Garmin has just brought out their new Vivoactive 5 smartwatch. It has cool new things, especially for people who love to stay fit.
But wait, there’s the Apple Watch SE 2 as well. This watch is like a mini-smartphone on your wrist with lots of handy features.
So, which one is better for you? Garmin focuses primarily on health stuff, while Apple gives you a mix of many things.
If you’re scratching your head about which one to get, we’re here to help. Let’s look at both watches closely and see which one stands out.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2: Pricing
Let’s start our comparison with the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and the Apple Watch SE 2 pricing. Price is often a critical factor when choosing a smartwatch, and both devices cater to different budgets.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is priced at $300/€300/£260. It offers a range of features we’ll explore further in this article, making it a compelling choice for those looking for a mid-range smartwatch.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch SE 2 comes in at a slightly lower price point, starting at $249/£259/€399 for the 40mm version. For those who prefer cellular connectivity, there’s an option available at $299/£299/€479.
The Apple Watch SE 2 provides excellent value, considering the brand’s reputation and ecosystem.
Where to Buy?
| Model | Best Deal |
|---|---|
| Garmin Vivoactive 5 | View on Amazon |
| Apple Watch SE 2 | View on Amazon |
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2: Specs Comparison
| Product | Garmin Vivoactive 5 | Apple Watch SE 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Design & Material | Shape: Rectangular Body: Fiber-reinforced polymer Strap: Silicone | Shape: Rectangular Body: aluminum frame Strap: Various |
| Display | 1.2 inch AMOLED | 1.78 inch Retina LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels | 448 x 368 pixels (326 PPI density) |
| Dimension | 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1 mm | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm |
| Weight | 23 g | 33 g |
| Sensors | Garmin Elevate heart rate sensor Compass Accelerometer Thermometer Ambient light sensor Pulse ox blood oxygen saturation | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate (2nd gen), barometer, always-on altimeter, compass |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Battery | Up to 11 days | Up to 18 hours |
| Price | $299.99 | $249 |
Related:
- Fitbit Charge 6 vs Garmin Vivoactive 5: Which One to Buy?
- Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Forerunner 265 vs 965: In-Depth Comparison
- Garmin Venu 3 vs Apple Watch SE 2: Which is Right for You?
- Apple Watch Series 9 vs Garmin Venu 3: Which Should You Buy?
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2: In-Depth Review
Design & Build
It’s pretty simple: if you’re into round designs, the Vivoactive might be your style. But if you lean more towards square looks, then the Apple Watch is the way to go.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 boasts a sleek and lightweight design. It features an anodized aluminum bezel that exudes a premium feel. The watch’s 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, with a 390 x 390 pixels resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, ensures vibrant visuals and durability. It weighs just 23 grams and is 5 ATM waterproof, making it suitable for various activities, including swimming.
The Apple Watch SE 2 continues the tradition of Apple’s elegant design philosophy. Available in three aluminum finishes – Midnight, Starlight, and Silver – it maintains a familiar look while offering a touch of personalization. It is the most petite watch in Apple’s 2022 collection, with options in 40mm and 44mm sizes. Including toughened glass with curved edges on the front adds to its durability. Both versions pack with bright Retina LTPO OLED screen.
Health Features
Health tracking is a key area where both the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and the Apple Watch SE 2 shine. Let’s explore the health-related features of these smartwatches.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers comprehensive health monitoring capabilities. It can track your heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and sleep patterns. The sleep tracking feature provides personalized insights; the watch even tracks naps. With over 30 sport-tracking apps and onboard GPS, it’s an excellent choice for fitness enthusiasts. The Vivoactive 5 also monitors your exercise progress, suggests recovery times after workouts, and offers guided meditation sessions.
Garmin has introduced a “body battery” feature, which assesses your energy levels based on factors like stress, exercise load, and recovery data.
In contrast, the Apple Watch SE 2 offers robust health features. It includes motion sensors for movement tracking, personal fall detection, GPS for location and speed data, a pulse sensor for heart rate monitoring, and a noise sensor to warn of potential hearing damage. The SE 2’s most significant hardware addition is a more accurate accelerometer, enabling car crash detection features. This feature can automatically call emergency services if you’re involved in an accident.
