Garmin Forerunner 35 vs Vivoactive HR – Comparison of 2023
Billions of people worldwide are starting to take more care of their health and hitting the gym more often than they did in the past.
With crowds of millions of people being passionate about fitness, this calls for everyday analytics for better health monitoring, and smart sports watches seem to be the way to go!
Today we will be talking about more affordable smart sports watches from Garmin, the Forerunner 35, and Vivoactive HR.
We will be giving you reviews of both the products and in-depth comparisons of the distinct features.
We will let you choose the winner from Garmin Forerunner 35 vs. Vivoactive HR but not without a few suggestions. Without any more babbling, let’s get right into this duel!
Difference Between Garmin Forerunner 35 and Vivoactive HR
Below are the key differences between the two options in our consideration;
Design and Display
If we are talking about these two sports watches’ looks, we must say that the elegant design of the Forerunner 35 makes it much more attractive than the Vivoactive HR.
On the other hand, while taking a look at the displays, you will notice that the Vivoactive HR has a sharper and more colorful screen.
The vivoactive HR has a touchscreen that is not the best and some physical buttons, while its competitor has only far better buttons.
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Sensors
Although both of these watches share a ton of common sensors, there are some undeniable differences.
The FR 35 is much better for runners and cyclists because of better tracking in this department.
Still, the barometer altimeter that is only present in the Vivoactive HR allows the data to adapt to surroundings.
You must keep in mind that for active users, the heart rate sensor of the FR 35 works better and more accurately because of how inaccurate the heart rate monitoring of the Vivoactive HR is during vigorous exercise.
Versatility
As mentioned before, the multi-sport mode of the Vivoactive HR makes it suitable for tracking plenty of activities, including swimming, golfing, and hiking among many other things, a lot of which its competitor is not capable of.
Software
GPS systems are available in both the items and the software is not a whole lot different either, but the Vivoactive HR does have a slight advantage with its colored screen and expandable platform.
Cost
Neither of the two watches being discussed today has a very high price tag. However, the Vivoactive HR will cost you significantly more than the other one.
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Garmin Forerunner 35
Garmin has an excellent reputation in the market for its high-quality products, and the Garmin Forerunner 35 surely does not disappoint.
With an aesthetically pleasing small rectangular 1.5 x 1.6 inches screen, it resembles the premium Apple Watch you have certainly seen before.
The display has a resolution of 128 x 128, which might not be top of the line but gets the job done.
You should also note that the LCD screen is monochrome, which might not be everyone’s choice. The bands of this watch are easily replaceable, allowing you to choose your bands according to your taste.
Being a sports watch, this product is water-resistant up to 5 ATM, but it cannot track swimming or elevation.
It has two physical buttons on each side of the watch and not a touch screen, which is actually good news.
All of the 4 buttons are clicky, firm, and very responsive with their separate functions.
The accelerometer that is featured works perfectly to accurately measure distance and speed, so runners and cyclists will be satisfied with this watch.
Not to forget, the heart-rate monitor has 24 hours activity to pull out the best results, you can also slap an additional heart rate sensor strap.
Your calories burned are regularly monitored since it is one of the most important factors in fitness.
A GPS is also present that works quite impressively; the watch will start to look for GPS satellites 15 seconds after you start your activity.
The smart notifications handle the texts and the entire barrage of notifications very well, and your watch will vibrate when you are getting a call.
Furthermore, the ‘find my phone’ feature is added for emergencies. The battery life is also more than sufficient after being fully juiced up – the Garmin 35 will go more than a week with regular use.
Product Specification:
PROS
CONS
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Garmin Vivoactive HR
The Garmin Vivoactive HR is a different approach to the smartwatches from their other watches.
It still has Garmin’s rectangular screen, but it has touch capacity instead of physical buttons, which honestly is a hit or miss.
Also, it is quite difficult to swipe such a small screen with sweaty fingers, and on top of that, the touch isn’t very responsive.
A new silicone band design is presented in this product, which seamlessly blends with the main body of the watch, and they are also quite easily removable.
However, the design is a bit bulky compared to the slim and sleek design of other generic Garmin smartwatches, so if you are a fashion enthusiast, you might not be a huge fan of the look.
You will see that this watch is great for runners and cyclists; it also works quite well with interval training and monitors your burnt calories precisely.
It would be best if you kept in mind that it works amazingly to track your activities and provide accurate results.
On top of that, the multi-sports mode makes this watch so much more versatile, given that it has the ability to track open water swimming and impressive hike tracking.
The improved heart rate monitor will analyze your heartbeat 24/7 and will provide you with an analysis of your sleep cycle, which is imperative for passionate fitness lovers.
Something to note down is that the heart rate monitoring while performing intense exercises is a complete flop, and the results you will get will not be precise.
The battery life of the Garmin Vivoactive HR is not disappointing at all, and after being topped up, you will get approximately 5 days of power with full GPS tracking.
Meanwhile, if you use the watch in the regular mode, you will get about 8-10 days of juice, which tops most of the smartwatches in the market.
Another great thing about this product is that its smart notifications work perfectly alongside the vibrations you get with the calls.
Music control is comfortable, and the Garmin connect app expands your field by letting you share your data with popular fitness applications, for even better analysis.
Product Specification:
PROS
CONS
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dimensions of the Vivoactive HR?
The dimensions are 57 x 30.2 x 11.4mm.
Are both the watches available in different colors?
No, only the Forerunner 35 is available in 4 colors, and the Vivoactive HR is only available in black.
Can the Forerunner 35 track elevation?
Yes, it can.
How long do these watches last?
Garmin is a well-reputed company, so these watches will serve you for a good time.
Is the altimeter in the Vivoactive HR accurate?
Yes, it is insanely accurate!
Conclusion
The details given in the article above are sufficient for you to pick a winner from the battle of Garmin Forerunner 35 vs. Vivoactive HR; as you can see that these products do have a large number of similarities and some apparent differences.
Hence, it all comes down to personal preference. If you have a lot of spare money, you could invest in the more expensive Vivoactive HR, but the FR 35 is definitely not far behind!