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Garmin vívosport Large Review | 171 Data compared

Avg. price:~£90Battery life:7 daysScreen size:0.74 inchHeart rate monitor:yesGPS:yesWaterproof depth rating:50 m

Garmin vívosport Large Review: Compare 171 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Fitness trackers category and whether it is worth buying.

7.8

▲Better than 77% of fitness-trackers

7.7

▲Better than 75% of fitness-trackers

8.5

▲Better than 78% of fitness-trackers

7.5
Swimming
Swimming
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
Evaluates core hardware and software specifications for swimming performance.
When it matters
When evaluating how effectively this fitness-trackers meets your specific swimming needs.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components
28.0%
10
ATM rating
24.0%
4.0
Open-water swim mode
18.0%
10
Waterproof depth rating
15.0%
10
GPS
15.0%
3.0
Battery life
6.1
Kids
Kids
6.1/ 10
✕
What it is
Evaluates core hardware and software specifications for kids performance.
When it matters
When selecting a durable, safe, and family-friendly fitness-trackers suitable for learning and young children.
Score distribution
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Score components
30.0%
3.0
Battery life
25.0%
7.0
Weight
20.0%
10
ATM rating
15.0%
2.8
Screen size
10.0%
10
Price

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Technical Specifications of fitness tracker Garmin vívosport Large

7.8

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Health

8.4

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Heart rate monitor

Resting heart rate

Fast/slow heart rate alerts

Irregular heart rate alerts

Blood oxygen sensor

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Sports & Navigation

8.7

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GPS

Satellite systems supported

GNSS bands supported

Galileo support

Acquires GPS faster

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Smart Features

8.1

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Notifications

Vibrating alerts

Call control

Call answering

Calendar sync

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App & Wellness

9.0

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Activity reports

Goal setting

Achievements

Inactivity alerts

Coaching

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Connectivity

8.9

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Bluetooth version

?

Maximum Bluetooth range

NFC

Wi-Fi connectivity

Wi-Fi version

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Battery

5.5

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Battery life

Battery life with GPS on

Battery life in training mode

Battery life in power-saving mode

N/A

Battery capacity

?

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Display

7.4

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Display

Screen size

Display type

Screen resolution

Pixel density

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Design & Durability

6.8

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Form factor

wristband

Hybrid design

Designed for kids

Replaceable watch band

Band width

20 mm

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Garmin vívosport Large vs the average fitness tracker

Why is Garmin vívosport Large better than the average fitness tracker?

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Always-on display
Always-on display
yes
▲ Better than 75% of models
This fitness tracker has an always-on display, while the average fitness tracker does not. 25.6% of fitness trackers have an always-on display.
Low-power display remains continuously visible.
Measures VO2 max
VO2 max
yes
▲ Better than 79% of models
This fitness tracker supports VO2 max tracking, while the average fitness tracker does not. 21.8% of fitness trackers support VO2 max tracking.
Built-in GPS
GPS
yes
▲ Better than 89% of models
This fitness tracker has GPS, while the average fitness tracker does not. 11% of fitness trackers have GPS.
Lower resting heart rate
Resting heart rate
yes
▲ Better than 53% of models
This fitness tracker supports Resting heart rate, while the average fitness tracker does not. 47.7% of fitness trackers support Resting heart rate.
Touchscreen
Touchscreen
yes
▲ Better than 56% of models
This fitness tracker has a touchscreen, while the average fitness tracker does not. 43.8% of fitness trackers have a touchscreen.
0.5 hours shorter charging time
Charging time
1 hours
▲ Better than 83% of models
Market range: <0 hours – >5 hours
This fitness tracker has a lower charging time than the average fitness tracker (1 hours vs 1.5 hours). The average fitness tracker needs 1.5 hours to charge.
1 hours vs 1.5 hours
Auto pause
Auto pause
yes
▲ Better than 77% of models
This fitness tracker supports auto pause, while the average fitness tracker does not. 23.2% of fitness trackers support auto pause.
Heart rate alerts
Fast/slow heart rate alerts
yes
▲ Better than 66% of models
This fitness tracker supports high and low heart rate alerts, while the average fitness tracker does not. 34.5% of fitness trackers support high and low heart rate alerts.
High heart rate alert only.

5.7% higher user score
User score
8.5/ 10
✕
What it is
A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the fitness tracker.
When it matters
When you want to know how a fitness tracker performs in daily use and how reliable it remains over time according to user feedback.
Score distribution
▼
▼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Garmin vívosport Large
the average fitness tracker
Garmin vívosport Large has a higher user score than the average fitness tracker (8.45 vs 8.000).
8.45 vs 8

