(Android Authority) Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Vivoactive 5: What’s new and which should you buy?

The now four-year-old Garmin Vivoactive 4 has finally received a successor. The new Vivoactive 5 actually borrows more from the Venu 3 family than it does its predecessor. Is the newest Vivoactive worth picking up? That’s what we aim to answer in this Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Vivoactive 5 comparison.

Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Vivoactive 5: Specs

	Garmin Vivoactive 4	Garmin Vivoactive 4S	Garmin Vivoactive 5
Display	1.3-inch MIP, 260 x 260 resolution Corning Gorilla Glass 3	1.1-inch MIP, 218 x 218 resolution Corning Gorilla Glass 3	1.2 inch AMOLED, optional always-on 390 x 390 resolution Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Dimensions and weight	45.1 x 45.1 x 12.8 mm 22mm band 50.5g	40.0 x 40.0 x 12.7 mm 22mm band 40g	42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1mm 20mm band 36g
Build materials	Stainless steel bezel bezel Fiber-reinforced polymer rear cover Silicone band	Stainless steel bezel bezel Fiber-reinforced polymer rear cover Silicone band	Anodized aluminum bezel Fiber-reinforced polymer case Silicone band
Battery	Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode Up to 6 hours with GPS + music	Up to 7 days in smartwatch mode Up to 5 hours with GPS + Music	Up to 11 days in smartwatch mode (5 days with always-on display enabled) Up to 21 days in Battery Saver Smartwatch mode Up to 7 hours in all-Systems GNSS mode + music
IP rating	5 ATM	5 ATM	5 ATM
Sensors	Garmin Elevate heart rate sensor GPS GLONASS Galileo Compass Accelerometer Theremometer Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor	Garmin Elevate heart rate sensor GPS GLONASS Galileo Compass Accelerometer Theremometer Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor	Garmin Elevate heart rate sensor GPS GLONASS Galileo Compass Accelerometer Thermometer Ambient light sensor Pulse ox blood oxygen saturation monitor
Connectivity	Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi	Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi	Bluetooth ANT+ Wi-Fi
Compatibility	Android, iOS	Android, iOS	Android, iOS
Garmin Pay	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smartwatch features	Connect IQ-compatible Smartphone notifications Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only) Controls smartphone music Plays and controls smartwatch music Find my phone/find my watch Incident Detection LiveTrack	Connect IQ-compatible Smartphone notifications Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only) Controls smartphone music Plays and controls smartwatch music Find my phone/find my watch Incident Detection LiveTrack	Connect IQ-compatible Smartphone notifications Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only) Controls smartphone music Plays and controls smartwatch music Find my phone/find my watch Incident Detection LiveTrack
Colors	Silver Stainless Steel bezel with Shadow Gray case	Light Gold bezel with Dust Rose case, Rose Gold bezel with White case, Silver bezel with Powder Gray case	Metallic Orchid, Slate, Cream Gold with Ivory case, Metallic Navy with Navy case

Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs Vivoactive 5: Design

The Vivoactive 5 looks a lot like a cross between its predecessor and the Venu 3 series. It borrows the two-side button layout of the Vivoactive 4, but its actual chassis has more in common with the Venu. In terms of size, the Vivoactive 5 fits right in between the Vivoactive 4 and 4S with its 20mm band and a body size of 42.2 x 42.2 x 11.1mm. For those wondering, there is no Vivoactive 5S; Garmin has opted for just a one-size-fits-all approach for its.