Garmin Venu 3S vs Vivoactive 5 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Why Do I Recommend The Garmin Venu 3S?

• The Garmin Venu 3S includes a built-in speaker and microphone for on-wrist calls and voice assistant access, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 lacks a speaker and microphone.
• Garmin Venu 3S supports ECG and atrial-fibrillation detection to check irregular heart rhythm through a manual 30-second ECG test, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 does not include ECG capability.
• It features a stainless steel bezel for a more premium finish, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 uses an anodized aluminum bezel.
• The Garmin Venu 3S has 8 GB internal storage for more music and apps, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 provides only 4 GB internal storage.
• Garmin Venu 3S includes a barometric altimeter for tracking elevation and flights of stairs, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 omits the barometric altimeter.
• It supports on-wrist smartphone call handling and voice assistant interaction, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 limits call handling to the paired smartphone only.
• Garmin Venu 3S uses a 22 mm quick-release band width for more premium strap options, whereas the Garmin Vivoactive 5 uses a 20 mm quick-release band width.

Maybe the Garmin Vivoactive 5 can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Garmin Venu 3S. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

What Common Both Can Do?

• Display type: Both models use an AMOLED display, which provides rich colours and deep contrast for easier viewing of data and watch faces. This matters because a more vibrant screen improves readability in a range of lighting conditions.
• Display resolution: Both have 390 × 390 pixel resolution, meaning they share the same clarity and pixel density for data, graphs, and watch-faces. That matters because you’ll get equally crisp visuals on both models.
• Touchscreen interface: Both watches support touchscreen input (in addition to physical controls/buttons), so the user interaction style is consistent across the models. That matters because if you are used to Garmin’s touchscreen UI, you’ll find the same behaviour on both.
• Built-in GPS (GPS + GLONASS + Galileo): Both have multi-satellite global navigation support rather than just basic GPS. That matters because it enhances tracking accuracy when running, cycling or navigating outdoors.
• 5 ATM water resistance: Both are rated to 5 atmospheres (≈50 m depth equivalent) for water resistance, meaning both are swim-safe and suitable for general water exposure. That matters because you can confidently wear them while swimming or showering.
• Wrist-based heart rate sensor: Both include continuous optical heart-rate monitoring on the wrist, giving you 24/7 HR data. That matters because heart rate is a foundational metric for all health and fitness tracking on the watches.
• SpO₂ (blood oxygen) monitoring: Both offer wrist-based blood oxygen saturation tracking (spot-check or during sleep). That matters because it adds another layer of wellness insight (e.g., how well you’re breathing or recovering).
• Sleep tracking including sleep score & insights: Both watches track your sleep stages, provide a sleep score and contextual insights. That matters because recovery and sleep quality are critical for overall health and training readiness.
• Body Battery energy monitoring: Both use Garmin’s “Body Battery” metric to estimate your energy reserves by combining sleep, stress, HRV and activity. That matters because it gives a single figure you can monitor throughout the day for wellbeing.
• Stress tracking & respiration monitoring: Both include sensors to measure stress levels and your breathing rate over time. That matters because these help you understand how your body is responding to workouts, lifestyle and recovery.
• Women’s health tracking (cycle/pregnancy): Both support tracking of menstrual cycle, pregnancy metrics and associated wellness insights. That matters because it ensures broader health coverage across users.
• Smart notifications via paired smartphone: Both will show incoming calls, texts, calendar alerts and notifications from your phone when paired. That matters because one of the key smartwatch conveniences is being notified on your wrist.
• Music storage / offline playback support: Both allow you to store music on the watch/stream offline without carrying your phone for workouts. That matters because untethering from the phone is a big convenience for fitness sessions.
• Garmin Pay contactless payments: Both support Garmin Pay (subject to bank/region compatibility) so you can leave your wallet at home and pay via wrist. That matters because it adds everyday convenience beyond fitness.
• Wide range of sport/activity profiles (running, cycling, swimming, etc.): Both include a broad selection of built-in sport modes (indoor/outdoor run, bike, swim, strength training, HIIT, etc.). That matters because for a fitness-focused user these watches cover almost all common activities.