Measures VO2 max
VO2 max
yes
▲ Better than 79% of models
This fitness tracker supports VO2 max tracking, while the average fitness tracker does not. 21.8% of fitness trackers support VO2 max tracking.
Lower resting heart rate
Resting heart rate
yes
▲ Better than 53% of models
This fitness tracker supports Resting heart rate, while the average fitness tracker does not. 47.7% of fitness trackers support Resting heart rate.
Heart rate alerts
Fast/slow heart rate alerts
yes
▲ Better than 66% of models
This fitness tracker supports high and low heart rate alerts, while the average fitness tracker does not. 34.5% of fitness trackers support high and low heart rate alerts.
High heart rate alert only.
Tracks menstrual cycle
Menstrual cycle tracking
yes
▲ Better than 59% of models
This fitness tracker supports menstrual cycle tracking, while the average fitness tracker does not. 41.7% of fitness trackers support menstrual cycle tracking.
Period notifications
Has period notifications
yes
▲ Better than 69% of models
This fitness tracker has period notifications, while the average fitness tracker does not. 31% of fitness trackers have period notifications.
Fertile window notifications
Displays fertile window notifications
yes
▲ Better than 76% of models
This fitness tracker displays fertile window notifications, while the average fitness tracker does not. 24.1% of fitness trackers display fertile window notifications.
Ovulation prediction
Predicts ovulation
yes
▲ Better than 59% of models
This fitness tracker predicts ovulation, while the average fitness tracker does not. 41.6% of fitness trackers predict ovulation.
Cycle start prediction
Predicts start date
yes
▲ Better than 58% of models
This fitness tracker predicts the start date, while the average fitness tracker does not. 42.5% of fitness trackers predict the start date.

Built-in GPS
GPS
yes
▲ Better than 89% of models
This fitness tracker has GPS, while the average fitness tracker does not. 11% of fitness trackers have GPS.
Auto pause
Auto pause
yes
▲ Better than 77% of models
This fitness tracker supports auto pause, while the average fitness tracker does not. 23.2% of fitness trackers support auto pause.
Tracks elevation
Elevation tracking
yes
▲ Better than 73% of models
This fitness tracker supports elevation tracking, while the average fitness tracker does not. 27.4% of fitness trackers support elevation tracking.
Floors climbed via altimeter
Built-in barometer
Barometer
yes
▲ Better than 89% of models
This fitness tracker has a barometer, while the average fitness tracker does not. 11.3% of fitness trackers have a barometer.
Built-in route tracker
Has a route tracker
yes
▲ Better than 50% of models
This fitness tracker supports route tracking, while the average fitness tracker does not. 49.8% of fitness trackers support route tracking.
Built-in GPS route tracking.
Live tracking
Live tracking
yes
★ Better than 94% of models
This fitness tracker supports live tracking, while the average fitness tracker does not. 6.6% of fitness trackers support live tracking.
Via Garmin Connect with a paired smartphone.
Advanced GNSS band support
GNSS bands supported
yes
★ Better than 92% of models
This fitness tracker supports advanced GNSS bands, while the average fitness tracker does not. 8.8% of fitness trackers support advanced GNSS bands.
supports GNSS L1 band.
Fast GPS lock
Acquires GPS faster
yes
★ Better than 92% of models
This fitness tracker supports faster GPS acquisition, while the average fitness tracker does not. 8% of fitness trackers support faster GPS acquisition.
Satellite prediction support claimed.
Auto lap
Auto lap
yes
▲ Better than 81% of models
This fitness tracker supports auto lap, while the average fitness tracker does not. 19.4% of fitness trackers support auto lap.
Distance-based.
Broad satellite support
Satellite systems supported
GPS + GLONASS
▲ Better than 89% of models
This fitness tracker supports more satellite systems than the average fitness tracker (GPS + GLONASS vs no). The average fitness tracker supports no satellite systems.
Multi-GNSS support.
GPS + GLONASS vs no

0.5 hours shorter charging time
Charging time
1 hours
▲ Better than 83% of models
Market range: <0 hours – >5 hours
This fitness tracker has a lower charging time than the average fitness tracker (1 hours vs 1.5 hours). The average fitness tracker needs 1.5 hours to charge.
1 hours vs 1.5 hours
1 h longer GPS battery life
Battery life with GPS on
8 h
▲ Better than 60% of models
Market range: <5 h – >20 h
This fitness tracker has a higher battery life with GPS on than the average fitness tracker (8 h vs 7 h). The average fitness tracker has 7 h of battery life with GPS on.
8 h vs 7 h

Always-on display
Always-on display
yes
▲ Better than 75% of models
This fitness tracker has an always-on display, while the average fitness tracker does not. 25.6% of fitness trackers have an always-on display.
Low-power display remains continuously visible.
Touchscreen
Touchscreen
yes
▲ Better than 56% of models
This fitness tracker has a touchscreen, while the average fitness tracker does not. 43.8% of fitness trackers have a touchscreen.
Color display
Color display
yes
▲ Better than 63% of models
This fitness tracker has a color display, while the average fitness tracker does not. 37.7% of fitness trackers have a color display.
Branded damage-resistant glass
Has branded damage-resistant glass
yes
▲ Better than 78% of models
This fitness tracker uses branded damage-resistant glass, while the average fitness tracker does not. 22.2% of fitness trackers use branded damage-resistant glass.
Corning Gorilla Glass.

Windows compatible
Compatible with Windows
yes
▲ Better than 78% of models
This fitness tracker is compatible with Windows, while the average fitness tracker is not. 22.3% of fitness trackers are compatible with Windows.
Via Garmin Express.
Mac OS X compatible
Compatible with Mac OS X
yes
▲ Better than 72% of models
This fitness tracker is compatible with Mac OS X, while the average fitness tracker is not. 28.8% of fitness trackers are compatible with Mac OS X.
Via Garmin Express.
ANT+ support
ANT+ support
yes
★ Better than 93% of models
This fitness tracker supports ANT+, while the average fitness tracker does not. 7.3% of fitness trackers support ANT+.
Supports ANT+ heart-rate broadcasting.

