Compare Garmin vívoactive 6 and vívoactive 5

Written by Lodi

Edited on

28 July 2025

·

08:54

Compare Garmin vívoactive 6 and vívoactive 5

In April 2025, Garmin launched the Garmin vívoactive 6. The vívoactive 6 succeeds the vívoactive 5, which released 2 years ago. The biggest differences between the Garmin vívoactive 5 and 6 are the smart alarm, more extensive running readings, and the morning report. Just like the vívoactive 5, the vívoactive 6 doesn't have an altimeter. You can read about all differences and similarities in this article.

Garmin vívoactive 6 vs Garmin vívoactive 5

Smart functions

vívoactive 6: smart alarm

vívoactive 6: smart alarm

With the Garmin vívoactive 6, you can read and answer your smartphone notifications and messages. New on the vívoactive 6 is the smart alarm. Wear the watch while you're sleeping and set up an alarm. the watch tracks when you're sleeping lighter. It'll then softly vibrate so you wake up slowly. You can listen to music without having your smartphone near you, because you can store music and podcasts on the vívoactive 6. You can also make contactless payments via Garmin Pay.

View the Garmin vívoactive 6
vívoactive 5: standard smart functions

vívoactive 5: standard smart functions

With the vívoactive 5, you'll also stay up to date on your smartphone messages. The vívoactive 5 doesn't have a smart alarm, so your watch doesn't calmly wake you up. Otherwise, the vívoactive 5 is similar to the vívoactive 6 in terms of functions. For example, you can also listen to your favorite music and podcasts via the vívoactive 5. That way, you can safely leave your smartphone at home while working out. You can also make contactless payments via Garmin Pay.

Sports and health

vívoactive 6: better running readings and sports options

vívoactive 6: better running readings and sports options

With the Garmin vívoactive 6. you can track your running practice more extensively than with the vívoactive 5. That way, you know how you're performing better and receive tips on how to improve yourself. The vívoactive 6 also has more sports options for flexibility and strength training. Don't know how an exercise works? On the screen of the vívoactive 6, you can see an animation of the exercise that you can easily follow. The vívoactive 6 doesn't measure differences in altitude, so you don't know how you're performing on hills.

vívoactive 5: basic sports readings

vívoactive 5: basic sports readings

With the vívoactive 5, you track your workouts less precisely than with the vívoactive 6. You also get less sports options, like strength training and exercises for flexibility. The vívoactive 5 doesn't have animations for various exercises. If you don't know how something works, you'll have to look it up somewhere else. Just like the vívoactive 6, the vívoactive 5 doesn't measure differences in altitude. This means you can't track the number of stairs you've walked or how you perform on hills.

Expert review of the Garmin vívoactive 5

Conclusion

Do you want a health watch that measures your data precisely and has many options? The vívoactive 6 is for you. You get more sports options, more explanations, can track your movement and health more precisely, and get a smart alarm. Both watches don't have a built-in altimeter. Do you want to know how you perform on hills? Take a look at the Garmin Venu 3.

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Article by Lodi

Smartwatch Expert.

Lodi