Garmin Vivoactive HR

Fitness trackers / Built-in data readout

The Garmin Vivoactive HR is a watch based fitness tracker with a 1.4 inch color touchscreen LCD display, real-time heart rate monitor, step counting, sleep tracking and calories burned.

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CR's Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested Fitness trackers

What goes into the Overall Score?

Ease of use

/ 5

Step count accuracy

/ 5

Heart-rate monitor accuracy

/ 5

Versatility

/ 5

Ease of interaction

/ 5

Readability in bright light

/ 5

Readability in low light

/ 5

Ease of pairing

/ 5

Water resistance

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

Overall this model was somewhat easy to use, somewhat accurate for counting steps, and very good at measuring heart-rate accuracy. With recent version iPhones, our experts found it somewhat difficult to pair, somewhat difficult to synch, very easy to interact with, and likewise for recent version Android phones, somewhat difficult to pair, somewhat difficult to synch, and very easy to interact with. It is very easy to attach to the body, somewhat easy to recharge the battery and in our water immersion test it passed the manufacturer's claim of 164 feet.

About

The Garmin Vivoactive HR is a watch based fitness tracker with a 1.4 inch color LCD display steps, sleep, and calories. It has a touchscreen display. The manufacturer claims a battery life of 8 days. It is available in regular, extra large sizes. It has the following sensors: accelerometer, heart rate monitor, GPS, barometer, altimeter. It has notifications for emails, texts, alerts. It has socialization features: Garmin Connect online community - create challenges with friends. It includes inactivity alerts which remind you to move if you are sitting for a long time. It has a find my phone feature. It has extra features such as: Garmin Connect compatible (online community where you analyze, categorize, and share data), bike speed/cadence sensor, controls VIRB action camcorders, has electronic compass, has find my location, can save location. Included accessories: USB charging clip. Its dimensions are 1.2 x 0.5 inches (width/thickness) and it weighs 1.7 ounces.

Features & Specs

Features

Activity results read from device

yes

Displays time

yes

Touch screen

yes

Color display

yes

Display type

color touchscreen LCD

Backlight

Real-time heart-rate monitor

yes

Heart-rate monitor type

Active

Heart-rate monitor requires chest strap

Step counting

yes

Inactivity alerts

yes

Multi-sport tracking

running, walking, swimming, golfing, cycling, rowing, ski/boarding, crossboarding, standup paddling board

Sensor types

accelerometer, heart-rate monitor, GPS, barometer, altimeter

WiFi

Music controls

yes

Standalone GPS

Connected GPS

OS compatibility

iOS, Android

App name

Garmin Connect

Battery life

8 days

Battery removable

Notifications

yes

Notification types

emails, texts, alerts

Socialization

yes

Socialization features

Garmin Connect online community - create challenges with friends

Sleep tracking

yes

Sleep sensing method

Auto

Floors climbed

yes

Alarm type

Vibration

Included accessories

USB charging clip

SpO2 sensor

GPS tracking

yes

Bluetooth USB dongle

Food tracking

Specs

Type

watch

Sizes

regular, extra large

Display size

1.4 in.

Width

Depth

Weight

1.7 oz.

Warranty

1 yrs.

Dimensions (WxD)

1.2 x 0.5

Color

Black

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Garmin Vivoactive HR

CR's Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

Features & Specs

Features & Specs

Features

Specs

Price & Shop

Price & Shop

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