Phone finder support
Find my phone
yes
▲ Better than 51% of models
This fitness tracker supports phone finding, while the average fitness tracker does not. 49.3% of fitness trackers support phone finding.
Call control
Call control
yes
▲ Better than 59% of models
This fitness tracker supports call controls, while the average fitness tracker does not. 41.5% of fitness trackers support call controls.
Accept/reject on the tracker; audio stays on the phone.
Calendar sync
Calendar sync
yes
▲ Better than 80% of models
This fitness tracker supports calendar sync, while the average fitness tracker does not. 20.2% of fitness trackers support calendar sync.
Includes a calendar widget for synced phone events.
Firmware update method
Firmware update method
over-the-air / USB
▲ Better than 87% of models
This fitness tracker uses a more convenient firmware update method than the average fitness tracker (over-the-air / USB vs over-the-air). The average fitness tracker uses over-the-air for firmware updates.
over-the-air / USB vs over-the-air
Gesture control
Gesture control
yes
▲ Better than 60% of models
This fitness tracker supports gesture controls, while the average fitness tracker does not. 40.8% of fitness trackers support gesture controls.

Available on PC
Available on PC
yes
▲ Better than 82% of models
This fitness tracker is available on PC, while the average fitness tracker is not. 18.1% of fitness trackers are available on PC.
Web dashboard available.
Points-based system
Points-based system
yes
▲ Better than 62% of models
This fitness tracker supports a points-based system, while the average fitness tracker does not. 38.6% of fitness trackers support a points-based system.
Ad-free
Free app
yes
▲ Better than 4% of models
This fitness tracker has an ad-free app, while the average fitness tracker does not. 48.1% of fitness trackers have an ad-free app.

Why is Garmin vívosport Large worse than the average fitness tracker?

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No exercise tagging
Exercise tagging
no
▼ Worse than 59% of models
This fitness tracker does not support exercise tagging, while the average fitness tracker does. 58.4% of fitness trackers support exercise tagging.
Lower screen resolution
Screen resolution
72 x 144
▲ Better than 60% of models
This fitness tracker has a lower screen resolution than the average fitness tracker (72x144 vs 194x368). The average fitness tracker has a screen resolution of 194x368.
72x144 vs 194x368
3 days shorter battery life
Battery life
7 days
▼ Worse than 53% of models
Market range: <5 days – >180 days
This fitness tracker has a lower battery life than the average fitness tracker (7 days vs 10 days). The average fitness tracker has 10 days of battery life.
Shorter with GPS
7 days vs 10 days
Limited ip rating
IP rating
IPX7
▼ Worse than 88% of models
This fitness tracker has a lower IP rating than the average fitness tracker (IPX7 vs IP68). The average fitness tracker has an IP rating of IP68.
5 ATM water resistance.
IPX7 vs IP68
0.3 inch smaller screen size
Screen size
0.74 inch
▼ Worse than 87% of models
Market range: <0 inch – >1.6 inch
This fitness tracker has a lower screen size than the average fitness tracker (0.7 inch vs 1.04 inch). The average fitness tracker has a screen size of 1.04 inch.
0.74 inch vs 1.04 inch
No replaceable watch band
Replaceable watch band
no
▼ Worse than 75% of models
This fitness tracker does not have a replaceable watch band, while the average fitness tracker does. 74.5% of fitness trackers have a replaceable watch band.
No shock resistance standard
Shock resistance standard
none
▼ Worse than 56% of models
This fitness tracker meets a weaker shock resistance standard than the average fitness tracker (none vs MIL-STD-810G). The average fitness tracker meets the MIL-STD-810G shock resistance standard.
none vs MIL-STD-810G
18% lower pixel density
Pixel density
201 ppi
▼ Worse than 57% of models
Market range: <140 ppi – >330 ppi
This fitness tracker has a lower pixel density than the average fitness tracker (201 ppi vs 245 ppi). The average fitness tracker has a pixel density of 245 ppi.
201 ppi vs 245 ppi

3 days shorter battery life
Battery life
7 days
▼ Worse than 53% of models
Market range: <5 days – >180 days
This fitness tracker has a lower battery life than the average fitness tracker (7 days vs 10 days). The average fitness tracker has 10 days of battery life.
Shorter with GPS
7 days vs 10 days

Lower screen resolution
Screen resolution
72 x 144
▲ Better than 60% of models
This fitness tracker has a lower screen resolution than the average fitness tracker (72x144 vs 194x368). The average fitness tracker has a screen resolution of 194x368.
72x144 vs 194x368
0.3 inch smaller screen size
Screen size
0.74 inch
▼ Worse than 87% of models
Market range: <0 inch – >1.6 inch
This fitness tracker has a lower screen size than the average fitness tracker (0.7 inch vs 1.04 inch). The average fitness tracker has a screen size of 1.04 inch.
0.74 inch vs 1.04 inch
18% lower pixel density
Pixel density
201 ppi
▼ Worse than 57% of models
Market range: <140 ppi – >330 ppi
This fitness tracker has a lower pixel density than the average fitness tracker (201 ppi vs 245 ppi). The average fitness tracker has a pixel density of 245 ppi.
201 ppi vs 245 ppi

