Garmin Vivosmart 5 vs Garmin Vivosmart 4 | Fitness Tech Review

[@Alice_Walker]

I've had my 4 for almost 3 years and really like it. It does automatically upload to the app via Bluetooth. I wear mine 24/7 and the sleep tracking is just OK, I wish there was an option to start/complete sleep tracking on the watch. But overall I'm very happy with it. I'm about to replace mine as the altometer has gone haywire and it thinks that I'm climbing stairs wherever I go and I've lost the plastic edging that clicks in around the screen but it's been great value for money and I love only needing to charge it once a week (I generally leave the oxygen sensor off). I think I'll go for another 4 as I really like that it's so small which is why I chose it in the first place. Appreciate this video for the side by side comparison to help me decide.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I'm glad I could help. If you're looking for that more accurate reading for sleep I would recommend to put the Pulse Ox on, but you will lose it on battery life. Good luck on your fitness journey

[@bobmarianna]

I was going to point out that my Vivosmart 2 automaticallly uploads and that I don't think they would have taken that away on the 4, then I saw your post. Thanks for confirming.

[@Alice_Walker]

@@bobmarianna no worries, I'm actually still using the same one. It's a workhorse 😊

[@legitlyspelunking]

I've used a vivosmart 4 since 2019, so 4 years now. (Gone through 2 units, had one replaced by tech support, amazing experience dealing with them!) I love the simplicity of the 4 and saw there was a new version so wanted to compare. I'll stick with what I have since it still works great, but when it kicks the bucket I'd be happy to try the 5 (unless another new model comes out) 😊

[@mijnnaampje]

It's funny that the 4 looks way better than the 5. Weird also. Why did they make it bigger while the most basic USP of those bands is to be small. I mean, if I want a bigger one, there are plenty other options like a normal smartwatch. Strange choice in my opinion. I have a Fitbit Luxe now for its size and will choose a Vivosmart 4 over the 5 just because it's way smaller.

[@flyntwick]

I like the larger form factor. Feels more like a watch and less like a bracelet without the "fluff" and garbage battery life most watches have - like a fitness tracker should, imo

[@kleitosaliagas5668]

​@@flyntwick, I think people like me and the op want to wear mechanical watches but still have discreet fitness trackers that connect to phones.

[@Ninnisha]

Honestly this. My vivosmart 4 needs to be replaced because the band is breaking, and I wanted to go to 5. But the reason I chose this one over otehr garmin ones with way more functions is just how small and light it is. The new model being much bigger makes me think maybe I need to buy the 4 again, even though the 5 has some better things like repleceable band and better charger.

[@michadebicki6534]

​@@kleitosaliagas5668 or high end quartz watches! Don't discredit a nice HAQ on the wrist! :D

[@nazrighazali]

Been using vivosmart4 for 3 years now. My first fitness watch. I like that it’s small and lightweight that you barely noticed it on your wrist. The features I like are sleep tracking, body battery, Blood O2 and phone GPS combo.

[@sergiu-ionutfasola9062]

Great video mate! Thank you for the straightforward differences between the 2 and final thoughts. A real helpful video, that decisively made my mind on the choice. Cheers!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I'm so glad I could help. Good luck on your fitness journey!

[@kalimnaleopop6212]

Does either have heart rate variability ??

[@BioLogicalNerd]

The replaceable band is kind of a big deal for me- with the V4 lasting around 1.5 years before needing total replacement because the band breaks and buying another V4- same problem occured a year later.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

It is pretty frustrating that they haven't figured that out

[@McGregor323]

Can't found the price for replacable band 🤔😏

[@beepbopboop3221]

Replaceable band is game changer. My Vivosmart 4 is held together with fishing line right now.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Oh geez. How long have you had it?

[@beepbopboop3221]

@@FitnessWithFrost Since December 2019. The band broke where the buckly latched. An expected stress point, I suppose. Fishing line is the magic fix. Way better than duct tape which needed to be replaced a lot. I never had this happen with Vivofit 3, which is still my backup pedometer.

[@kimicub7712]

@@beepbopboop3221 You can request a replacement from Garmin!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Thank you for that reply. I think I missed this one

[@mumonatightbudget]

​@@kimicub7712 I've had a vivosmart 3 and 2 vivosmart 4 s break at the same part of the strap but have never managed to get a replacement from Garmin 😔

[@damiengrief]

Do you think the vivosmart 5 is good as a companion to a higher end Garmin? I have the Forerunner 945 that I love but I tend to only wear it when running and sleeping. I prefer to wear a real mechanical watch during the day - especially when I go out. So it'd be nice to have something small to wear on my other wrist to keep tracking my steps, heartrate, etc. Plus I could wear this to sleep instead of the larger Garmin watch (assuming their sleep tracking accuracy is similar). I had an Amazon Halo for daytime tracking for a bit, but I stopped wearing it when their trail subscription ended. Garmin provides me all the data and features Amazon was charging for for free and it's nice to have all my data in one place.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I think this would be exactly what you are looking for. It's much more accurate than the halo band as well

[@damiengrief]

Thanks! How is the sleep tracking compared to the Forerunner 945? Do you know?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I would say very comparable, but I don't have any data on it sadly

[@damiengrief]

No worries. Thanks so much for the advice.

[@andreayaquil]

Does it require you a bit of effort to push the button on your VS5?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Not really that much, but there is enough travel on the button that there isn't that many accidental presses

[@RAH_BLISS]

Straight to the point!!! Thank you

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I'm glad I could help!

[@RAH_BLISS]

@@FitnessWithFrost It's on my wrist right now!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Awesome I hope you like it!

