Garmin · Updated June 2026
Garmin Vivosmart 5: price, specs & release date
Garmin Vivosmart 5, released 2022-04. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: garmin.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is listed at $149.99 on garmin.com as of 2026-06-27, #4 cheapest of 17 fitness trackers (median $249.99); other retailers may be lower. It earns a Bronze Deskmark — 11/100 pay-blind standing, #18 of 24 in class.
Verified Jun 27, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Accurate, responsive optical heart rate in workout/interval tests; Long ~7-day battery life (with all-day SpO2 disabled).
- Skip if No onboard GPS; relies on phone, causing distance errors on longer routes is a dealbreaker.
Is the Garmin Vivosmart 5 a good buy?
At $150, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is #4 cheapest of the 16 fitness trackers we track, where the median is $240. On the spec sheet, its battery days of 7 is below the median of the 24, its release of 2022 is below the median of the 17, and its water resistance of 50 m is at the median of the 24.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 3
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 4
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 3
3 independent labs measured this product, logging 4 distinct physical metrics between them — range, nighttime spo2, battery and weight. That is how much independent evidence stands behind any claim about it — not a rating of the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Garmin Vivosmart 5
Three whitelisted testers (DC Rainmaker, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) field-tested the exact Vivosmart 5. All praise its accurate optical heart rate, ~7-day battery (with all-day SpO2 off), and free no-subscription Garmin Connect data, but flag the dated monochrome screen and missing onboard GPS. DC Rainmaker calls it a rare miss and overpriced versus the $149 Fitbit Charge 5; TechRadar calls it excellent for everyday wellbeing; Tom's Guide rates it a good tracker that falls short without GPS.
Based on 3 reviews · 3 lab-tested · 2022-04–2022-10
Tested by DC Rainmaker, Tom's Guide, TechRadar
Consistently praised
- Accurate, responsive optical heart rate in workout/interval tests · 3 sources
- Long ~7-day battery life (with all-day SpO2 disabled) · 3 sources
- Deep Garmin Connect data with no subscription paywall (unlike Fitbit) · 3 sources
- Added physical button and larger display improve usability over Vivosmart 4 · 3 sources
Commonly flagged
- No onboard GPS; relies on phone, causing distance errors on longer routes · 3 sources
- Dated monochrome screen, hard to read outdoors/on the move · 3 sources
- All-day SpO2 monitoring drains battery drastically (to ~3-4 days) · 3 sources
Where reviewers disagree Overall value split: DC Rainmaker calls it a 'rare miss' and overpriced against the $149 Fitbit Charge 5, while TechRadar rates it 'excellent' for everyday wellbeing and Tom's Guide sees it as a solid but GPS-limited tracker. On accuracy, all three found HR strong; DC Rainmaker flagged cycling HR and connected-GPS distance as notably less reliable than running.
The sources (3)
Connected-GPS distance error (easy run): measured 130m longer on 7,200m vs Fitbit Charge 5 (same phone GPS source) · Connected-GPS distance error (3.5hr ride): recorded 109km vs actual 87km (added 20km) despite skipping sections · Nighttime SpO2 (PulseOx) readings: consistently in the mid to upper 80's, far below other blood oxygen sensors during sleep
the Vivosmart 5’s optical HR sensor during workouts is largely spot-on, with only minor issues (save cycling, which is less accurate)
Unfortunately, the Vivosmart 5 is a rare miss for a company that’s been on a streak for a while.
The pricing on this simply doesn’t match the market realities. With the AMOLED-based, always-on-display Fitbit Charge 5 with ECG and GPS also priced at $149, it’s not even close.
Battery life (all-day SpO2 off): around seven days, pretty accurate during testing · Battery life (all-day SpO2 on): reduced to around three days max · Battery life (overnight SpO2 + one workout/day): around five days between charges · Charge time (flat to 100%): around 2 hours · Connected-GPS distance error (city run): read 5.2 miles vs 5.0 on Fenix 6 (iPhone 11 GPS) · Connected-GPS distance error (10-mile hike): added on an extra mile and a half
Garmin says the Vivosmart 5 has a battery life of around seven days, and this was pretty accurate during testing, as long as the all-day blood oxygen monitoring was turned off. With the all-day monitoring turned on, the battery life was reduced to around three days max.
