More than three years after the release of the previous model, the Garmin Vívosmart 5 is released with a larger display, but still black and white.
Released in the fall of 2018, Garmin’s Vívosmart 4 was an alternative to connected watches by integrating a number of health and activity monitoring technologies: heart rate and SpO2 sensors, stress and sleep monitoring, Body Battery energy… Enough to ensure complete monitoring while remaining discreet on the wrist. In 2022, the American manufacturer is therefore introducing the successor to this bracelet, the Vívosmart 5. This retains the format and spirit of the previous version, but benefits from a larger touch screen to improve its comfort of use.
We go from a rectangular screen of 6.6 x 17.7 mm to a screen of 10.5 x 18.5 mm, an increase of 66% of the display surface. The definition increases on the way, going from 48 x 128 px to 88 x 154 px. No change to the Oled technology used, which unfortunately remains monochrome. The Vívosmart 5, however, gains a physical button to accompany an interface that is still mainly tactile.
With a larger screen and despite the disappearance of the aluminum bezel that gave a chic side to the Vívosmart 4, the Vívosmart 5 is logically a little wider, reaching 19.5 mm against 15 mm for its predecessor. Fortunately, it retains its thinness, remaining under 11 mm thick (10.7 mm against 10.5 mm). Garmin offers its bracelet in two sizes: S/M for wrists with a circumference between 122 and 188 mm and L for those between 148 and 228 mm. The case is identical in both cases, the only changes concerning the length of the bracelet and the total mass (26.5 g in size L, 24.5 g in S/M). The silicone strap is also interchangeable, Garmin already offering three colors: black, white and water green.
In terms of features, compared to its predecessor, the Vívosmart 5 gains a sleep score, VO2 Max calculation, calendar function and incident detection during outdoor activities with an assistance function ( automatic sending of messages with location information via smartphone). The bracelet also offers 15 sports modes, compared to 11 previously, its functionalities generally corresponding to those of the Vívomove Sport connected watch, according to Garmin.
On the battery life front, the built-in lithium battery can provide up to seven days of operation, according to Garmin, if sleep quality tracking is disabled (SpO2 sensor inactive overnight).
Like all Garmin connected bracelets and watches, the Vívosmart 5 works in concert with the Garmin Connect application (iOS and Android) and does not require a subscription, specifies the manufacturer. A small poke at the competition and in particular at the Fitbit Charge 5 which requires a Fitbit Premium subscription at €8.99  per month to take advantage of all its features. The Charge 5, however, benefits from a larger, color OLED screen, an ECG function and a GPS chip that the Vívosmart 5 lacks. The latter retains the price advantage, being displayed at €149.99. The Fitbit Charge 5 is currently at the same price, but you must therefore add a subscription plan to take full advantage of it, which Garmin refuses to do for its products currently. We will try to verify if the Vívosmart 5 keeps its promises during a test that we hope to be able to carry out in the coming weeks.