Garmin is not new to the fitness band arena and the evolution of its products chain also shows that the professional-grade GPS receiver makers are serious with what they do. As the wearables market is going through continuous development, the Swiss-headquartered firm is facing stiff competition from its rivals. The Vivosmart comes at a time that shows the firm is not ready to leave an inch of the battlefield without giving a tough fight. The arrival of this product which is more of an activity tracker than a fitness band shows promise of something more to come in the future. There are fitness trackers and there are smartwatches, but there’s only a small number of devices that attempt to be both. The Garmin Vivosmart is one such exception. We got our hands on the Vivosmart and here is what we make of it:
Design: The Vivosmart might be a mash-up between a fitness band and a smartwatch, but it definitely doesn’t look like one. It is more of a run-of-the-mill fitness tracker—just a plain rubber bracelet with a hidden display that only lights up when you double-tap it. There are four other colour choices besides black. In fact, the device is so minimalist that there isn’t even a charging port; just a set of charging pins on the band’s underbelly, which works with a proprietary cradle. The band does have some conspicuous size-holes, along with a metal stamp bearing the Garmin logo. The band is also very comfortable to wear and one would not be irritated even if the band sits on your wrist for more than eight hours. This is due to smooth edges of the band and its rounded edges. It is also water-resistant in upto 50 meters of pressure.
User experience and performance: The Vivosmart’s only limitation is that it is compatible with only a handful of Android and iOS devices. If the user is new to Garmin, he or she will have to create a new account after pairing the device using Bluetooth and the Garmin Connect app which takes hardly three minutes and lesser if you already have an account. Garmin’s specialty is something called the Move bar, a line that appears on the screen after you have been inactive for an hour. At that time, the user will feel a gentle vibration on the wrist, with an on screen instruction to “move!” And there the bar will stay until the user gets up and walk around for at least two minutes. Now, you can always swipe away from the Move bar and look at something else, like the time. The Move bar might be quiet, but it’s insistent. Among the other icons one can see is a text bubble where the user will find all of his or her notifications, including emails, text messages, missed calls, Facebook posts, Twitter messages, etc.
There is an option via which one can go to the Garmin app and add even more applications that might not have been set by default (the apps can be disconnected at any time too). This actually gives the smartwatch experience because there are times when we don’t need to pull out the heavy smartphones we use from our pocket to check on every small notification. One can read more than a few lines of an email in the display but can’t make any changes to it as in any Android wear. The band also buzzes every time the user chooses to delete a message on another device, as if to alert that unread-email count has changed. On the bright side, Garmin took a sensible approach to social networking: the band will buzz if someone writes on your wall or sends you a direct message.
The Vivosmart’s LED display is completely invisible when not in use, and it’s clear and bright when on, even in daylight. A simple double-tap wakes the display and the user can navigate through the device’s menus by swiping and tapping. In addition to fitness-related information, the Vivosmart shows the time and date, and even lets the user control the music on your iPhone: play/pause, skip, or repeat tracks. The consumer can also adjust the volume.
Activity tracking and battery: The Vivosmart can keep track of the steps the user takes, distance he or she travels, calories the user burns and hours he or she sleeps at night. The tracker is very accurate.
The battery life of the product is great and a single charge can last upto seven days. It uses a proprietary USB charger that clamps onto the device like a clothespin, aligning with charging leads on the inside of the band. Its a similar approach to the Apple Watch’s charger, just think clip instead of magnets.
Apps from the house: A companion app called Connect transfers the fitness data from the Vivosmart and displays it as gauges in sections for each type of measurement. The app doesn’t really seem to enhance the Vivosmart. The data seemed static and provides no trending or other insightful information. The Connect companion app is OK, but doesn’t add much to the Vivosmart. The app also pairs with the MyFitnessPal app to keep track of how many calories you’ve consumed.
Verdict: With this price proposition, nothing can be better but the user has to be certain about what he wants as the Vivosmart is an activity tracker and not a smartwatch. Plus, it offers a solid alternative to Apple’s fully geeked out watch: a well-made, comfortable and tremendously useful fitness band with smart features that take great advantage of being paired to the phones it is compatible with. If that appeals to the user, all those features should be his without the wait and at about half the entry price of the Apple Watch.
Estimated street price: R10,990