Garmin vivoactive 5 vs vivoactive 6: Which Should You Buy?
Older model against its successor: the vivoactive 6 keeps the screen and battery, and adds storage, features and sports profiles.
Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED Touchscreen
Garmin Garmin vívoactive 6, 42mm GPS smartwatch, AMOLED touchscreen
Side by side
| Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED | Garmin vívoactive 6, 42mm GPS smartwatch | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | See on Amazon → | See on Amazon → |
| Rating | ★★★★★ 4.5 | ★★★★★ 4.6 |
| Review count | 12,330 | 3,210 |
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Highlights |
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Our verdict
The vivoactive 6 is the newer model and the one to buy if the price gap is small. It keeps the same 1.2-inch AMOLED screen and the 11-day smartwatch battery rating, but adds double the storage, a Smart Wake alarm, running dynamics and power, course following and many more sport profiles. The vivoactive 5 still makes sense if you find it noticeably cheaper and don't need those extras. Neither has a barometric altimeter.
Which one is for you?
- Suits casual walkers, gym-goers and first-time Garmin buyers who want an AMOLED watch with good battery and don't need advanced running metrics. Read our full look at the Garmin vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch, AMOLED →
- Suits runners and music users who want the extra running features, a smart alarm and 8GB of storage for offline playlists. Read our full look at the Garmin vívoactive 6, 42mm GPS smartwatch →
What's the same
DC Rainmaker's rundown says the two share the same 42mm case and 1.2-inch AMOLED display, and Garmin quotes the same battery for both: up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and about 21 hours in GPS mode. His article also lists the same 23g weight for both, though other sites' tables disagree, so check Garmin's spec sheet if weight matters to you.
Both use Garmin's Gen4 optical heart rate sensor and both support offline music. Neither has a barometric altimeter, so elevation-based features are limited.
What the vivoactive 6 adds
The vivoactive 6 doubles internal storage from 4GB to 8GB, which is the biggest change for anyone loading music. It adds Smart Wake, a vibration alarm that wakes you up to 30 minutes before your set time during a lighter sleep phase.
Running features get an upgrade: running dynamics, running power, PacePro and course following. DC Rainmaker also lists a compass, Daily Suggested Walk workouts, workout animations and a Mobility profile, plus 8 data fields per page instead of 4 and a brighter display. It adds BeiDou and QZSS satellite support, though it's still not dual-frequency. The listings put the sports apps at more than 80 on the 6, against more than 30 on the vivoactive 5.
Battery in real use
Both carry the same quoted 11 days. In its vivoactive 5 review, Digital Trends reported about 10 days with the always-on display off, falling to roughly 4 to 5 days with it on. Expect the same shape of result from the 6, since the rating hasn't changed, but we haven't seen a measurement for it on a page we could open.
Phone compatibility and who should skip both
If you want ECG, a cellular option or tight iPhone integration, look at the Apple Watch SE 3 vs Series 11 comparison. Browse more in wearable technology.
Questions people ask
What's the difference between vivoactive 5 and 6?
The 6 adds 8GB storage (up from 4GB), Smart Wake, running power and dynamics, course following and many more sport profiles. Display size and battery rating are unchanged.
Is the vivoactive 6 worth upgrading to from the 5?
Only if you want the running features, Smart Wake or more music storage. The screen and quoted battery life are the same.
Does the vivoactive 6 have better battery life?
No. Garmin quotes up to 11 days in smartwatch mode for both, and DC Rainmaker lists the same 21 hours of GPS.
Does either have an altimeter?
No. DC Rainmaker says neither has a barometric altimeter.
Can I store music on the vivoactive 5 or 6?
Both support offline music; the 6 has double the storage at 8GB.
Sources
- DC Rainmaker, Garmin vivoactive 6 details article
- Digital Trends, Garmin vivoactive 5 review
Prices are pulled live from Amazon.
Prices move around, so always confirm on Amazon before deciding. Browse more options in Wearable Technology or see the whole Electronics department. New to the category? Start with our buying guide.