The Vivoactive 5 and Instinct 2 are two popular Garmin watches, but which is best for you?

With a slight difference in their price tags, choosing between them boils down to personal needs and preferences.

For those who want a stylish and versatile smartwatch that can track workouts and serve as a smartphone extension for music and navigation, the Vivoactive 5 is the perfect choice. Its sleek design seamlessly fits any occasion, be it formal or casual, and features like Garmin Pay and built-in music storage make it even more irresistible. 

On the other hand, if ruggedness paired with advanced sports features is your priority, then the Instinct 2, boasting a tough fiber-reinforced resin exterior and outstanding battery life (especially in the solar models), is worth considering. 

To make a well-informed decision, let’s take a closer look and compare the options in-depth.

Also See: Garmin Venu 3 vs Instinct 2: Which is Right for You?

Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Instinct 2: Price & Availability

When it comes to price and options, the Vivoactive 5 and Instinct 2 from Garmin offer variety without breaking the bank.

The Vivoactive 5 is tagged at a comfortable $299.99 / £259.99. For those who love to have a bit of color choice, this watch doesn’t disappoint, offering shades like classic black, elegant ivory, rich navy, and vibrant orchid.

On the flip side, the Garmin Instinct 2 has a slightly higher starting price of $349.99 / £299.99 for the basic non-solar variant. If you’re willing to splurge a bit more, the Instinct 2 Solar Tactical Edition tops the range with a price tag of $499.99 / £429.99. What makes the Instinct 2 stand out is its assortment of choices. It’s available in two sizes, 40mm and 45mm, and for those who fancy a bit of solar energy boost, models with solar glass are up for grabs.

For fans of unique designs, the Instinct 2 offers special editions. There’s the Camo edition, which, while not boasting extra features, brings a flair with its patterned band and bezel. The Tactical edition, tailored for service personnel, the Surf edition for the wave riders featuring tide times and a unique surf activity tracker, and the Dezl edition, crafted specifically for our road warriors – the truck drivers, all make the Instinct 2 a diverse offering for different tastes and needs.

Where to Buy?

Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Instinct 2: Design & Display

When you lay your eyes on the Vivoactive 5 and Instinct 2, one thing is evident: Garmin doesn’t skimp on the build quality. 

Both watches come housed in a sturdy resin case and are accompanied by soft silicone straps. But if elegance is your game, the Vivoactive 5 edges out with its sophisticated brushed metal bezel.

In terms of button placements, the Vivoactive 5 keeps it minimalistic. It sports just two buttons on its right side, leaving the rest of the tasks to the touchscreen. A noteworthy mention is the Venu 3 series, which includes an additional button for the microphone. 

Meanwhile, the Instinct 2 offers a more tactile experience with five buttons: select, back, up, down, and backlight. Without a touchscreen, these buttons guide you through the watch’s functions. The small screen at the watch’s top right corner ensures easy menu navigation by offering context.

For those who love personalization, both watches allow for strap swaps. Whether you fancy silicone, woven, leather, or metal, Garmin has got you covered.

The stark difference between these two watches is their screens. The Vivoactive 5 parades a vibrant AMOLED touchscreen, teeming with colors. The Instinct 2, on the other hand, showcases a simpler monochrome memory-in-pixel (MiP) display that’s strictly button-operated.

While the Instinct 2’s screen might seem basic, its small secondary display is a game changer. It can present data like temperature or your daily step count and is a godsend when navigating menus. Despite its grayscale nature, it’s efficient and conserves battery. However, it falters when tasked with displaying intricate details like maps.

The Vivoactive 5’s screen shines when rendering bright and sharp maps, thanks to its higher resolution and refresh rate. It does have a slight drawback: while it doesn’t support animated workouts, it uses more battery, leading to more frequent charging sessions.

Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Instinct 2: Health & Fitness Features

In terms of fitness tracking, both the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and Instinct 2 make a strong stand. They come equipped with GPS, allowing you to track your outdoor activities. But when you dive deeper, it becomes evident that the Instinct 2 is tailored more towards outdoor sports enthusiasts, especially runners.

Runners can benefit from features like performance condition ratings on the Instinct 2. Wondering how you might fare in a race? The Instinct 2’s race predictor estimates your finish times for various distances, from a 5k to a marathon. As you get fitter, these predicted times drop, motivating you to push harder. Another gem for adventurers is the TracBack feature which guides you back along your recorded path, ensuring you can always find your way back. And if you’re into trail running, the elevation profiles, auto climb mode, and calculations of your total ascent and descent are invaluable.

