What To Know
- The Vivofit 2’s display is always on, making it easy to check your stats at a glance, even in direct sunlight.
- With a battery life of up to a year, you won’t have to worry about constantly charging the Vivofit 2.
- The Garmin Vivosmart is a more advanced fitness tracker that offers a wider range of features, including heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and a more stylish design.
Are you looking for a fitness tracker to help you stay motivated and on track with your health goals? The Garmin Vivofit 2 and Garmin Vivosmart are both popular choices, but which one is right for you? This comprehensive guide will delve into the key features, pros, and cons of each device to help you make an informed decision.
The Garmin Vivofit 2 and Garmin Vivosmart are both fitness trackers from Garmin, a renowned brand in the wearable technology market. Both devices offer a range of features to track your activity, sleep, and heart rate. However, they differ in terms of design, functionality, and price.
Garmin Vivofit 2: The Durable and Affordable Option
The Garmin Vivofit 2 is a budget-friendly fitness tracker known for its durability and long battery life. It features a bright, always-on color display and a comfortable, water-resistant band.
Key Features:
- Always-on color display: The Vivofit 2’s display is always on, making it easy to check your stats at a glance, even in direct sunlight.
- Long battery life: With a battery life of up to a year, you won’t have to worry about constantly charging the Vivofit 2.
- Water-resistant: The Vivofit 2 is water-resistant up to 50 meters, so you can wear it while swimming or showering.
- Activity tracking: It tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes.
- Sleep monitoring: The Vivofit 2 monitors your sleep patterns and provides insights into your sleep quality.
- Move bar: The Vivofit 2 features a move bar that encourages you to stay active throughout the day.
- Automatic activity recognition: It automatically detects and records different types of activities, like walking, running, and swimming.
Pros:
- Affordable: The Vivofit 2 is one of the most affordable fitness trackers on the market.
- Durable: Its durable design can withstand everyday wear and tear.
- Long battery life: You won’t have to worry about charging it frequently.
- Always-on display: Provides easy access to your stats at any time.
Cons:
- Limited features: Compared to the Vivosmart, the Vivofit 2 offers fewer features, such as heart rate monitoring and smartphone notifications.
- Basic design: The Vivofit 2’s design is more basic than the Vivosmart’s.
Garmin Vivosmart: The Feature-Rich and Stylish Option
The Garmin Vivosmart is a more advanced fitness tracker that offers a wider range of features, including heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and a more stylish design.
Key Features:
- Heart rate monitoring: The Vivosmart tracks your heart rate throughout the day and during workouts.
- Smartphone notifications: Receive notifications for calls, texts, emails, and social media updates on your wrist.
- Color touchscreen display: The Vivosmart features a vibrant color touchscreen display that makes it easy to navigate the menus.
- Activity tracking: It tracks steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, and floors climbed.
- Sleep monitoring: The Vivosmart monitors your sleep patterns and provides insights into your sleep quality.
- Move bar: It features a move bar that encourages you to stay active throughout the day.
- Automatic activity recognition: The Vivosmart automatically detects and records different types of activities, including running, walking, and swimming.
Pros:
- More features: The Vivosmart offers a wider range of features, including heart rate monitoring, smartphone notifications, and a more stylish design.
- Stylish design: The Vivosmart’s sleek design makes it a more fashionable choice.
- Color touchscreen display: The color touchscreen display makes it easy to navigate the menus.
Cons:
- Higher price: The Vivosmart is more expensive than the Vivofit 2.
- Shorter battery life: The Vivosmart’s battery life is shorter than the Vivofit 2’s, lasting for around 5-7 days.
Garmin Vivofit 2 vs Garmin Vivosmart: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Garmin Vivofit 2 | Garmin Vivosmart |
| — | — | — |
| Price | More affordable | More expensive |
| Design | Basic | Stylish |
| Display | Always-on color display | Color touchscreen display |
| Battery life | Up to 1 year | 5-7 days |
| Heart rate monitoring | No | Yes |
| Smartphone notifications | No | Yes |
| Water resistance | 50 meters | 50 meters |
Choosing the Right Fitness Tracker for You
The best fitness tracker for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Choose the Garmin Vivofit 2 if:
- You’re on a budget.
- You prioritize long battery life.
- You prefer a simple and durable design.
Choose the Garmin Vivosmart if:
- You want a fitness tracker with more features, including heart rate monitoring and smartphone notifications.
- You prefer a stylish design.
- You’re willing to pay a premium for more features.
Beyond the Basics: Additional Considerations
While the Vivofit 2 and Vivosmart offer a solid foundation for fitness tracking, there are other factors you might want to consider:
- GPS: Neither the Vivofit 2 nor the Vivosmart has built-in GPS, so you’ll need to use your smartphone for accurate distance and pace tracking during outdoor workouts.
- Music control: The Vivosmart lets you control music playback on your smartphone, while the Vivofit 2 doesn’t.
- Advanced sleep tracking: The Vivosmart offers more detailed sleep tracking, including REM sleep stages.
- Compatibility: Both devices are compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Final Thoughts: Finding the Perfect Fitness Companion
The Garmin Vivofit 2 and Garmin Vivosmart are both excellent fitness trackers that can help you achieve your health goals. The Vivofit 2 is a budget-friendly option with a long battery life and a durable design, while the Vivosmart offers more features and a stylish look. Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Questions We Hear a Lot
Q: Can I use the Garmin Vivofit 2 or Vivosmart for swimming?
A: Yes, both devices are water-resistant up to 50 meters and can be used for swimming. However, neither device can track swimming metrics like stroke count or pace.
Q: Does the Garmin Vivosmart offer any advanced workout features?
A: Yes, the Vivosmart can track your heart rate during workouts and provide real-time data on your performance. It also offers built-in workout profiles for activities like running, cycling, and swimming.
Q: Can I customize the watch faces on the Garmin Vivofit 2 and Vivosmart?
A: The Vivosmart allows you to customize watch faces, while the Vivofit 2 does not.
Q: Are there any other fitness trackers from Garmin that I should consider?
A: Garmin offers a wide range of fitness trackers, from the basic Vivofit 2 and Vivosmart to the more advanced Forerunner and Fenix series. If you’re looking for a more feature-rich device with GPS, music storage, or advanced training features, you might want to explore those options.