vívoactive 6
#6
Garmin

Garmin vívoactive 6

Rating

Model: 010-02985-00
$299(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13
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Product Overview

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a health and fitness GPS smartwatch featuring a bright AMOLED display and up to 11 days of battery life. It offers comprehensive health monitoring, including Body Battery energy monitoring, sleep score with personalized coaching, and HRV status. With over 80 built-in sports apps and personalized daily suggested workouts, it caters to various fitness activities. It also provides smart notifications, music storage, and Garmin Pay for added convenience. The watch is designed to provide detailed health insights and improve overall wellness.

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Product Specifications

Display Size
1.2inches
Display Resolution
-pixels
Battery Life
11days
Water Resistance
-ATM
Heart Rate Monitoring
Yes
GPS
Yes
Bluetooth Support
Bluetooth
NFC Support
Yes
Operating System
Garmin OS
Weight
-grams

Size & Weight

Weight
1.3 ounces
Hight
-
Width
-
Depth
-

Features

Heart Rate Monitoring Function

The vívoactive 6 accurately monitors your heart rate throughout the day, providing real-time data and insights into your cardiovascular health. This is useful for optimizing workouts, understanding your resting heart rate, and identifying potential health concerns. The data is presented in an easy-to-understand format within the Garmin Connect app.

Sleep Tracking Function

This function monitors your sleep stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep, providing a detailed analysis of your sleep patterns. It helps you understand and improve your sleep quality by identifying areas for improvement, such as optimizing your sleep schedule or creating a more conducive sleep environment. The sleep score and personalized sleep coaching are valuable additions.

GPS Tracking Function

The built-in GPS accurately tracks your location during outdoor activities like running, cycling, and hiking. This allows you to map your routes, track your distance, and monitor your pace without needing to carry your smartphone. The GPS functionality is reliable and provides accurate data for analyzing your performance and exploring new routes.

Smartphone Notification Function

The vívoactive 6 displays notifications from your smartphone on your wrist, including calls, texts, emails, and app alerts. This keeps you connected without needing to constantly check your phone, which is convenient while on the go or during workouts. You can customize which notifications you receive to avoid being overwhelmed.

Music Playback Control Function

This function allows you to control music playback on your smartphone from your smartwatch, including skipping tracks, adjusting the volume, and pausing/playing music. This is particularly useful during workouts or commutes, allowing you to manage your music without reaching for your phone. The interface is intuitive and easy to use.

Contactless Payment Function

The vívoactive 6 enables you to make payments using your smartwatch at compatible payment terminals via Garmin Pay. This offers a quick and convenient way to make purchases without needing your phone or wallet. The setup process is straightforward, and the function works seamlessly at supported payment terminals.

SHOPSTAFF Rating Score

#6
Ranked #6 out of 100 products in Category
4.6
Overall Rating

The Garmin vívoactive 6 is a well-rounded smartwatch with a focus on health and fitness tracking. It offers a bright AMOLED display, long battery life, and a wide range of sports apps. However, it may lack some of the advanced features found in higher-end models.

Display Quality and Size
4.7
The 1.2-inch AMOLED display is bright and clear, making it easy to read notifications and track fitness data. The screen is smooth and easy to navigate, providing a pleasant user experience. The size is suitable for most wrists, offering a good balance between visibility and comfort.
Health and Fitness Tracking Features
4.8
The vívoactive 6 offers extensive health monitoring features, including heart rate, sleep tracking, Body Battery, and stress tracking. It provides detailed insights into your overall well-being, helping you understand your body better. The accuracy of the tracking is generally reliable, making it a valuable tool for fitness enthusiasts.
Smartphone Compatibility
4.5
The smartwatch seamlessly connects to both iPhone and Android phones via Bluetooth, allowing you to receive notifications, answer calls, and control music playback directly from your wrist. However, some users have reported occasional connectivity issues, which can be a minor inconvenience.
Battery Life
5.0
With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, the vívoactive 6 excels in this area. You can use it for extended periods without frequent charging, making it ideal for sleep tracking and outdoor activities. The battery life is a significant advantage over many competing smartwatches.
Water Resistance
4.0
While the product information doesn't explicitly state the water resistance rating, Garmin watches are generally known for their water resistance. This makes it suitable for swimming and other water activities, but it's important to check the specific rating for the vívoactive 6 to ensure it meets your needs.
GPS and Connectivity
4.7
The built-in GPS accurately tracks your location during outdoor activities, allowing you to map your routes and monitor your pace. Bluetooth connectivity is seamless for pairing with headphones and other devices. The inclusion of NFC for Garmin Pay is a convenient feature for contactless payments.
Manufacturer Reliability and Warranty
4.5
Garmin is a reputable brand known for producing reliable and durable wearable technology. The vívoactive 6 is backed by Garmin's warranty and customer support, providing peace of mind. The brand's long-standing presence in the market adds to its credibility.
Cost Performance
4.5
Priced at $299.99, the vívoactive 6 offers a good balance of features and performance for the price. While it may not be the cheapest smartwatch on the market, its comprehensive health tracking, long battery life, and reputable brand make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a reliable fitness companion.