For the cyclists among us, the Instinct 2 truly shines. While the Vivoactive 5 offers basic cycling tracking, the Instinct 2 goes the extra mile with multiple profiles, catering to road cycling, mountain biking, and even e-biking, among others. It pairs seamlessly with power meters and can read speed and cadence sensors, enhancing the ride data.

Swimmers aren’t left behind either. The Vivoactive 5 does a fair job with features like stroke detection and metrics for pool swims. But Instinct 2 dives deeper, providing metrics for open water swims, logging drills, and even suggesting pool workouts tailored to your fitness and activity history.

However, the Vivoactive 5, or rather the Venu 2, holds its own ground with its bright AMOLED screen. This screen not only adds a splash of color but also presents fitness data in a clearer, more vivid manner.

Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Instinct 2: Smart Features

Both the Vivoactive 5 and the Instinct 2 make solid choices for everyday wear. They keep you connected by showing messages from your phone and giving you a nudge when someone’s calling. But when we dive deeper into their smart features, the Vivoactive 5 takes a slight edge.

For music lovers, both watches allow you to control tunes on your phone. However, only the Vivoactive 5 lets you leave your phone at home during workouts, thanks to its built-in music storage.

Personalizing your watch is easy with both. Through Garmin Connect IQ, you can download new apps and choose from different watch faces to suit your style. And when it comes to shopping, both devices have you covered with Garmin Pay, letting you make contactless payments on the go.

For Android users, there’s a bit more convenience. Both the Vivoactive 5 and Instinct 2 let you decline calls and send a quick text response. However, if you’re looking for the ability to talk directly through the watch, neither of these has a microphone or speaker. You’d have to look at models like the Venu 3 or Venu 2 Plus for that.

Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Instinct 2: Battery Life

Battery life is an essential aspect of any smartwatch, and when comparing the Garmin Vivoactive 5 with the Garmin Instinct 2, there’s a clear distinction thanks to their different displays.

The Garmin Instinct 2, with its more battery-friendly display, undeniably outshines the Vivoactive 5 in terms of battery duration. However, the Vivoactive 5 doesn’t lag far behind. With its AMOLED display, Garmin assures users of up to 11 days of battery life in standard smartwatch mode. But if you’re a fan of the always-on-screen feature, this drops to 5 days. For those wanting to stretch it further, the battery-saver mode can offer up to 21 days. 

For those frequenting the outdoors with the Vivoactive 5, you can expect up to 17 hours in the highest GPS accuracy mode. This jumps to 21 hours in standard GPS mode, but with music streaming, it dwindles to 8 hours. From real-life testing, a half-hour run, without the always-on feature, resulted in less than a 5% battery drop.

The Instinct 2, especially its solar variants, takes battery life to the next level. If exposed to a few hours of sunlight daily, they promise extended durations between charges. There’s even a bold claim by Garmin that if you’re constantly outdoors, say as a lifeguard, the battery life might be practically endless!

However, a reality check is necessary. Features like GPS tracking, music playback, and SpO2 monitoring are battery hogs. Here’s a quick comparison between the standard Instinct 2 and its solar variant:

Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs Instinct 2: Which Should You Buy?

Deciding between the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and the Garmin Instinct 2 can feel challenging. 

Both have their strengths, but your unique needs will help steer your choice. Let’s break it down.

Buy Garmin Vivoactive 5 if…

• Style matters to you: With its sleek design, it fits both casual and formal settings.
• You want music on the go: It’s the only one with built-in music storage, so you can listen without your phone during workouts.
• You like vibrant displays: Its AMOLED touchscreen is colorful and sharp.
• You value a touch interface: Unlike the Instinct 2, it boasts a touchscreen.

Buy Garmin Instinct 2 if…

• Toughness is key: With its rugged fiber-reinforced exterior, it’s built to withstand rough conditions.
• Battery life is a priority: The solar models, have impressive battery longevity.
• You want more design variety: It comes in two sizes, special editions, and has a solar energy option.
• You’re an outdoor sports enthusiast: It offers detailed features for runners, cyclists, and swimmers.
• You like physical buttons: With five buttons and no touchscreen, it offers a tactile navigation experience.

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