bit disappointing . I was hop the rubbish inactivity warnings from the Vivoactive 5 had been fixed , but they ’re just as inaccurate as ever , and it ’s often pinged me to tell me to start moving while I ’m in the midsection of an activity . Thankfully , you could turn those off , so it ’s not much more than an botheration for the very jump .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: performance and smart features
I was felicitous with the public presentation of the Vivoactive 5 at the time of my revaluation , but the moment I move on to the Forerunner 165 , I was struck by how much smoother and faster that watch was . Thankfully , the Vivoactive 6 rent its cues from its jazzy brethren , and is very fast and very politic during economic consumption . While the previous entry in the roll was n’t slow , it did sometimes sense as if it was lagging behind slightly , and the Vivoactive 6 has avoided that completely . While execution is n’t as huge an result for a fitness watch like this , it ’s certainly skillful to have .
It ’s clear Garmin is making improvements where the “ smart ” features of its watches are concerned . The Vivoactive 6 is n’t sound to really challengethe best smartwatchesout there , but you ’ll no longer miss some features when strapping on your seaworthiness watch . There ’s a media player , which will meditate your smartwatch and permit you to curb your listening from your phone . you may also sign into a number of medicine apps on your watch and download playlists to mind to on headphones . It ’s a great style to listen to tune on a campaign without take to take your phone with you .
You also have notification mirroring , same as the previous watch — but now , as well as post give notice responses to content , you’re able to also use the on - screen keyboard to compose and send response . This featuretechnicallyexisted on the Vivoactive 5 , but it bizarrely needed the Garmin app open your phone to type and broadcast , severely curtailing its usefulness . That ’s no longer the case , and it means the Vivoactive 6 is a much more subject smartwatch - option . Sure , it ’s no Apple Watch , but it ’s no longer a completely incapable .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: battery and charging
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a fitness watch first and a smartwatch second ( more on that later ) , and the fitness watch fleck chair when it come to the bombardment life . With all wellness trailing features and the always - on display enable , the Vivoactive 6 endure for up to five days . That ’s an special life-time if you ’re used to a traditional smartwatch , quiver out even the long - hold out OnePlus Watch 3 . grow off the always - on showing , and Garmin claims the Vivoactive 6 will last for 11 days . I ’d only recommend doing this if you ’re happy dealing with the unreliable lift - to - rouse function .
Charging comes via a proprietary charger , and it ’s a piddling sluggish . turn on the tiny battery cellphone from 15 % to full took just over an time of day , which is n’t anywhere near as quick as it could be . Still , it ’s comfortable to forgive if you ’re only charging once or twice a week . Stick it on to file while you shower in the morning and you should n’t ask to accuse at any other clock time .
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a fast , long - lasting piece of tech that makes the most of Garmin ’s lightweight operating organisation .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: companion app and Garmin Connect+ subscription
out of doors of the Connect+ features , Connect is still very expert . While you could do quite a bit on the spotter itself , it ’s here you ’ll set up breeding plans , look up videos , sign up for new challenge , and other similar tasks . It ’s well made and not perplexing to use at all , and the datum is as encompass or easily ignored as you care . If I have one problem with it , it ’s that Garmin continues to separate the watchface and app store into its own app , Connect IQ .
In fairness to Garmin , Connect IQ is great . I love the act of watchfaces on crack , and while there are n’t anywhere near as many apps on it as there would be for watchOS or Wear OS , there are enough staples like Spotify that Garmin ’s app store at least justifies its macrocosm . But I just can not fathom why it continues to be a completely separate app .
Garmin Vivoactive 6: price and availability
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is currently available from the Garmin webstore and a phone number of other retailers . It costs $ 300 , and there are no additional upgrade to get on top of that — no larger sized variants , and no LTE upgrades . You get four colorways to pick from though : Lunar Gold with a Bone band , slating with a sinister band , Metallic Jasper Green with a Jasper Green banding , and Metallic Pink Dawn with Pink Dawn band . Personally I ’d buy the Jasper Green , but you may also customize your sentinel directly from the Garmin store if you desire a different dance orchestra or combination .
Should you buy the Garmin Vivoactive 6?
What is the Garmin Vivoactive 6 ?
Well , it ’s authoritative to note that this is not a full - fledged smartwatch . If you ’re looking for an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch - flair equipment , then this is not the equipment for you . It has a few third - company apps , but it has nowhere near the app accompaniment you ’ll detect on wear out o or watchOS . If a partiality , shiny smartwatch is what you ’re after , then stay away from the Vivoactive 6 .
But , if you ’re look for a fitness spotter that can stretch into smartwatch territory , then this is a swell alternative . If you ’re looking for a gadget with big health and fitness tracking that you do n’t need to charge very often , then this should be in your basket . Or , if you ’re a keen athlete of any stripe , then Garmin is always going to be a very good option , disregardless of the specific fashion model .
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is an extremely comfortable seaworthiness watch with enough smarts to keep my smartwatch itch fray , while also keep open enough in the armoured combat vehicle to last for four - to - five Clarence Day on a individual billing with everything turned on . The Vivoactive 6 is an exceptional equipment , and I have loved every moment with it .
But what about challenger ? As mention , the Apple Watch Series 10 , Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 , and OnePlus Watch 3 are all very potent rival from the smartwatch side , while on the physical fitness tracker side , you could also deliberate theGarmin Forerunner 165for $ 250 . Fitbit do some first-class fitness tracker too , include theFitbit Charge 6 , or even the mightyGoogle Pixel Watch 3 , which straddles the fittingness and smartwatch divide , with a stronger lean on the smartwatch side .
finally the Garmin Vivoactive 6 is exactly what it seems : a competent fittingness watch with a honest smartwatch side to it . The insidious design will invoke to those who do n’t like the jazzy design of many fitness watches , and the long assault and battery life will sate those who just ca n’t abide the idea of charging a smartwatch every Clarence Day . At a cost of $ 300 , the Garmin Vivoactive 6 is absolutely deserving your money if you need a great fitness and wellness tracker , but do n’t want everyone to immediately know about your gym days .
