Garmin vivosmart 4 vs 5 - What are the differences?

Written by Lucas B | published on 13.09.2022 | no comments |
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Garmin vivosmart 4 vs 5 - What are the differences? Since 2018, it was quiet about the Garmin vivosmart 4. But now, about 4 years later, comes the Garmin vivosmart 5. After the time, you might suspect that some of the technology has changed. However, the changes are quite small. A few noteworthy ones are present, however. Among other things, Pulse Ox and an SOS function. Let's take a closer look at the differences between the Garmin vivosmart 4 and 5 in comparison.

Comparison table

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Image
Model Garmin vivosmart 4* Garmin vivosmart 5*
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Touchdisplay Touchdisplay Yes Touchdisplay Yes
Color display Color display No Color display No
Display, length Display, length 17,70 mm Display, length 18,50 mm
Display, width Display, width 6,60 mm Display, width 10,50 mm
Resolution Resolution 48x128 px Resolution 88 x 154 px
Battery (up to) Battery (up to) 7 days Battery (up to) 7 days
Build in GPS Build in GPS No Build in GPS No
GPS GPS Über Handyverbindung GPS Über Handyverbindung
Floors Floors Yes Floors No
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Comparison: Garmin vivosmart vs vivosmart 5

Display

Both Garmin vivosmart generations have an OLED touch display without color. Whereas the touch function on the Garmin vivosmart 5 have been improved

The size and resolution of the display have also changed. With the Garmin vivosmart 5 you get a larger display compared to the Garmin vivosmart 4:
 
The resolution has also been improved in the successor with it. With the Garmin vivosmart 5 you get now 88 x 154 px. The predecessor has 48 x  128px.

Design and size

Overall, the Garmin vivosmart 5 has become larger than its predecessor:
 
  • Garmin vivosmart 4: 15 x 10.5 x 197 mm
  • Garmin vivosmart 5: 19.5 x 10.7 x 217 mm

The weight has thus grown accordingly to 14.5 g. The Garmin vivosmart 4 weighs 16.5 g. In the large version, both are still slightly heavier.

Does the Garmin vivosmart 5 have GPS?

Neither the Garmin vivosmart 4, nor the Garmin vivosmart 5, have built-in GPS. Both use only connected GPS via the smartphone. This simply uses the GPS from the smartphone. Really contemporary this is not in my opinion.

If you are interested in GPS and want to stay in the same segment, you should rather reach for the Fibit Charge 5 or Fitbit Charge 4. Both offer more and also have built-in GPS (Comparison Fitbit Charge 4 and 5).

If you're looking for GPS on a Garmin fitness tracker, you'll have to reach for the Garmin vivoactive 4*. Alternatively to the Garmin Venu*, which trumps with a better display (Comparison Garmin vivoactive 4 vs Venu).

Floors and altimeter

Compared to the Garmin vivosmart 4, the Garmin vivosmart 5 has also lost one feature. There is no longer an altimeter, which means that the Garmin vivosmart 5 can no longer count floors.

A function, however, which is buggy either way with many fitness trackers. Especially in warm weather, counting floors often does not work properly.

Sleep tracking

Sleep tracking has been optimized for the Garmin vivosmart 5 darfür. In addition, you also get more data on your sleep analysis with the Garmin vivosmart 5.

HiiT

In addition to the sports variants, which already the Garmin vivosmart 4 unstützt, the Garmin vivosmart still offers HiiT training. A point, which was criticized in the predecessor years ago.

Pulse Ox

Although both fitness trackers have a blood oxygen measurement, only the vivosmart 5 also measures throughout the day. The Garmin vivosmart 4 can only use Pulse Ox during training mode and optionally during sleep.

SOS: Garmin vivosmart 5

A special feature, which I already announced at the beginning in the comparison: The security function at the Garmin vivosmart 5*.

With this, the fitness tracker detects when something unusual happens during an activity. For example, if you fall off your bike. In that case, the fitness tracker can send a message to a specific contact. The function is also known from the larger models, such as the Garmin Fenix 7. As a small SOS tracker so not a bad choice

Which Garmin vivosmart is better?

In summary, the upgrades to the Garmin vivosmart 5 are relatively minor. The advancement after 4 years is somewhat disappointing. I recommend you rather reach for the Fitbit Charge 5* for a small fitness tracker. Here you get more for your money, as you can also see in the Comparison between the Fitbit Charge 5 and Garmin vivosmart 5.

Garmin is good, but more in the area of large fitness trackers. These include, for example, the Garmin vivoactive or the Garmin Fenix models (Garmin Fenix 6 vs Garmin Fenix 7).

If you want to decide between the Garmin vivosmart 4 and vivosmart 5: Then take the Garmin vivosmart 5*. Here you get better sleep tracking and an SOS function, which can be quite handy. In addition, the Garmin vivosmart 4 is already extremely outdated, which would also make a change worthwhile.
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Geschrieben von Lucas B
Lucas ist einer der Betreiber und Entwickler von buffcoach. Obwohl er im Bereich der IT tätig ist, nehmen Sport und Ernährung einen sehr großen Anteil seines Lebens ein. Er trainiert im Bereich des Kraftsports nach Grundlagen von Crosstraining. Sein Ziel ist es stark und fit zu sein. Eine gesunde Ernährung ist damit eng verbunden. Sein Wissen teilt er auf buffcoach.net im Magazin und Forum.
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