Garmin Vivosmart 3 Review

Quick Take

The competition for wearable fitness trackers has gotten a bit bigger with Garmin’s Vivosmart 3. It comes in small/medium and large sizes. The S/M size fits wrists 4.8 to 7.4 inches, and the L fits 5.8 to 8.4 inches.

Design

The word that comes to mind when considering the design of the Vivosmart 3 is minimalist. It’s not necessarily a sleek minimalist design, either. It’s more like a nondescript band that doesn’t call attention to itself. Garmin describes it as “subtle” (some might call it boring). However, this will likely appeal to some, as many of the fitness trackers are a bit more flashy and/or stylish. So, for the user who wants something that doesn’t scream LOOK AT MY FITNESS TRACKER, this is definitely the one.

The design of the screen itself isn’t outstanding. It reads a little blurry, and it can be hard to view in direct sunlight. In terms of user design, the simple swipes and taps are relatively simple, though the device sometimes misreads intentions.

A design plus for the Vivosmart 3 is that it is waterproof and safe for swimming and showering. It also features a breathable band that is very comfortable to wear.

The battery life is fairly good but not outstanding.

Functions

The Vivosmart 3 can do some pretty cool things. Some of its notable features include:

• Optical heart rate monitor
• Tracking:
  • Sleep
  • Stress
  • Calories burned
  • Floors climbed
  • Distance traveled
• Exercise capture

The stress tracking is part of an overall focus on “wellness.” It can be useful for users who want to figure out stressors in an effort to reduce them, and it does a good job of keeping track of stress levels. This helps contribute to an overall picture of your health and wellness.

The Vivosmart 3 does not have GPS, which is a bit surprising and disappointing, but the accuracy of tracking without it is still good.

One of the best functions of the Vivosmart 3 is the notifications. Users have noted a more robust notification system, with more options to control notifications. It also does a better job of providing stats and insights than many of its competitors, so some users will find this data collection incredibly insightful.

Vs. Competitors

The Vivosmart 3 has a great price tag, making it highly competitive in the lineup of wearable fitness trackers. It likely won’t appeal to those who want it to function like jewelry, but it will appeal to someone who doesn’t care or wants a more discrete piece of tech.

The lack of GPS makes it slightly less appealing than some of its competitors, but it is accurate in its distance tracking.

This is probably most appealing to a user who really does want to focus on overall health and wellness. The stress tracking, in particular, is a great addition that sets the Vivosmart 3 apart from other fitness trackers.

Overall

This is a perfect device for:

• Someone who wants more data
• Someone interested in overall health and wellness
• Someone who wants a more low-key style

The price makes it worth a look. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed in this particular wearable fitness tracker, as long as you’re not expecting GPS or a perfectly clear screen.