First-generation product — no historical cycle data to predict a successor
Full details →| Garmin vivosmart 5 | Fitbit Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $149 | $99★ |
| Subscription | ℹ️ Optional — $70/yr | ℹ️ Optional — $99/yr |
| Hardware | ||
| Weight | 25g | 12g★ |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 50m |
| Battery | 7 days | 7 days |
| Always-on display | ❌ | ❌ |
| GPS | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Fitness Tracker |
| Buy timing | ||
| Released | Apr 26, 2022 | May 7, 2026 |
| Cycle advice | bad | good★ |
| Deals advice | great★ | good |
| Next model | Garmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026) | — |
Body Battery energy monitoring — the feature Garmin is known for — in a wristband that's thinner than most fitness trackers.
Continuous heart rate variability monitoring and all-day stress tracking give a more complete picture of recovery and readiness than step counts alone.
All data syncs to Garmin Connect, compatible with thousands of third-party apps, coaches, and integrations across the Garmin platform.
Unlike WHOOP, there is no mandatory membership — pay $99 once and use Fitbit Air with the free Google Health app. Google Health Premium ($9.99/month) is optional.
Continuous heart rate, SpO2, HRV, and skin temperature tracking plus background FDA-certified AFib detection, in a 12g pebble designed to be worn and forgotten.
A week between charges, with a 5-minute top-up delivering a full day of use — significantly less downtime than WHOOP's slide-on charging system.
The right pick depends on what you optimize for.
$359 vs $396 over 3 years · no required subscription.
7 days vs 7 days battery.
5 sensors · 0.5 Hz HR sampling.
12g · no required subscription.
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.
Full details →Health-focused users who want passive, 24/7 biometric tracking without a screen on their wrist. Particularly strong for those drawn to WHOOP but put off by the subscription model — the Fitbit Air delivers comparable core health data for $99 outright. Works with both iOS and Android.
Full details →