Limited ip rating
IP rating
IPX7
▼ Worse than 88% of models
This fitness tracker has a lower IP rating than the average fitness tracker (IPX7 vs IP68). The average fitness tracker has an IP rating of IP68.
5 ATM water resistance.
IPX7 vs IP68
No replaceable watch band
Replaceable watch band
no
▼ Worse than 75% of models
This fitness tracker does not have a replaceable watch band, while the average fitness tracker does. 74.5% of fitness trackers have a replaceable watch band.
No shock resistance standard
Shock resistance standard
none
▼ Worse than 56% of models
This fitness tracker meets a weaker shock resistance standard than the average fitness tracker (none vs MIL-STD-810G). The average fitness tracker meets the MIL-STD-810G shock resistance standard.
none vs MIL-STD-810G
8% heavier
Thickness
27 g mm
▲ Better than 58% of models
Market range: <8 mm – >13 mm
This fitness tracker is heavier than the average fitness tracker (27 g vs 25 g). The average fitness tracker weighs 25 g.
Large size.
27 g vs 25 g
20 °C higher minimum operating temperature
Min operating temperature
-20 °C
▲ Better than 85% of models
Market range: <-20 °C – >5 °C
This fitness tracker has a higher minimum operating temperature than the average fitness tracker (-20 °C vs 0 °C). The average fitness tracker supports a minimum operating temperature of 0 °C.
-20 °C vs 0 °C

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Expert reviews

In-depth analysis and verdict from leading tech publications

whyoubuy.wordpress.com

20/10/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport (2017) review

Garmin Vivosport Review Summary The Garmin Vivosport (2017) is a minimalist, lightweight fitness band that packs the robust features of a full GPS smartwatch into a slim, 27-gram silicone profile. It stands out as one of the smallest trackers to offer an always-on color display, built-in GPS, a barometric altimeter, and a heart rate monitor. Key advantages highlighted in the review include its impressive five-to-seven-day battery life in watch mode, smart notification integration, and accurate indoor tracking that counts gym sets and reps. Additionally, it features an exceptionally bright backlight that offers excellent visibility in poor lighting conditions. However, the device has notable drawbacks, primarily centered around its button-free touchscreen, which is described as overly sensitive. This touchiness causes frequent accidental inputs during daily tasks or when exposed to water, often requiring users to take it off before showering to avoid logging false activities. Furthermore, the review notes that the GPS can be slow to lock on, the aesthetic design is somewhat bland, and it lacks dedicated swim tracking modes. While it lacks the advanced connectivity needed for serious cyclists...

trustedreviews.com

20/10/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review - Trusted Reviews

The Garmin Vivosport is praised as a feature-rich, lightweight tracker boasting built-in GPS, 50-meter water resistance, and advanced metrics like VO2 Max and stress monitoring, along with a seven-day battery life. Its functionality is supported by the user-friendly Garmin Connect app, making it a strong choice for active users. Conversely, the review highlights the device's uninspiring, utilitarian design and a narrow screen that limits readability. While offering stellar performance, the Vivosport falls short for users prioritizing a stylish or premium aesthetic.

dcrainmaker.com

18/09/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport In-Depth Review

The Garmin Vivosport is a compact, lightweight fitness tracker that successfully integrates built-in GPS and advanced heart rate features into a notably slim form factor. It upgrades the user experience with a clear, always-on colour touchscreen display that ensures excellent visibility in sunlight. In terms of performance, the device tracks a wide array of wellness metrics, including 24/7 continuous stress tracking, VO2 max estimation, and automatic activity detection for running and walking. The battery life is respectable, comfortably delivering 4 to 5 days of real-world usage with regular short GPS activities, and up to 7 days in basic smartwatch mode. However, the tracker has notable limitations, particularly for outdoor cycling where the wrist-based optical heart rate sensor suffers from poor stability and inaccurate readings. It is also incapable of connecting to any external ANT+ or Bluetooth sensors, which prevents users from pairing it with a chest strap or cycling speed/cadence sensors. Additionally, the device uses "Smart Recording" rather than 1-second data intervals, causing the GPS tracks to appear somewhat blocky and cut corners on tight turns or trail switchbacks. Finally,...

fitandwell.com

25/06/2021

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport review: a classic fitness tracker - Fit&Well Would you like to compare the GPS accuracy or battery life results specifically mentione...

The Garmin Vivosport is a compact, highly functional fitness tracker that stands out for its robust activity-tracking capabilities, packing full GPS, a heart rate sensor, and an altimeter into a lightweight band. Unlike most modern wearables, it features a 24/7 always-on memory-in-pixel (MIP) LCD screen that feeds off ambient light, making it exceptionally clear and easy to read under direct sunlight without draining battery life. It integrates seamlessly with the comprehensive Garmin Connect app, which provides highly accurate data like VO2 Max, distance, and elevation metrics, making it an excellent, low-profile alternative to bulky running watches for dedicated runners and cyclists. The battery reliably lasts up to seven days during general use and around five hours when continuously tracking outdoor workouts with GPS active. Despite its enduring performance, the tracker’s age shows in its design and specific technical limitations. Its primary drawbacks include a screen that appears dim and dull when viewed indoors, an older GPS chip that can occasionally take several minutes to triangulate a signal outdoors, and a complete lack of swim tracking modes despite having 5ATM water...

uk.pcmag.com

01/03/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review - PCMag UK

The Garmin Vivosport is a reliable, lightweight, and durable sports band-style fitness tracker that functions effectively as a basic smartwatch, delivering full-text push notifications from Android and iOS devices. The tracker features an always-on, customizable, and dim color touchscreen display with no physical buttons, relying entirely on swipes and taps. In terms of battery life, the device lasts about seven days in smartwatch mode and up to eight hours with continuous GPS usage. Performance testing proved the device to be highly accurate for heart rate monitoring and step counting. Additionally, users can easily calibrate distance inaccuracies directly within the Garmin Connect companion app to ensure precise tracking over time. Key Pros and Cons A major advantage of the Vivosport is its comfort and comprehensive suite of automated activity tracking options, which includes MoveIQ and automatic rep counting for strength training. Fitness enthusiasts will also appreciate advanced metrics rarely found in this category, such as VO2 max, heart rate zones, and stress level monitoring based on heart rate variability. On the downside, the device is considered expensive for a standard sports...

