Our verdict: The Garmin vívosmart 5 ranks 5th of the 10 fitness trackers we compare, with 8.5 out of 10.
Garmin vívosmart 5
8.5/10
The Garmin vívosmart 5 is a slim fitness band with a small touchscreen and Garmin's health tracking, for iPhone or Android. It suits everyday wear and sleep tracking more than serious runners or cyclists.
Slim band with interchangeable straps and a small touchscreen
Body Battery, stress, sleep score and Pulse Ox
Up to 7 days of battery
Works with iPhone and Android, with no subscription required
Keep in mind
No built-in GPS, so it borrows your phone's for runs
Screen is small and grayscale, and the touchscreen can be fussy with wet fingers
Older design, with a small screen next to newer bands
Owners report some units failing early
Why the Garmin vívosmart 5 scores 8.5
Each bar shows where it places among the 10 fitness trackers in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.
How happy owners are4th of 10
How many rated it3rd of 10
How new it is10th of 10
Why it sits behind the Samsung Galaxy Fit3
The Samsung Galaxy Fit3 (8.6) beats the Garmin vívosmart 5 (8.5): owners are about as happy with both, and it is the newer design.
About the Garmin vívosmart 5
The vívosmart 5 is a screen-equipped band with a grayscale OLED touchscreen and one physical button. The display is about 0.4 by 0.7 inches (10.5 x 18.5 mm). Straps swap out, and it comes in Small/Medium and Large. Small/Medium fits wrists of roughly 4.8 to 7.4 inches, and Large fits roughly 5.8 to 9 inches.
Heart rate comes from a wrist sensor, and Pulse Ox covers blood oxygen. Body Battery, stress and a sleep score come through Garmin Connect, and core tracking needs no subscription. It has no built-in GPS: walks, runs and rides use the GPS of a paired phone. It also has no NFC, so there is no Garmin Pay.
Garmin rates battery life at up to 7 days, and says actual life depends on the features you use. Water resistance is 5 ATM, equal to pressure at 50 meters. The band weighs about 0.9 ounces in Small/Medium. It broadcasts heart rate over ANT+ and Bluetooth, which apps like Zwift and Peloton can pick up.
What owners report about the Garmin vívosmart 5
Owners like the light, comfortable band and a battery that lasts several days between charges. Many find it easy to use for steps, heart rate and sleep. Complaints include a screen that is small, buttons and swipes that people mix up, and a band that irritated some wrists.
Durability is the weak spot. Garmin forum threads describe units that stopped charging properly, drained from full in about an hour, switched off when an activity started, or went dark while still syncing with the phone. Some failures came within four months, and one came after more than two years. In one thread Garmin's moderator pointed owners to support for an exchange. Another owner got a replacement module under warranty on a four-month-old unit. Notebookcheck also reports owners finding the band housing wearing out so the tracker can work loose.
Reviewers add that the touchscreen is hard to use with wet fingers and that phone-borne GPS can skip sections on bike rides.
Who the Garmin vívosmart 5 suits
Buy it for steady daily wear: sleep, stress, heart rate and Body Battery on a light band, with no subscription fee and a week of battery. It works with iPhone and Android.
Look elsewhere if you run or ride and want to leave the phone at home: Garmin vívoactive 6 or Amazfit Active 2 have GPS. If you want a larger color screen, Fitbit Inspire 3 or Samsung Galaxy Fit3 are options. Buyers who worry about early failures may prefer another band.
Questions about the Garmin vívosmart 5
Is the Garmin vívosmart 5 good?
Yes, for everyday tracking. It gives heart rate, Pulse Ox, sleep and Body Battery on a light band with a week of battery. It is weaker for training, since it has no GPS, and some owners report units failing early.
Is there a monthly fee for the Garmin vívosmart 5?
No. Its core tracking and safety features need no subscription, according to DC Rainmaker's review.
Does the Garmin vívosmart 5 have GPS?
No. It uses the GPS of your paired phone for outdoor walks, runs and rides.
Is the Garmin vívosmart 5 waterproof?
It is rated 5 ATM, which Garmin describes as pressure at a depth of 50 meters. Reviewers note the touchscreen is hard to use when wet.
How long does the Garmin vívosmart 5 battery last?
Up to 7 days, per Garmin. Real life depends on features such as Pulse Ox and notifications.
Other fitness tracker picks
The other badge winners in our fitness trackers ranking.
Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 15 models for this guide before settling on these ten.
Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.