The Apple Watch SE 2’s health-tracking capabilities complement software features such as sleep tracking and a medicine reminder tool. While it lacks the ECG, pulse oxygen sensor, and temperature sensor in the Series 8, it provides a reliable and comprehensive health monitoring experience.
GPS & Activity Tracking
GPS and accurate activity tracking are crucial for fitness enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Let’s see how the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and the Apple Watch SE 2 stack up in this regard.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 shines with its onboard GPS, which enables precise tracking of your outdoor activities. Whether running, cycling, hiking, or swimming, this smartwatch can provide accurate distance, pace, and route data. With over 30 preloaded sport-tracking apps, you can easily choose the activity that suits your lifestyle.
The Apple Watch SE 2 also includes GPS on all models, ensuring you can confidently track your outdoor workouts. Whether you’re going for a run or a bike ride, this watch can provide accurate location data. While it may not have as many preloaded sport-specific apps as the Vivoactive 5, it offers a versatile range of workouts through the Workouts app and supports third-party fitness apps like Strava.
OS & Compatibility
Both the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and the Apple Watch SE 2 run on their respective operating systems. Let’s take a look at the operating systems and device compatibility.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 operates on Garmin’s proprietary software, providing a user-friendly interface tailored to fitness and health tracking. It is compatible with iOS and Android devices, ensuring a broad user base can make the most of its features.
On the other hand, the Apple Watch SE 2 runs on watchOS, Apple’s well-polished operating system for wearables. It seamlessly integrates with iPhones, offering a cohesive ecosystem that includes features like notifications, messaging, and Apple Pay. This tight integration makes it an excellent choice for Apple users.
Smart Features
Smartwatches are more than just fitness trackers; they are also handy smartphone extensions. Let’s delve into the smart features of the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and the Apple Watch SE 2.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 has 4GB of onboard memory, allowing you to store music from popular platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. It offers comprehensive notification management, allowing you to stay connected to your messages and alerts. You can even type out messages on the watch’s screen when paired with an Android device. Furthermore, the Garmin Connect IQ Store offers a variety of watch faces and apps to enhance your experience. The Vivoactive 5 offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.
The Apple Watch SE 2 seamlessly integrates with your iPhone, providing a full-fledged Apple Watch experience. It allows you to receive calls, read and reply to messages, and access your calendar and emails. While it lacks an on-screen keyboard for typing messages, you can use dictation or handwriting input. Apple’s watchOS ecosystem offers a vast selection of apps through the App Store, enabling you to customize your watch’s functionality according to your needs.
Battery Life
Battery life is crucial when choosing a smartwatch, as it determines how often you’ll need to recharge. Let’s compare the battery life of the Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2.
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 impresses with its long-lasting battery life. It boasts up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, making it ideal for extended use between charges. A Power Mode can extend the battery life, making it a reliable companion for outdoor activities or travel.
The Apple Watch SE 2 offers a surprisingly efficient battery life, surpassing Apple’s official claims. While Apple advertises “up to 18 hours” of battery life, real-world usage reveals that it can easily last for two days or more, including sleep tracking. Enabling the Low Power Mode can extend the battery life even further. While it may not charge as fast as the Series 7 or Series 8, its extended battery life compensates for this drawback.
Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Apple Watch SE 2:: Which Should You Buy?
If your primary focus is fitness tracking and you value longer battery life, the Garmin VA5 might be the way to go. Especially if features like strength training appeal to you.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a watch that merges fitness with a suite of smart features, the Apple Watch SE 2 takes a lot of work to beat.
If you often use the microphone or reply to messages via your watch, Apple is the more fitting choice. But if fitness tracking, detailed workout insights, and infrequent charging are paramount, Garmin stands tall.
It all boils down to personal preferences and how you intend to use your watch most. Regardless of your choice, both watches offer impressive capabilities tailored to elevate your wrist game.