wareable.com

20/10/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport review - Wareable

The Wareable review praises the Garmin Vivosport as a feature-packed, sporty tracker offering solid battery life (up to seven days) and built-in GPS for comprehensive activity tracking. Key strengths include an always-on Chroma touchscreen display with great daylight visibility, alongside heart rate monitoring and a slim design. Conversely, the review highlights significant drawbacks regarding the fiddly, highly sensitive touchscreen navigation, which often triggers in bed. Additionally, the device features a low-resolution screen with a large, unappealing bezel and lacks the physical buttons found on previous models, making, according to the review, navigation frustrating. Wareable

johngalea.wordpress.com

27/03/2019

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport review Would you like a comparison of how the GPS accuracy of this specific model holds up against newer Garmin bands?

In his review, John Galea evaluates the Garmin Vivosport primarily as a compact, affordable secondary device to complement his higher-end Fenix 5, allowing him to track 24/7 metrics without wearing a bulky sports watch at all times. On the positive side (pros), he praises its slender, lightweight form factor that is slightly thinner than older models, the bright, always-on color display, and its capability to provide advanced health metrics like all-day stress tracking and REM sleep detection. He is also highly impressed by its heart rate accuracy during a smooth bicycle ride, its solid tracking performance during a cold hike, strong vibration alerts for smartphone notifications, and the addition of useful count-up and countdown timers.

expertreviews.co.uk

23/11/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport review: An excellent fitness tracker with one major flaw

Garmin Vivosport Review Summary The Garmin Vivosport is a discreet, comfortable, and feature-rich fitness tracker designed for everyday use and casual athletes. It stands out by offering built-in GPS tracking and high-frequency, constant heart-rate monitoring at one-second intervals, making its basic fitness tracking quite accurate. The tracker also introduces a barometric altimeter to count stairs, stress level logging via heart rate variability, and automatic activity tracking. Furthermore, its battery life is highly reliable, lasting up to a full week in smartwatch mode or up to eight hours with continuous GPS usage. Despite these capabilities, the device is heavily held back by its physical limitations. Its tiny, buttonless colour screen is significantly downsized, making menu navigation via swipes and double-taps incredibly fiddly and frustrating. This small display drastically limits live data, forcing users to squint at just two metrics at a time during workouts and truncating smartphone notifications. Additionally, despite being waterproof, the Vivosport suffers from no dedicated swim tracking and offers no support for external sensors like chest straps, making it difficult to fully recommend over alternatives with larger screens.

techradar.com

16/07/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport review - TechRadar

The Garmin Vivosport is a compact, unobtrusive fitness band that packs the high-end tracking capabilities typically reserved for larger running watches, such as built-in GPS, an Elevate heart rate sensor, and an altimeter. Priced around £160/$160/AU$300 at launch, it introduces notable upgrades over its predecessor, including a slimmer design, a touch-focused interface, and a 24/7 always-on color transflective memory-in-pixel display that thrives in direct sunlight. It serves as a highly practical device for dedicated tracking, offering precise outdoor route mapping, frequent heart rate sampling, and extra features like VO2 Max reading and stress testing.

pcmag.com

01/03/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review

The Garmin Vivosport is described as a powerful, feature-rich, and lightweight fitness tracker featuring built-in GPS for accurate, phone-free route tracking. It boasts a 24/7 always-on color touchscreen, precise heart rate monitoring, stress tracking, and long-lasting battery life. Key drawbacks include non-interchangeable bands, a strictly sporty design with limited appeal, and the lack of physical buttons, making interface navigation challenging, particularly during intense workouts. Additionally, despite being waterproof, the device lacks swim-tracking software, and the, at launch, $199 price point was considered high compared to competitors.

stuff.tv

05/01/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport review | Stuff

The Garmin Vivosport is a lightweight, compact fitness tracker that bridges the gap between a basic activity band and a GPS sports watch. Designed for practicality over style, it features a slim, black rubberised band with a low-resolution, color touchscreen that remains permanently active and performs excellently outdoors in direct sunlight. Despite its small profile, the device is packed with advanced standalone hardware, including integrated GPS and a barometric altimeter, allowing for accurate outdoor activity tracking without needing a smartphone. It also serves as a capable smartwatch companion, delivering full phone notifications like readable WhatsApp and email snippets directly to the wrist, while offering a realistic battery life of around four days with intermittent fitness tracking. However, the tracker compromises on several design and connectivity fronts to maintain its low price point and form factor. Visually, the device is relatively uninspiring and lacks aesthetic flair compared to slicker rivals. From a performance standpoint, it lacks Bluetooth and ANT+ sensor support, preventing serious athletes from pairing a precise external chest strap heart monitor. Furthermore, while the tracker boasts 5ATM water resistance,...

coachweb.com

04/01/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Fitness Tracker Review - Coach

