Wear Action

Garmin’s recent announcement about three new wearable devices is pretty exciting, even if it’s drowned out a little due to the new Fitbit and Apple Watch announcements. But the GPS smartwatch Vivoactive 3, which is replacing the, um, less aesthetic Vivoactive HR, is worth paying attention to.

We really loved the Vivoactive HR, so this update is simultaneously welcome and a bit concerning. Would Garmin change the things we love? What changes would they make and how would they affect the overall functionality of the device? And, when we first saw the device, one big question is, how is this different form the Vivomove HR?

Luckily, it appears that Garmin has only made good changes and kept everything we loved about the earlier iteration.

Looks-wise, the 3 is A LOT different from the HR – and that’s a good thing. The Vivoactive HR was not the prettiest device. The 3 has the round screen face and looks a lot more like a watch. The Vivoactive 3 is now primed to compete against the new crop of smartwatches from Fitbit, Apple, and Samsung. But before we compare it to anything else on the market, let’s take a look at how it stacks up on its own.

Design

Like the new Vivomove HR, the Vivoactive 3 has a big emphasis on design. It has the rounded face shape instead of the square, blocky style of the Vivoactive HR, which is a welcome change for sure. It comes in three different colors/finishes, and the face itself is customizable. You can be sure you’ll find a style that fits yours.

One design area where the Vivoactive 3 cannot compete with other smartwatches is in the look of the display itself. While it has an always-on, readable screen, its sharpness and color do not match its competitors’. However, taken on its own, the screen display and design is perfectly acceptable.

In terms of comfort and function, the Viovactive 3 is worth checking out. It is comfortable to wear and the display functions are intuitive and easy to operate.

Tracking

In the tracking category, the Vivoactive 3 really excels, which doesn’t come as a surprise. The HR was well loved because of its tracking features; the 3 keeps and advances plenty of those. For example, the watch tracks 15 sports, including yoga and swimming, in addition to counting reps and tracking your golf game.

Because the 3 includes built-in GPS, the sports options are very useful and extensive. Some other sports included are stand-up paddle boarding and snowboarding – the Vivoactive 3 will carry you from spring to winter and keep track of all your activities.

There are some cool additions that Garmin has introduced on other devices, such as treadmill distance calibration and stress monitoring. All of these make for a really well-rounded smartwatch/fitness tracker.

Tracking and monitoring stress is enhanced by the Elevate Optical HR sensor – the most advanced HR sensor yet, which also tracks heart rate variability to help you focus on overall wellness and stress reduction. The Vivoactive 3 tracks sleep, too, of course, and all of that data is available through the Garmin app.

Features

The Vivoactive 3 boasts a range of features that make it an appealing smartwatch. Here are some of the included features:

• Water Resistant: Rated SWIM, take the Vivoactive 3 in the pool or the shower
• Smart Notifications: See smart phone notifications and control music from your wrist
• Garmin Pay: The first Garmin device with contactless mobile payments
• Built-in GPS: Like its predecessor, the Vivoactive 3 includes built-in GPS
• Fitness Level Monitoring: Including VO2 max and fitness age

The Vivoactive 3 is chock-full of features – these are just a few of them. Battery life is estimated to be up to 7 days but will be significantly less when you’re connected to GPS or using other features.

This device has essentially all the features you want from a smartwatch, but it has a focus on fitness. This makes it a worthy opponent to any of the similarly-priced smartwatches out there.

Verdict

It’s hard not to think about our overall impressions of the Vivoactive 3 without comparing it to the other recently announced smartwatches. It directly competes with the Fitbit Ionic because of price, tracking functions, and features. It is about $100 less than the Apple Watch but still has many of the same appealing features – adding Garmin Pay definitely ups the game. It stands on its own even without comparisons, though. It’s a well-designed and feature-rich smartwatch/fitness tracker.

Check the price of the Vivoactive 3

Garmin’s recent announcement of their new offerings to the lineup of smartwatches on the market is actually pretty exciting. One of the two new Garmin activity tracker/smartwatches available for preorder is the Vivomove HR. The Vivomove HR is the newly updated version of Garmin’s hybrid smartwatch. It has a big emphasis on design, but its functionality and specs make it a big contender in the war for your wrist space.

Design

Design in key in the Vivomove HR. It boasts a gorgeous minimalist design and looks like an analog watch. Additionally, there are plenty of options to customize the look. The Vivomove HR’s screen is touchscreen and the display is virtually hidden – it shows the info you want when you want it but otherwise looks just like a regular watch.

The Sport and Premium design options are all really good looking. Garmin has targeted women with the Rose Gold design, making it one of the few smartwatch options that look distinctly feminine. However, it’s still a bit big, so it’s another smartwatch that doesn’t exactly cater to women with small wrists.

The Discreet Display screen is a gorgeous feature of this watch, but the drawback to that discretion is that it can be hard to read in bright sunlight. Despite that, the display is readable and useful. The watch hands even move up and out of the way so as not to interfere with the display.

Tracking

As the name implies, the Vivomove HR tracks your heart rate 24/7. It tracks more than just that: it functions as an activity tracker and wellness monitor. Here are some of the tracking features it includes:

• Stress: Measures heart rate variability and stress levels
• Fitness: Measures VO2 max and fitness age, as well as intensity minutes
• Inactivity and Steps: Keeps track of movement – including steps and distance – and lets you know when you’ve been inactive
• Heart Rate: Comprehensive data related to zones, alerts, and calories via optical HR sensor
• Sleep: Keep track of patterns and amounts

All in all, the tracking features of the Vivomove HR are pretty comprehensive. The overall look at your health and wellness through fitness tracking and wellness monitoring functions well to help you work toward better health.

The data from all that tracking goes to the Garmin app where you can review and share information. 

Features

The features of the Vivomove HR beyond the fitness tracking are pretty sweet, too. It is water resistant – Garmin rates it “Swim,” which means it is suitable for showering, swimming, and diving.

Another cool feature is “Four-Fold Breath,” which helps you relax and breathe. This is a great addition that pairs well with the stress tracking and long-term data related to your overall wellness.

The battery life on the Vivomove HR is in line with other smartwatches. Garmin says it will last five days in smart mode and up to two weeks in watch mode. Unfortunately, the Vivomove HR uses a proprietary charger instead of a universal one (or even the same one used on several other Garmin devices).

Finally, the device does include smart notifications and music controls, making it a well-rounded hybrid watch. It has a ton of notification options, and the music control is intuitive and responsive.

Verdict

There are a few things we don’t love about the Vivomove HR: it doesn’t have built in GPS, the display can be hard to read in bright light, and the Premium model is a bit expensive.

Having said that, there is a lot to be excited about in the Vivomove HR. The tracking capabilities and data are comprehensive and useful. The design is gorgeous and there are several options that should make shoppers happy. It’s really the design itself that we think will appeal to most; the fact that it has so many neat additional features and a inclusive focus on overall wellness makes it an easy sell.

Preorder the Vivomove HR