Wear Radar

Garmin vivosmart 5vsWHOOP 5.0

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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WHOOP 5.0
Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

Best for: Athletes, coaches, and fitness-obsessed users who want deep recovery and sleep data without screen distractions. WHOOP suits those who train hard and want to understand whether their body is ready to push. Not for casual users or those who want smartwatch features like notifications or GPS.

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Garmin vivosmart 5WHOOP 5.0
TierFitness TrackerFitness Tracker
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery7 days5 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, pulse oxhrv, spo2, skin temp, respiratory rate, strain
ReleasedApr 26, 2022Sep 1, 2025
Cycle length700 days1461 days
Cycle advicebadgood
Deals advicegoodneutral
Next modelWHOOP 6.0 (Expected ~2029)

Why buy each?

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.

WHOOP 5.0

Screenless by design

No distractions — WHOOP tracks everything without buzzing, glowing, or asking for your attention. All data lives in the app.

Best-in-class recovery tracking

WHOOP's Recovery Score synthesises HRV, resting heart rate, sleep quality, and respiratory rate to tell you how ready your body is each day.

Charges while you wear it

The WHOOP battery pack slides onto the device and charges it without removal — no gaps in overnight sleep tracking.