The Garmin Vivosport stands out as a highly capable, feature-packed everyday fitness band that packs the punch of a full-fledged GPS sports watch into a slim profile. It provides comprehensive 24/7 activity monitoring, including metrics for steps, floors climbed, calories, continuous heart rate, and stress tracking derived from heart rate variability. Its standout features include accurate, built-in GPS tracking for outdoor running and cycling, an excellent and data-rich companion Garmin Connect app, and an impressive battery life that lasts up to five days with regular use. Additionally, its always-on display ensures easy visibility during workouts, and the device provides precise estimations of VO2 max and resting heart rate to track fitness improvements over time. Despite its impressive technical substance, the tracker has several notable drawbacks. Visually, it lacks the sleek style and customizable bands found on competitors like Fitbit, utilizing a somewhat uninspiring, fixed design. Its interface relies on a clunky double-tap screen system to pause or record activities, which often fails to register when fingers are cold. While the hardware is fully waterproof, it notably lacks any dedicated swim...

fitness-tracker-test.info

06/09/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review: A great fitness tracker with GPS

The Garmin Vivosport is a compact, sports-focused tracker featuring built-in GPS, 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, a barometric altimeter, and a 7-day battery life. Its durable, waterproof design tracks advanced metrics like VO2 max and stress levels in a slim, lightweight form factor. However, the small, low-resolution screen hampers navigation and readability, while the rubberized design lacks aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the device lacks dedicated swim tracking, and users may experience slow GPS satellite locks and awkward menu interactions.

faz.net

24/03/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review: Slim, Lightweight, and Tracks Like a Pro

The FAZ review characterizes the Garmin Vivosport as a compact, ambitious fitness tracker that successfully integrates advanced tracking features, including GPS and waterproofing, into a lightweight, 2 cm wide band. It is noted for offering deep training metrics, acting as a comfortable, unobtrusive, and powerful alternative to bulky smartwatches. However, the review highlights the rigid, non-replaceable plastic wristband as a significant downside, as it cannot be repaired if damaged. Furthermore, the tracker is criticized for its cheap-looking material and high price, with the small-medium model noted for being exceptionally tight, even on average wrists. FAZ

runnersworld.de

13/06/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review - Runner's World

The Runner's World review highlights the Garmin Vivosport as a compact fitness tracker equipped with built-in GPS and an optical heart rate sensor, making it a compelling option for runners who want to track pace and distance without carrying a phone. The device supports running, cycling, and strength training, and syncs data directly to the Garmin Connect app. Key pros mentioned in the review include its highly impressive battery life—which lasts up to eight hours in active GPS mode—and its integration of smart features like smartphone notifications and music player controls. Additionally, it tracks advanced physiological metrics such as VO2max and daily stress levels, packed inside a waterproof housing. However, the tracker comes with distinct cons that limit its functionality for more serious athletes. The most prominent drawback is its small touchscreen display, which the reviewer notes can feel clumsy and fiddly to operate while running. Furthermore, despite being completely waterproof, the software lacks a dedicated swimming mode, rendering it unsuitable for lap tracking in the pool. Ultimately, the review concludes that the Garmin Vivosport is best suited for casual...

heise.de

25/05/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review: Long-Distance Runner with GPS

The Garmin Vivosport is a lightweight, comfortable fitness tracker featuring a color touchscreen that remains readable in direct sunlight, though it is thin enough that the S/M band size may feel overly tight on wider wrists. It stands out for its high-performing GPS tracking during outdoor activities like running, cycling, and walking, as well as its automatic rep-counting capabilities for weightlifting. The device is water-resistant enough for swimming and syncs with the intuitive Garmin Connect app, which dynamically adjusts daily step goals based on user performance. Additionally, it tracks stress levels, analyzes sleep stages, and offers smart notifications and media playback control. A major advantage of the Vivosport is its excellent battery life, lasting a full week in standard tracking mode and holding a charge remarkably well during GPS-heavy workouts. It also fast-charges via its proprietary cable in under an hour. However, notable downsides include a slow initial GPS signal connection that can take up to ten minutes, and the lack of a smart alarm feature to wake the user during light sleep cycles. Furthermore, because the silicone strap is...

chip.de

02/04/2020

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review - CHIP YouTube

Garmin Vivosport Review Summary Key Pros and Cons Built-in GPS allows comprehensive outdoor exercise tracking. Heart rate sensor provides consistent health and activity data. 8-day battery life offers dependable long-term performance. Highly readable screen ensures clear visibility during workouts. Soft silicone strap conforms comfortably to the user's wrist. Strap is not replaceable, meaning a damaged band cannot be swapped out. Scratch-sensitive material makes the silicone exterior prone to visible wear.

runners-world.fr

14/09/2019

Summary of the review

The 7 Best Garmin Watches: Comparison

The Runners-World.fr Garmin watch guide compares top models based on price and functionality, highlighting the brand's diverse ecosystem that caters to both casual users with lifestyle models like the Venu and serious athletes with the Fenix 5 Plus. Key strengths across the lineup include highly reliable GPS tracking, extensive biometric feedback, and optimized battery life for long-distance training. YouTube · Conversely, the review notes high price points for premium models, creating a barrier for budget-conscious users. Additionally, the immense density of data and complex, feature-heavy interfaces can present a steep learning curve for beginners. YouTube ·

test-achats.be

Date non spécifiée

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review - Testachats

The Garmin Vivosport is a compact fitness tracker measuring 49 mm long and 21 mm wide that is no longer on the market, but achieved a good quality score of 68 out of 100 during its laboratory testing. Designed with high-utility exercise features, it excels at core health monitoring tracking, earning top 5-star ratings for its step counter, calorie tracking, and heart rate monitor. The device is highly practical for outdoor use, boasting a transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP) touch screen that delivers maximum visibility under bright daylight, paired with an excellent, highly comfortable wrist fit. Additionally, it offers reliable connectivity, scoring perfectly for its stable smartphone pairing and SMS notification handling. Despite its strong fitness capabilities, the device falls short in display quality and customisation. The screen received a low 2-star rating for its pixel/visual quality, despite being highly scratch-resistant. Users looking to personalise their experience may find it restrictive, as device customisation also scored a poor 2 stars, combined with mediocre 3-star marks for basic menu navigation and initial setup. Its smart capabilities are also uneven; while it integrates well...

