Wear Radar

Garmin EpixvsGarmin vivosmart 5

Garmin Epix
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Multisport athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who want the most visually impressive Garmin watch without sacrificing analytics. If you want Fenix-level capability with a beautiful display and don't need maximum battery life, the Epix Pro is the answer.

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Garmin vivosmart 5
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

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.

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Garmin EpixGarmin vivosmart 5
TierSports GPSFitness Tracker
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery16 days7 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, training readinesshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, pulse ox
ReleasedAug 31, 2023Apr 26, 2022
Cycle length590 days700 days
Cycle advicebadbad
Deals advicegoodgood
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Why buy each?

Garmin Epix

Best display in Garmin's lineup

AMOLED always-on display with significantly higher resolution and brightness than the Fenix MIP display — a meaningful advantage for readability in all conditions.

Fenix analytics in a slimmer case

Running dynamics, full TopoActive maps, training load, advanced sleep, race predictor — the complete Garmin suite in a less bulky package than the Fenix 8.

Up to 31 days battery (Sapphire Solar)

The Epix Pro Sapphire Solar edition achieves 31 days in smartwatch mode via solar charging — near-Fenix endurance with superior display quality.

Garmin vivosmart 5

Garmin Body Battery in a band

Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.

HRV status and stress tracking

Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.

Works with Garmin Connect ecosystem

All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.