The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a smartwatch that addresses the essentials, but is Wear OS necessary?
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 represents the latest entry-level smartwatch from the brand, showcasing an elegant design and an emphasis on health and fitness. It features a 1.2-inch AMOLED display and boasts an 11-day battery life, but it lacks some of Garmin’s newer hardware advancements.
Advantages:
– Sleek design with a form factor that’s 0.2mm slimmer
– Includes BeiDou and QZSS satellite GPS support, along with a gyroscope
– New software functionalities such as running power metrics and race forecasts
Drawbacks:
– Employs Garmin’s older Elevate v4 HR sensor
– Misses key Garmin functionalities, including elevation tracking and training load assessment
– Requires a Garmin Connect Plus subscription for certain features
The Google Pixel Watch 3 may not offer as comprehensive a fitness suite as the Vivoactive 6, but it has the distinct benefit of operating on Wear OS. This means the Pixel Watch 3 integrates with Android capabilities, features a vast app ecosystem, and more.
Advantages:
– Vibrant and large display with a waterdrop design
– Offers fitness and health functionalities, such as Workout builder, Cardio Load, and Morning Brief
– Runs Wear OS 5 straight out of the box
Drawbacks:
– Durability is somewhat lacking
– GPS accuracy is mediocre, with basic data for non-running workouts
– Limited battery life
For the occasional gym enthusiast or novice runner, a basic fitness-focused smartwatch can prove beneficial. Individuals in this category can opt for either an entry-level Garmin watch or a comparably priced Wear OS device, each presenting unique advantages. The Garmin Vivoactive 6 favors fitness and health tracking, while the Google Pixel Watch 3 shines in delivering “smart” features.
Both devices can perform well as daily smartwatches for fundamental tasks, but which one suits you better? Considerations include your familiarity with Garmin’s hardware and software, or if you own a Google Pixel phone that can seamlessly integrate with the Pixel Watch 3.
If you’re deliberating between the Garmin Vivoactive 6 and the Google Pixel Watch 3, let’s explore how these smartwatches stack up against each other.
Garmin Vivoactive 6 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Design and display
Both the Garmin Vivoactive 6 and Google Pixel Watch 3 feature relatively understated and simple aesthetics compared to other smartwatches. Google provides the Pixel Watch 3 in two case sizes: 41mm and 45mm, which lets you select the one that best suits your wrist dimensions. However, this comes at a higher price — the 41mm model begins at $349, while the 45mm model starts at $399.
In contrast, the Vivoactive 6 aims to appeal to a broader audience with its single 42mm case size. Priced at $299, it is also thinner. At 10.9 mm thick, the Vivoactive 6 presents a more streamlined profile on the wrist compared to the 12.3mm Pixel Watch 3.
Constructed from a fiber-reinforced polymer case with an anodized aluminum bezel and a silicone strap, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 is robust. Meanwhile, the Pixel Watch 3 features a recycled aluminum case paired with a fluoroelastomer Active band. Both smartwatches have a 5ATM water-resistance rating, but the Pixel Watch 3 includes Gorilla Glass 5 for added durability, while the Vivoactive 6 is still equipped with Gorilla Glass 3.
The Vivoactive 6 includes a touchscreen interface and two physical buttons for navigation, while the Pixel Watch 3 has a touchscreen, a button, and a rotating crown.
Regarding displays, the 42mm Garmin Vivoactive 6 aligns closely with the 41mm Pixel Watch 3. The Vivoactive 6 features a 1.2-inch AMOLED screen with a 390×390 resolution, which may feel somewhat restricted if you prefer larger smartwatch displays. Surprisingly, Google has managed to fit a larger display into a smaller case for the 41mm Pixel Watch 3, which features a 1.27-inch AMOLED screen with a 408×408 resolution.
Of course, for those needing a larger display, the 45mm Pixel Watch 3 is available, equipped with a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen boasting a 456×456 resolution.
Garmin Vivoactive 6 vs. Google Pixel Watch 3: Hardware and specs
While the Garmin Vivoactive 6 delivers a solid health and fitness performance within its supported features, there are some limitations. For example, the watch utilizes the previous generation Garmin Elevate v4 heart-rate sensor, an accelerometer, and a pulse-oxygen sensor,