lesnumeriques.com

28/10/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review: Small Screen but Mighty Activity Tracker

The Garmin Vivosport is a lightweight, 27-gram fitness tracker designed for casual athletes seeking an entry-level sports companion without physical buttons. Launched at €199.99, it features a small 9.7 x 19.3 mm color touchscreen display, an integrated GPS chip, and a two-diode continuous heart-rate monitor. The device tracks everyday metrics like steps, calories, floors climbed, and sleep quality, while offering handy additions like phone notifications, automated step goals, a basic music remote, and stress tracking. It is also fully waterproof up to 50 meters, making it highly durable for everyday activities. The reviewer highlights several major strengths and weaknesses, earning the tracker a 3 out of 5 overall rating. On the positive side, its built-in GPS, continuous heart-rate tracking, sleep metrics, and full waterproofing provide robust functionality for running and gym workouts. However, it is held back by a very small screen that can be difficult to read in bright sunlight, a limited selection of tracked sports activities (notably excluding swimming), and a proprietary charger that is finicky to plug in. Additionally, its real-world battery life fell short of the...

montre-cardio-gps.fr

22/01/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review: The fitness tracker that comes close to GPS cardio watches

The Montre-Cardio-GPS review highlights the Garmin Vivosport as a highly packed, compact fitness tracker that successfully bridges the gap between basic activity bands and advanced GPS sports watches. On the positive side, the reviewer praises its lightweight, discreet, and highly comfortable form factor, allowing users to easily wear it all day and night. It stands out by integrating a built-in GPS and a barometric altimeter into an incredibly slim body. It delivers strong fitness utility through an accurate 24/7 Elevate optical heart rate monitor, VO2 max estimations, and automatic activity tracking via Move IQ. Additionally, it supports smart notifications, maintains a reliable 7-day battery life in smartwatch mode (8 hours with GPS active), and features a fully waterproof design safe for showering and swimming. YouTube · However, the review details several notable drawbacks regarding its hardware and user interface. A primary complaint focuses on the physical screen, which is criticized for being too small, grainy, and difficult to read or navigate comfortably, making menu navigation feel slow and fiddly. The device's aesthetic is described as bland, practical, and highly sports-centric,...

correrunamaraton.com

22/02/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport | Review and analysis

The Garmin Vivosport is a highly capable fitness tracker that functions as an impressive, smaller alternative to traditional GPS watches. It features a compact "unibody" plastic design, a transflective always-on colour display with excellent outdoor visibility, and an integrated barometric altimeter to track floors climbed. Despite its small footprint, its battery life stands out, lasting up to 7 days in standard tracking mode and up to 8 hours when actively utilizing both the internal GPS and optical heart rate sensor. It offers extensive daily tracking metrics (such as 24-hour stress tracking powered by Firstbeat algorithms, VO2Max estimations, and resting heart rate trends) alongside dedicated profiles for walking, running, cycling, gym strength workouts with auto-rep counting, and cardio. The primary downside of this device is its physical construction: the plastic strap is completely non-replaceable, meaning the entire tracker becomes useless if the band tears or breaks—a flaw highlighted by multiple long-term users. On the performance front, the device relies on "smart" data recording (capturing data points every 3–4 seconds rather than every second) which can result in jagged, polygonal GPS tracks...

labolsadelcorredor.com

16/12/2017

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport | Review, Features, and Opinions

The Garmin Vivosport is reviewed as a highly capable hybrid device positioned between a standard activity tracker and a dedicated GPS watch. Retailing at a starting price of €199, this model elevates its predecessor (the Vivosmart HR+) by incorporating built-in GPS, a colour touchscreen display, a barometer, and an accelerometer. Key advantages highlighted in the review include its exceptionally lightweight and comfortable waterproof design, highly accurate GPS real-time route tracking, and a reliable wrist-based heart rate monitor for stable cardio activities like running or cycling. It also boasts functional metrics such as VO2 max calculations, a real-time stress index tracker, comprehensive smartphone notification syncing with excellent Bluetooth range, and a battery life that lasts up to 4 days with active GPS usage. On the downside, the review identifies several notable limitations, particularly for swimming and fitness enthusiasts. Despite being fully waterproof, the device completely lacks a dedicated swimming activity profile. Furthermore, its heart rate sensor is notoriously imprecise during high-intensity gym workouts or strength training, failing to adapt quickly to rapid spikes and drops in physical effort. The tracker also...

afdigitale.it

07/01/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport: part fitness tracker, part smartwatch