It's a good little fitness tracker, but without onboard GPS, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 falls short compared to the Fitbit Charge 5.
the display on the Vivosmart 5 is still not the easiest screen to view, especially when you're on the move
Battery life (24-hour SpO2 + one workout/day): lasted four days and nights · Charge time (from flat): a little over two hours · Weight (small/medium, with band): 24.5g · Weight (large, with band): 26.5g
In our tests, the watch lasted four days and nights with 24-hour SpO2 monitoring enabled, and tracking one workout per day. We were able to recharge the battery from flat in a little over two hours.
it proved accurate and responsive in our interval training tests
The lack of on-board GPS is a shame, but for keeping tabs on your everyday wellbeing and recovery stats, it's excellent.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $149.99 US MSRP at launch Apr 20 2022. |
|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin |
| Released | 2022-04 |
| Form factor | band |
| Display | OLED 0.84in monochrome |
| Battery days | 7 |
| Gps | No |
| Spo2 | Yes |
| Ecg | No |
| Subscription required | No |
| Water resistance (m) | 50 |
Source: garmin.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by www8.garmin.com. Price $149.99 confirmed via Notebookcheck launch article and search results. Release Apr 20 2022 from Garmin newsroom and TechRadar review. Display 0.84" monochrome OLED (154x88px) from GSMArena news and Android Central review. Battery 7 days from Garmin official announcement; ~4 days with 24/7 SpO2. No built-in GPS (connected/phone GPS only) confirmed by TechRadar and Android Central reviews. SpO2 yes, ECG no. Water resistance 5 ATM (50m) confirmed by Garmin owner manual and TechRadar. No subscription required.
Is the Garmin Vivosmart 5 worth it vs cheaper fitness trackers?
Garmin Vivosmart 5 against its closest cheaper and pricier fitness trackers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 17 ranked
| Product | Price | Form factor | Display | Battery days | Gps | Spo2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Vivosmart 5 this | $149.99 | band | OLED 0.84in monochrome | 7 | No | Yes |
| Amazfit Active 2 | $99.99 | smartwatch | AMOLED 1.32in | 10 | Yes | Yes |
| Fitbit Charge 6 | $159.95 | band | AMOLED 1.04in | 7 | Yes | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Garmin Vivosmart 5?
Three whitelisted testers (DC Rainmaker, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) field-tested the exact Vivosmart 5. All praise its accurate optical heart rate, ~7-day battery (with all-day SpO2 off), and free no-subscription Garmin Connect data, but flag the dated monochrome screen and missing onboard GPS. DC Rainmaker calls it a rare miss and overpriced versus the $149 Fitbit Charge 5; TechRadar calls it excellent for everyday wellbeing; Tom's Guide rates it a good tracker that falls short without GPS. Praised: Accurate, responsive optical heart rate in workout/interval tests; Long ~7-day battery life (with all-day SpO2 disabled); Deep Garmin Connect data with no subscription paywall (unlike Fitbit); Added physical button and larger display improve usability over Vivosmart 4. Flagged: No onboard GPS; relies on phone, causing distance errors on longer routes; Dated monochrome screen, hard to read outdoors/on the move; All-day SpO2 monitoring drains battery drastically (to ~3-4 days). (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
How much does the Garmin Vivosmart 5 cost?
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 has a US price of $149.99 (US MSRP at launch Apr 20 2022.), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Garmin Vivosmart 5 compare on price?
At $150, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is #4 cheapest of the 16 fitness trackers we track, where the median is $240.
When was the Garmin Vivosmart 5 released?
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 was released 2022-04.
What are the Garmin Vivosmart 5's key specs?
Garmin Vivosmart 5 (Garmin): form factor band, display OLED 0.84in monochrome, battery days 7, gps No, spo2 Yes. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $149.99 at garmin.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Garmin Vivosmart 5 on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar fitness trackers
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