Wear Radar

Amazfit BalancevsGarmin vivosmart 5

21d vs 7d
battery life
Amazfit Balance lasts longer
$150
price gap
Garmin vivosmart 5 cheaper
17g
lighter
Garmin vivosmart 5
2
more health sensors
Amazfit Balance
Amazfit Balance
Buy/Wait:neutral

Reaching maturity, next model expected soon

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Garmin vivosmart 5
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

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Amazfit BalanceGarmin vivosmart 5
Pricing
Starting price$299$149
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $70/yr
Hardware
Weight42g25g
Water resistance10ATM5ATM
Battery21 days7 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchFitness Tracker
Buy timing
ReleasedJun 24, 2025Apr 26, 2022
Cycle adviceneutralbad
Deals adviceneutralgreat
Next modelGarmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026)

Health Sensors

Amazfit Balance only
3 exclusive sensors
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
Body CompositionEstimates body fat & muscle mass
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
Both
4 shared
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Garmin vivosmart 5 only
1 exclusive sensor
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank

Why buy each?

Amazfit Balance

21-day battery with sapphire AMOLED display

21 days typical use and 33 hours GPS — combined with a scratch-resistant sapphire glass 1.5" AMOLED that outshines most watches at this price.

Dual-band GPS and offline maps

Precise dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS across six satellite systems, with downloadable offline topo maps and turn-by-turn navigation — rare at this price tier.

HYROX, golf, and diving modes

First Amazfit with official HYROX training and competition modes, 40,000-course golf maps, and SCUBA dive support — more sport breadth than any previous Balance.

Garmin vivosmart 5

Garmin Body Battery in a band

Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.

HRV status and stress tracking

Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.

Works with Garmin Connect ecosystem

All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Amazfit Balance wins

$299 vs $359 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Amazfit Balance wins

21 days vs 7 days battery.

For health depth
Amazfit Balance wins

7 sensors.

For daily comfort
Garmin vivosmart 5 wins

25g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Balance-only sensors: ECG, Body Composition, Skin Temp.
  2. vivosmart 5-only sensors: Body Battery.
  3. Weight. vivosmart 5 is 17g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
  4. Water resistance. Balance rates 10ATM vs 5ATM on vivosmart 5.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. vivosmart 5 is $150 cheaper upfront ($149 vs $299).
Pick the Amazfit Balance if…

Android and iPhone users who want a premium smartwatch experience — full offline maps, ECG, long battery, and a bright sapphire display — at a price well below Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. A strong choice for runners, hikers, and health-focused users who want GPS map navigation without a subscription.

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Pick the Garmin vivosmart 5 if…

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.

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