The Garmin Vivosport is a compact, lightweight fitness tracker that blends sports-centric hardware with basic smartwatch capabilities, retailing in Italy for €199.99. Designed for functionality over high-end aesthetics, it features an integrated GPS, a barometric altimeter, and a color, always-on display that offers exceptional visibility in direct sunlight. The device tracks daily activities such as steps, stress levels, heart rate, and calories, pushing all data into the user-friendly Garmin Connect mobile app. While it provides smartphone notifications with a built-in vibration motor, the screen's miniature footprint restricts text readability to just three or four words at a time. The tracker scores high marks for its comprehensive feature set, excellent four-to-seven-day battery life, and 50-metre water resistance. However, the review highlights several distinct drawbacks, most notably its anonymous, basic rubber band design and its total lack of Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ reception. This wireless restriction prevents users from connecting external heart rate chest straps, forcing reliance on the less accurate built-in Garmin Elevate optical wrist sensor. Additionally, despite its waterproofing, it is not optimized for swimming metrics or tracking heart rate...

sportoutdoor24.it

11/09/2018

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport, the fitness tracker review for everyone | (Date not specified) | Garmin Vivosport HR: features and reviews

The SportOutdoor24 review defines the Garmin Vivosport as a lightweight, non-invasive smartband designed for daily health tracking rather than elite athletes. Key advantages include an integrated GPS, a sunlight-readable transflective display, comprehensive health metrics, and up to 7 days of battery life. However, the review notes drawbacks such as a small touchscreen that is difficult to navigate during activity and a lack of specialized metrics for professional sports. Additionally, the device lacks interchangeable straps, making it a better option for casual fitness tracking rather than high-end athletic performance.

test-aankoop.be

Undated

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport test and review - Test Achats

The Garmin Vivosport achieved a good test score of 68 out of 100 from Testaankoop, indicating solid overall quality despite no longer being on the market. The fitness tracker excelled across multiple tracking categories, earning 5-star ratings for its step counting, calorie-burning measurement, and heart rate monitoring. It also proved highly reliable in daily use, receiving top marks for wrist comfort, scratch resistance, readability under bright sunlight, and phone connectivity. Furthermore, its smart features performed well, with SMS handling earning a perfect 5-star score, alongside robust 4-star ratings for call notifications, WhatsApp, and Twitter integration. Conversely, the device fell short in its screen quality and personalization options, both of which only received 2 stars. The 72 x 144 resolution display is quite limited, and social media connectivity was highly unbalanced, as Facebook integration scored a mere 1 star. Users may also find the interface slightly cumbersome, given its 3-star ratings for menu navigation and initial installation. Finally, while it includes built-in GPS and an altimeter, its battery life and overall charging performance were deemed strictly average with a 3-star rating.

hardloopzone.nl

23/10/2026

Summary of the review

Garmin Vivosport Review

The Hardloopzone review gives the Garmin Vivosport an overall score of 8.3 out of 10, framing it as a highly capable bridge between a standard step counter and a full-fledged sports watch. It is heavily compared to its predecessors, effectively merging the smart features of the Vivosmart 3 with the accurate, built-in GPS tracking of the Vivosmart HR+. The tracker introduces several notable features, including 24/7 continuous stress tracking, VO2-max estimation, guided breathing exercises, and dedicated outdoor profiles for walking, running, cycling, and cardio. It also sports a buttonless, always-on AMOLED touchscreen display protected by glass, an updated and colorful Garmin Connect companion app, and basic smartwatch notification capabilities. The review explicitly outlines several key pros and cons of the device: Pros: Flawless built-in GPS that remains highly accurate even in dense forests or around tall buildings. An improved, always-on AMOLED display that is significantly brighter and easier to read than the Vivosmart 3. Stronger battery life, delivering up to 7 days in smartwatch mode or 8 hours of continuous GPS tracking. A visually refreshed app layout that utilizes clean,...

Third-party reviews

Based on 2,709 buyer reviews from online shops.

Reviews last updated: June 2026 · How we calculate this

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What we like about Garmin vívosport Large

Integrated GPS for accurate outdoor activity tracking without needing a phone
Slim, lightweight design that is comfortable for 24/7 wear, including sleep
Strong battery life lasting up to 7 days in smartwatch mode
Waterproof rating (5 ATM) making it safe for showering and swimming
Always-on color display remains readable even in direct sunlight
Comprehensive health metrics including 24/7 heart rate monitoring and stress tracking

What we don't like about Garmin vívosport Large

Non-replaceable silicone bands; if the strap breaks, the entire unit may need replacing
Small screen size can make navigating menus and reading long notifications difficult
GPS signal acquisition can occasionally be slow, taking several minutes to lock on
Heart rate accuracy can drop during high-intensity activities or those with heavy wrist movement like cycling
Lacks dedicated built-in swim tracking features despite being waterproof

Verdict

The Garmin Vivosport Large is an ultra-slim fitness tracker featuring a 0.38" x 0.76" always-on color Chroma touchscreen with a 72 x 144 pixel resolution, specifically sized for wrists measuring 148–215 mm in circumference. Weighing just 27.0 grams, it integrates built-in GPS, an Elevate wrist-based heart rate monitor, a barometric altimeter, and an accelerometer to track activities like running, cycling, and strength training with rep counting. Its primary advantages include a sunlight-readable display, VO2 max and fitness age estimates, stress tracking, and a versatile battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode or 8 hours with GPS enabled. However, notable drawbacks include a non-replaceable silicone band, the absence of dedicated swim tracking metrics despite a 5 ATM water rating, and a screen that some users find too small for easy menu navigation.

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