Early in release cycle
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.
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 →| WHOOP 5.0 | Garmin vivosmart 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Fitness Tracker |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 5 days | 7 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | hrv, spo2, skin temp, respiratory rate, strain | hr, spo2, hrv, stress, body battery, pulse ox |
| Released | May 8, 2025 | Apr 26, 2022 |
| Cycle length | 1345 days | 700 days |
| Cycle advice | good | bad |
| Deals advice | neutral | great |
| Next model | — | Garmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026) |
No distractions — WHOOP tracks everything without buzzing, glowing, or asking for your attention. All data lives in the app.
WHOOP's Recovery Score synthesises HRV, resting heart rate, sleep quality, and respiratory rate to tell you how ready your body is each day.
The WHOOP battery pack slides onto the device and charges it without removal — no gaps in overnight sleep tracking.
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.