Early in release cycle
Best for: Android and iPhone users who want a premium smartwatch experience — full offline maps, ECG, long battery, and a bright sapphire display — at a price well below Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. A strong choice for runners, hikers, and health-focused users who want GPS map navigation without a subscription.
Full details →Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming
Best for: Garmin users and health-focused individuals who want Body Battery, HRV, and advanced sleep analytics in a slim, discreet wristband rather than a sports watch. Compatible with both iPhone and Android via Garmin Connect.
Full details →| Amazfit Balance | Garmin vivosmart 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Smartwatch | Fitness Tracker |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 21 days | 7 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | ecg, spo2, hrv, hr, body comp, stress | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, pulse ox |
| Released | Jun 24, 2025 | Apr 26, 2022 |
| Cycle length | 601 days | 700 days |
| Cycle advice | good | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | great |
| Next model | — | Garmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026) |
21 days typical use and 33 hours GPS — combined with a scratch-resistant sapphire glass 1.5" AMOLED that outshines most watches at this price.
Precise dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS across six satellite systems, with downloadable offline topo maps and turn-by-turn navigation — rare at this price tier.
First Amazfit with official HYROX training and competition modes, 40,000-course golf maps, and SCUBA dive support — more sport breadth than any previous Balance.
Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.
Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.
All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.