It can be a difficult choice. Do you choose the functions of a smartwatch, or do you choose the stylishness of a watch. With Garmin Vívomove Sport, you can choose both. Garmin has placed functions of a smartwatch in a real watch. Read our verdict in this Garmin Vívomove Sport review.
Garmin Vivomove Sport
Recommended retail price € 179,-
Colors black, white, green
Platform Android, iOS
Screen movement with OLED (154 x 72)
Format 4 x 4 x 1.1 cm
Weight 34 grams
Sensors heart rate monitor, accelerometer, pedometer, calorie counter, sleep monitor, altimeter
Connectivity bluetooth
Other waterproof, interchangeable straps
Website www.garmin.com
7 Score 70 
- Pros
- Looks like a watch
- Measurements
- Small screen behind the watch
- Negatives
- Cheap straps and design
- battery life
Garmin rightly knows how to draw the attention of athletes in particular. The smartwatches are able to collect movement and health data down to the smallest detail and the smartwatches in combination with the app prove to be excellent coaches for better sports performance and more insight into your health. Recently, much attention was also paid to the latest Garmin Epix smartwatch, with sapphire, solar charger, extensive GPS options… and a price tag of almost 900 euros.
Fortunately, Garmin is also bringing its excellent measurements to a wider audience, with more affordable smartwatches and a smartwatch for those who prefer a regular watch. In the latter case, we are talking about this Garmin Vívomove Sport. Thanks to an ordinary timepiece you would not at first glance say that it is a smartwatch and you can leave the house in style for, for example, a dinner without leaving your smartwatch at home.
At the front, the Garmin Vívomove Sport looks like an ordinary watch, at the back you can see that it has more to offer.
Watch with movement and screen
At first glance, the Garmin Vívomove Sport is an ordinary watch, including a timepiece. No square screens, but a nice round watch with a standard watch strap. The clock is also not thick, so that it really disguises itself as a watch. In fact, it is a hybrid smartwatch, because there are indeed built-in features of a smartwatch. The dial has a small screen that can occasionally show a message. When your Vívomove has nothing to say, this screen is invisible.
There is also a heart rate monitor on the back. The watch simply connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, after which the data is neatly synchronized with the watch Garmin Connect App† A versatile application that displays all data neatly, but perhaps deserves a more accessible design.
Garmin Connect
You use this Garmin Connect app to connect the watch to your smartwatch. After pairing, the hands turn themselves to the correct time. Here you can go for the configuration, such as entering your goals, weight, height and age. But also for practical matters, such as showing notifications on your watch.
On the dashboard you can find many things that the app determines based on your body data. Your steps taken, heart rate data, (intensive) minutes of exercise, estimate of calories burned and even with the ‘body battery’ to what extent you have recovered from your previous exercises and are ready to get started again. It may be a bit crazy to go to sleep with a watch, but if you are willing to do so, you even have extensive data about your night’s sleep.
If you like to exercise, your watch accurately records all data, just like a smartwatch. From your heart rate to steps taken and impact. If you also carry your smartphone with you, your phone’s GPS is used to map out the (running), running or cycling route, if desired.
Cheap
The Garmin Vívomove watch looks a bit basic, there is not much to be found about it. Still, the watch feels a bit like taking it away from the Action. In particular, the thin rubber strap feels and looks very cheap. That is also the case with many regular smartwatches from Garmin, but with a smartwatch in disguise like this one can really improve the day a bit.
Also, the battery life is not like a regular watch. That is understandable, because an ordinary watch is not packed with sensors and an active Bluetooth connection. Still, I expected a little more from it. In practice, the battery lasts about a week, and of course it is very dependent on how regularly you wear the watch and exercise with it. The watch’s thin, lightweight design may be one of the reasons Garmin has had to opt for a slightly smaller battery. Which is easy to understand.
Conclusion: buy Garmin Vivomove Sport?
A hybrid smartwatch is quite rare, but interesting nonetheless. You have the advantage of Garmin’s advanced measurements and a mini screen behind the dial, disguised as a real watch. Still, the Garmin Vívomove Sport is (understandably) a bit more limited than a real smartwatch. The design also feels a bit cheap, the watch and especially the strap deserve a little more luxury.
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