Garmin vivoactive 5 vs Garmin vivoactive 6
These two are very similar: both have AMOLED screens, built-in GPS and Garmin software. The main difference: the vivoactive 6 has 8 GB of storage against 4 GB, more room for music and maps.
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Key differences
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Battery life
Evenly matched
Similar battery life: up to 11 days and 11 days.
-
GPS
Evenly matched
Both have built-in GPS with similar features.
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Display
Evenly matched
Both have AMOLED screens of a similar size.
-
Health
Evenly matched
Much the same health sensors.
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Weight
Evenly matched
Similar weight: 23 g and 23 g.
Other differences
- Storage vivoactive 6 wins
The vivoactive 6 has 8 GB of storage against 4 GB, more room for music and maps.
- Training metrics vivoactive 6 wins
The vivoactive 6 adds training metrics such as training effect and race predictor.
- Satellite systems vivoactive 6 wins
The vivoactive 6 uses 5 satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) against 3, which helps it lock on faster.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the vivoactive 5 if…
- You prefer its look and app: it covers the same essentials as the vivoactive 6.
Choose the vivoactive 6 if…
- You load music or maps onto the watch: it has 8 GB.
- You follow your training closely: it adds training effect and race predictor.
- You want a quick GPS lock anywhere: it uses more satellite systems.
Full spec comparison
On the specs both makers publish, these two are closely matched.
Green cells with a ✓ mark the better spec in that row. Tick "Show differences only" to hide the rows where they match.
Overview
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Garmin | Garmin |
| Series | vívoactive | vívoactive |
Platform & apps
Both work with the same phones and software.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Garmin | Garmin |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Storage | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| App store | Yes | Yes |
Display
The screens are closely matched.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.2 in | 1.2 in |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 | 390 x 390 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 325 ppi |
| Colour display | Yes | Yes |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Controls | touchscreen, buttons | touchscreen |
Design & durability
Both are similar in size, weight and water rating.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Case sizes | 42.2 mm | 42.2 mm |
| Case shape | Round | Round |
| Dimensions | 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1 mm | 42.2 x 42.2 x 10.9 mm |
| Thickness | 11.1 mm | 10.9 mm |
| Weight (case) | 23 g | 23 g |
| Weight with band | 36 g | 36 g |
| Case material | fiber-reinforced polymer | fiber-reinforced polymer |
| Bezel material | anodized aluminum | anodized aluminum |
| Lens | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Band material | silicone | silicone |
| Band width | 20 mm | 20 mm |
| Band fitting | 20 mm, Industry standard | 20 mm quick release |
| Fits wrists | 125-190 mm | 125-190 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Battery
Battery life is close on both.
How you use the screen, GPS and notifications will matter more than the difference between them.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (smartwatch mode) | 11 days | 11 days |
| Battery (GPS) | 21 hours | 21 hours |
| All battery modes | Smartwatch: 11 days; Always-on display: 5 days; Battery saver: 21 days; GPS: 21 hours; All satellite systems: 17 hours; All satellite systems: 8 hours | Smartwatch: 11 days; Always-on display: 5 days; Battery saver: 21 days; GPS: 21 hours; All satellite systems: 17 hours; Multi-band GPS + music: 8 hours |
| Battery type | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
| Charging | proprietary-plug | proprietary-plug |
GPS & navigation
The vivoactive 6 is ahead on GPS and navigation.
It uses more satellite systems, and the vivoactive 5 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Built-in | Built-in |
| Satellite systems | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Navigation features | back-to-start | back-to-start |
Health & sensors
Both track much the same health data.
Heart rate, sleep and the extra sensors line up closely.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | optical HR, SpO2, accelerometer, compass, ambient light | optical HR, SpO2, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light |
| Heart-rate sensor | Garmin Elevate | Garmin Elevate |
| Heart-rate tracking | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| High/low heart-rate alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate variability | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration rate | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Sleep coaching | Sleep coaching |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Energy score | Body Battery | Body Battery |
| Cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
Safety
Both offer much the same safety features.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency SOS | — | Via phone |
| Incident detection | Yes | Yes |
Training
The vivoactive 6 is ahead on training features.
It has more training metrics, and the vivoactive 5 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto activity detection | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Pool and open water | Pool and open water |
| Underwater heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| Training metrics | VO2 max, recovery time, HRV status | VO2 max, training effect, recovery time, race predictor, HRV status |
| Adaptive coaching | — | Yes |
| Running dynamics | — | Yes |
| Strength rep counting | Yes | Yes |
| Heart-rate broadcast | Yes | Yes |
| External sensors | ANT+, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights, golf club tags | ANT+, foot pod, speed/cadence, bike radar/lights, golf club tags |
Smart features
The vivoactive 6 is ahead on smart features.
It has more storage (8 GB), and the vivoactive 5 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Message replies | Android | Android |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Payment service | Garmin Pay | Garmin Pay |
| Cellular | None | — |
| Music storage | Yes | Yes |
| Find my phone | Yes | Yes |
| Find my watch | Yes | Yes |
Diving, golf & more
Neither has a specialist edge here.
| Spec | Garmin vivoactive 5 | Garmin vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist modes | golf, ski | golf, ski |