The Vivoactive 3 isn't like the Apple Watch Series 3—you can't speak through the watch and take a phone call on the device, but you can accept an incoming call from the display and immediately begin talking through your smartphone.
Features. The Vivoactive 3 boasts a range of features that make it an appealing smartwatch. Water Resistant: Rated SWIM, so you can wear the Vivoactive 3 in the pool or the shower.
If you're into pool sessions, Garmin tends to be more reliable accuracy-wise for longer sessions, more metrics, swimming-focused features. No Fitbits offer open water swim tracking either if that's something you're after.
The vivoactive 3, vivoactive 3 Music, and vivoactive 3 Music (Verizon) have the ability to load golf courses1 from your smartphone using the Garmin Connect App. It is necessary for the watch to be paired and connected to Garmin Connect App through your phone in order to use the golf app.
The main appeal of the Vivoactive 4 was adding in a second button – making it easier to use for sport scenarios, but also a slew of more general fitness features. Aspects like structured yoga workouts. And unlike the Vivoactive 3/Vivoactive 3 Music, all editions of the Vivoactive 4 have music.
Apple Watch Series 3 v Garmin Vivoactive 3: DesignUsually when comparing the designs of these two companies, Apple would win in a landslide. The Vivoactive 3 holds a display of 240 x 240, while the Series 3 wins out by providing a dazzling 390 x 312 display in the 42mm variant.
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is a smartwatch with a 1.2-inch touchscreen color LCD display, compatible with iOS and Android and includes step counting, sleep tracking, and calories burned.
If you're a Spotify Premium subscriber, you can now download and listen to playlists on the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music. Now that Spotify support has landed on the watch, you can download and listen to playlists, albums, tracks and podcasts directly from the watch using Bluetooth headphones.
Best Garmin Smartwatch 2020
- Best Overall: Garmin Vivoactive 4.
- Best Value: Garmin Vivoactive 3.
- Best Hybrid: Garmin Vivomove HR.
- Best Lifestyle Watch: Garmin Venu Sq.
- Best for Beginners: Garmin Forerunner 45.
- Best for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 945.
- Best for Adventurers: Garmin Fenix 6.
- Best Upgrade Pick: Garmin Forerunner 745.
The 18 Best Fitness Watches to Track Your Workouts?
- Apple Watch Series 6. Apple Watch Series 6.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
- Fitbit Sense. Fitbit Sense.
- Garmin Forerunner 745. Forerunner® 745.
- Garmin Venu Sq. Garmin Venu Sq.
- Apple Watch SE.
- Fitbit Versa 3.
- Polar Vantage M Fitness Watch.
The Vivoactive 3 uses its heart rate sensor to measure your V02 max score, or what your fitness age is, and monitor your stress levels throughout the day. The Garmin Connect app stores public information from other Garmin users about popular courses and segments, and compares your data against them.
The new Vivoactive 4 is available in 45mm and a model called the 4S, which is 40mm. The only difference between the two models is size and battery performance. The standard Vivoactive 3 gives you seven days in smartwatch mode and 13 hours in GPS mode.
If not for its connectivity problems, the Versa 2 would be an excellent smartwatch. It offers accurate, comprehensive fitness features and a nice design for a reasonable price. It's also one of the longest-lasting smartwatches around, while the Alexa integration makes it more useful than its predecessor.
The Charge 3 is a fitness wristband, while the Versa is a proper sports watch. If you're looking for more of an accessory, the Charge 3 makes more sense. It's smaller, sleeker, and looks like less a fitness device than does the Versa, which is great for office environments, weddings, etc.
You can read your texts on your Garmin Vivosmart HR, but you can't send them. The Garmin Vivosmart HR isn't a smartwatch like an Apple Watch or other Wear OS device. Unfortunately, once you receive these notifications, including those for text, you can't really do anything with them from your Vivosmart HR.
The vivomove HR will allow you to answer phone calls, clear notifications and music. The most impressive feature in this package is the wrist-based H.R.To fit all of the other functionality such as the screen, Bluetooth sensors, accelerometers and of course the actual watch is impressive.
The Vivomove HR is water-resistant up to 50 meters, so it's shower and swim ready.
Accuracy. Walking around, the Garmin Vivomove HR reported acceptably accurate data for step counts. After a mile of walking, readings were in the range of 2,000 steps (which is not only the estimated average, but also about the average number I've recorded for myself using a manual click-counter).
As long as your Garmin device with a heart rate sensor is rated water-resistant, wear it in the shower. You want to make sure after you shower to rinse off any soap residue that may have gotten under the band and sensor and completely dry the device as well.
Many Garmin watches feature a widget that allows you to control music being played on a smartphone that is paired through the Garmin Connect app.
- Open Garmin Connect app.
- Select More (lower right)
- Select Settings.
- Select Phone Permissions.
- If any permissions say OFF, select Manage and enable the related permission.
You can record a timed activity, which can be saved and sent to your Garmin Connect™ account.
- Hold the touchscreen to view the menu.
- Select .
- Swipe to scroll through the activity list:
- Double tap the touchscreen to start the timer.
- Start your activity.
- Swipe to view additional data screens.
The Sport model comes with sport bands while the Premium model comes with leather bands. Spoiler: The Premium is also more expensive. One thing to note: The Premium is significantly heavier than the Sport, 56.5g versus 40.8g. The big key to the Vivomove HR, however, is that secret OLED display.
Fitness tracking. Don't mistake the Vivomove HR for a full-on runner's watch, though. Garmin makes plenty of those but this model does not have GPS. However, the Vivomove HR does record your distance, speed and scientific-looking graphs of your heart rate and pace.
Pulse Ox not available in all countries.
| General |
|---|
| Lens Material | chemically strengthened glass |
|---|
| Weight | Case only: 24.5 g With silicone strap: 38.6 g |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: up to 5 days Watch mode: up to 1 additional week |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
When paired with a compatible smartphone. Activity tracking accuracy.
| General |
|---|
| Lens material | Chemically-strengthened glass |
|---|
| Weight | Case only: 24.50 g With silicone strap: 38.60 g |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: Up to 5 days Watch mode: Up to 1 additional week |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
There are other similar systems to GPS in the world, which are all classified as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Most Garmin receivers track both GLONASS and GPS, and some even track BeiDou.
It tracks distance using accelerometer data and its own algorithms, but these are never going to be as good as using GPS. Sure enough in testing it was a little off. Nothing crazy, but if you want something that meticulously tracks distance, this is not it.
Garmin Tracker is a free mobile app that lets you see your location and your Garmin tracking device's location on a map, making it easy to track and locate it while you're on the go. With Garmin Tracker, everything you need to locate and control your tracking device is in the palm of your hand.
Compatible iPhone or
Android Smartphone. Smartphone Link.
Garmin Connect App. Compatible
Garmin Wearable.
Select Apps
- Select Apps.
- Select Watch Link.
- When prompted, review and select Next.
- Place a checkmark next to anything you want an alert for.
- Select Save.
Android
- From the new smartphone, install the Garmin Connect App from the phone's app store.
- Once installed, open the app and sign back into your account.
- At this point you will be prompted to select a device.
- Place your vivomove HR in pairing mode.
- From the phone, select Start.
Changing the Satellite Setting
- Select the action key.
- Select Settings > Sensors > GPS.
- Select the toggle switch to enable GPS. NOTE: The device does not use GPS unless you are recording an outdoor activity.
- Select .
- Select the toggle switch to enable GLONASS.
