| Garmin vivosmart 5 | Google Pixel Watch | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $149★ | $399 |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $99/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 25g★ | 31g |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 50m |
| Battery | 7 days★ | 1.25 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ✅★ |
| GPS | ❌ | ✅★ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ✅★ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | Android only |
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Smartwatch |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Apr 26, 2022 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| Cycle advice | bad | good★ |
| Deals advice | good | good |
| Next model | Garmin vivosmart 6 (Rumoured for Q4 2026) | — |
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.
Pixel Watch 5 can detect when your heart stops and automatically call emergency services — a safety feature not found on Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.
Three months of Google Health Premium comes with the watch, alongside a Readiness Score, HRV analysis, and blood pressure pattern tracking.
Google's cleanest Wear OS implementation with fast updates, Gemini on the wrist, Google Maps, and Google Wallet built in.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$359 vs $696 over 3 years.
7 days vs 1.25 days battery.
10 sensors.
25g.
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 →Pixel phone owners and Android users who want clean Wear OS integration, Google Health (formerly Fitbit) tracking, and safety-focused features. Ideal for fitness-focused users who prefer Google's approach over Samsung's more feature-packed ecosystem.
Full details →