[@supjay3945]

I tried smart watches but those were still too bulky for my taste and apps did alot except none of it was practical. Got a used vivosmart 4 for 60$. Did what I wanted and was small on my wrists. Perhaps the vivosmart 5 can finally replace my vivo4?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I think you will be very happy with the 5. What are the reasons you are looking to upgrade?

[@supjay3945]

@@FitnessWithFrost better heart rate sensor, ability to display heartrate on main screen as the v4 does not stay in hr view after alotted time, and better heart rate zone alert. I have not yet researched the v5 if these features are present.

[@veronikastanitz5558]

Pretty useful! Thanks for your inputs!👍

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I'm glad I could help!

[@artmaltman]

Does the #5 count stair master as exercise at all? For example does it count each stair as a step? Would hate to have stairs be the same as sleeping! Thanks for the great comparison.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

When you are on the stair master are you grabbing handles?

[@artmaltman]

@@FitnessWithFrost I never grab handles on a stair master. Good question!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

As long as your arms are free and moving it should count them as steps

[@jzen1455]

I had the Vivosmart 4 but if fell off my wrist unbeknownst to me. I'm thinking about getting either the Vivosmart 5 or Fitbit Luxe. It's a tough choice. I think Vivosmart is better for the metrics I find most important--heart rate, stress, recovery--than the Luxe except for sleep tracking, which I weigh heavily in importance. I'm also not a fan of having to pay for premium service with Fitbit. I'm thinking about buying a cheap used Fitbit to for sleep tracking only and use Vivosmart for everything else.

[@TheSilence1]

If you want to make the best use of the Garmin Body Battery feature then you have to wear the Garmin at night. So how do you feel about wearing both devices at night when you could be wearing one?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I would tend to agree with the silence. I would try and just use the Vivosmart 5. It has better sleep tracking than the 4 too

[@kleitosaliagas5668]

Smaller form factor is a huge plus with the 4...

[@LQ-gaming]

Can you add a chest strap like the HRM Dual to any of these 2?

[@0deepak]

Is the heart sensor better on VS5?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Heart rate sensors on both have about the same accuracy, but you will see better blood oxygen and sleep data with the 5

[@0deepak]

@@FitnessWithFrost Thanks for the response! You are awesome!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Thank you so much! Good luck on your fitness journey

[@BacaBaconi]

Great video 👍 My Garmin Vivosmart 4 keeps resetting literally 20 times a day, the Garmin app on the PC doesn't help, what should I do?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Contactt Garmin on that..I can be a defective unit

[@BacaBaconi]

@@FitnessWithFrost thanks 👍

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Good luck

[@MDhealing]

My concern is being able to turn on and off Bluetooth connectivity, I don't want it on all the time, and definitely don't want during sleep... My thoughts were I could just have it sync when I want it to and turn it off in other times... I just bought the 4,what do you think?

[@MDhealing]

I'm thinking of trying the 5 now though for sleep scores, will that also work with connectivity... I also don't care for any notifications as in I get entry from my phone and want this now to track sleep and a few vitals during work outs and then sync up at my own convenience to get it all tracked

[@mumonatightbudget]

You can turn Bluetooth off on the 4 and probably the 5

[@sveronih5376]

They should have added the Altimeter on the 5!

[@mochar2027]

Thanks for the video. I had a garmin vivofit 3. Lasted me forever and it finally broke. Now I have to find a replacement. Debating on the vivosmart 5 or the Halo View but I hear the band on that Halo keeps breaking.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Yeah I'm not a fan of the halo at all. It wasn't very accurate for me either. You will be very happy with the 5

[@LuvDMB3641]

I hated the halo

[@victormedeiros3523]

Hi. Very good comparison. I have a question about The Garmin Vivosmart 4, is this product reply notifications?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

You can, but only on Android and you have to pick from a custom set of replies. Hopefully that is helpful

[@victormedeiros3523]

@@FitnessWithFrost Got It! It's the same as Garmin watches.

[@victormedeiros3523]

@@FitnessWithFrost Other question about the garmin vivosmart 4, this prdouct has a ciclism mode?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

There is a biking profile on the Vivosmart 4

[@victormedeiros3523]

@@FitnessWithFrost got it! Thanks! 😉

[@ebenhaizer]

does vivosmart 5 great for iphone user?

[@FitnessWithFrost]

Most definitely. It has all the same functionality on the iPhone that it does on Android

[@curtott3396]

I wonder why they removed the altimeter that measured stairs climbed, was it just not accurate and so not worth keeping? Other than that, I'm glad the screen is bigger! Wonder how the face will hold up to scratches over time.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I think the biggest reason is that it's more of a niche need. A lot of altitude data can be out in after the fact with GPS data

[@maxquaini]

Aww cool! Thanks for the comparison, the sleep accuracy is gonna be the main reason I'm gonna be upgrading!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

I'm glad I could help. Good luck on your fitness journey

[@maxquaini]

@@FitnessWithFrost you definitely did! Thank you!

[@danielpunton5943]

Insights are not good. They're annoying always wrong - youre heart rate is too high when your sitting down and you should get activity when you're already running. Dumb, wrong and dont stay turned off. Gone back to 4 for this reason only. I'd like to think the software will improve but anyone whose been with Garmin knows software updates usually break not fix stuff.

[@FitnessWithFrost]

How long did you have yours for?

[@zesuper]

Thanks!

[@FitnessWithFrost]

No problem. I'm glad I could help

[@maeve4385]

🙂

[@FitnessWithFrost]

😀

[@dariito72]