Wear Radar

Garmin vivosmart 5vsFitbit Versa

$1
price gap
Garmin vivosmart 5 cheaper
13g
lighter
Garmin vivosmart 5
Garmin vivosmart 5
Buy/Wait:bad

Late in cycle — a new model is likely coming

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Fitbit Versa
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

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Garmin vivosmart 5Fitbit Versa
Pricing
Starting price$149$150
Subscriptionℹ️ Optional — $70/yrℹ️ Optional — $79/yr
Hardware
Weight25g38g
Water resistance5ATM50m
Battery7 days6 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
TierFitness TrackerSmartwatch
Buy timing
ReleasedApr 26, 2022Sep 25, 2022
Cycle advicebadbad
Deals advicegreatgood
Next modelGarmin vivosmart 6 (Expected 2026)

Health Sensors

Garmin vivosmart 5 only
2 exclusive sensors
Stress TrackingStress estimate from HRV and physiological signals
Body BatteryGarmin's energy reserve — how much fuel left in the tank
Both
3 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Fitbit Versa only
1 exclusive sensor
EDA / StressSkin conductance sensor measuring stress responses

Why buy each?

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.

Fitbit Versa

Works with Android and iPhone

Rare for a smartwatch with real GPS and health sensors to work fully on both platforms — Versa 4 does.

Google Maps and Google Wallet on wrist

Turn-by-turn navigation and NFC payments without needing your phone in hand.

6-day battery and Fitbit health coaching

Sleep stages, daily readiness score, Active Zone Minutes, and SpO2 — all on a 6-day charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Garmin vivosmart 5 wins

$359 vs $387 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Garmin vivosmart 5 wins

7 days vs 6 days battery.

For health depth
Garmin vivosmart 5 wins

5 sensors.

For daily comfort
Garmin vivosmart 5 wins

25g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. vivosmart 5-only sensors: Stress Tracking, Body Battery.
  2. Versa-only sensors: EDA / Stress.
  3. Weight. vivosmart 5 is 13g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. vivosmart 5 is $1 cheaper upfront ($149 vs $150).
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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Pick the Fitbit Versa if…

Android or iPhone users who want a balanced smartwatch with solid Fitbit health tracking, multi-day battery, and a clean square watch design — without the premium price of a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.

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