Brand & Manufacturer Details

Garmin
Garmin is a leading provider of navigation, and wearable technology.

Key Highlights

  • Excellent battery life
  • Comprehensive health tracking features
  • Bright AMOLED display
  • Built-in GPS
  • Garmin Pay contactless payments

Considerations

  • Data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked
  • Ensure compatibility with Garmin Pay in your region
  • Regularly update firmware for optimal performance

Recommended For

  • Fitness enthusiasts
  • Users seeking detailed health insights
  • Individuals needing long battery life
  • Those who prefer a comprehensive sports app selection
  • Users wanting smart notifications and contactless payments

Not Recommended For

  • Users needing specialized medical monitoring
  • Individuals requiring extreme shock resistance
  • none in particular

Suitable For

  • Daily fitness tracking
  • Outdoor activities like running and cycling
  • Swimming and water sports
  • Everyday wear for notifications and health monitoring
  • Tracking sleep patterns and improving sleep quality

Not Suitable For

  • Heavy construction work
  • High-pressure diving
  • Situations requiring extreme shock resistance
  • none in particular

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q.I'm looking for a smartwatch with good battery life. How long does the battery last on the vívoactive 6?
A.The vívoactive 6 offers up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode.
Q.I'm interested in tracking my sleep. What sleep-related features does this watch offer?
A.The vívoactive 6 provides a sleep score, personalized sleep coaching, nap detection, and tracks key metrics such as HRV status to help you understand and improve your sleep quality. Data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked.
Q.I like to use a variety of workout apps. What sports apps are built into the vívoactive 6?
A.The vívoactive 6 has more than 80 built-in indoor and GPS sports apps, including walking, running, cycling, HIIT, mobility, swimming, and golf.
Q.I have a smaller wrist. Is this watch a good size for me?
A.Staff confirmation indicates the watch is a perfect size even for small wrists.
Q.I want a watch that gives me insights into my health without a subscription. Does this watch require a subscription for health insights?
A.Staff confirmation mentions that the watch provides actionable health insights without requiring a subscription, including sleep score, stress tracking, Body Battery, and recovery insights.
Q.I've had issues with smartwatches disconnecting from my phone. How is the connectivity on the vívoactive 6?
A.Staff confirmation notes that some users have experienced issues with the watch unpairing from their phones (specifically Android Google Pixel 7a). Please be aware of this potential issue.
Q.I want a watch with a clear and bright display. How is the display quality on the vívoactive 6?
A.Staff confirmation indicates that the AMOLED display is very crisp and bright with a smooth and easy-to-navigate screen.
Q.I'm looking for a watch that can store music. Can I store music on the vívoactive 6?
A.Yes, the vívoactive 6 includes music storage.
Q.I need a watch that accurately tracks my steps. Is the step tracking accurate?
A.Staff confirmation says that the watch tracks steps accurately.
Q.I saw one staff confirmation mentioning software bugs. Are there known issues with the watch's software?
A.One staff confirmation mentioned experiencing issues with the watch locking up, particularly during workouts. It's important to ensure you have the latest firmware updates from Garmin to address potential bugs.

SHOPSTAFF Rating Ranking

#1

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$659(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13

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Display Size1.4 inchesDisplay Resolution - pixels
Battery Life16 daysWater Resistance - ATM
Heart Rate MonitoringYesGPSYes
Bluetooth SupportYesNFC Support -
Operating SystemAndroid & iOSWeight - grams
Heart Rate Monitoring FunctionSleep Tracking FunctionGPS Tracking FunctionSmartphone Notification FunctionMusic Playback Control FunctionContactless Payment Function
4.8Overall Rating
5.0Display Quality and Size
5.0Health and Fitness Tracking Features
4.8Smartphone Compatibility
5.0Battery Life
4.5Water Resistance
5.0GPS and Connectivity
5.0Manufacturer Reliability and Warranty
4.0Cost Performance
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$649(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13

Multisport GPS smartwatch with solar charging, built-in flashlight, and advanced health monitoring features.

Display Size1.3 inchesDisplay Resolution- pixels
Battery Life22 daysWater Resistance- ATM
Heart Rate MonitoringYesGPSYes
Bluetooth SupportBluetoothNFC Support-
Operating SystemGarminOSWeight73 grams
Heart Rate Monitoring FunctionSleep Tracking FunctionGPS Tracking FunctionSmartphone Notification FunctionMusic Playback Control FunctionContactless Payment Function
4.8Overall Rating
4.8Display Quality and Size
4.9Health and Fitness Tracking Features
4.7Smartphone Compatibility
5.0Battery Life
4.8Water Resistance
4.9GPS and Connectivity
4.5Manufacturer Reliability and Warranty
4.5Cost Performance
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$1,099(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13

Premium multisport GPS smartwatch with AMOLED display, sapphire lens, titanium bezel, and LED flashlight.

Display Size1.4 inchesDisplay Resolution- pixels
Battery Life16 daysWater Resistance- ATM
Heart Rate MonitoringYesGPSYes
Bluetooth SupportBluetoothNFC SupportYes
Operating SystemGarmin OSWeight- grams
Heart Rate Monitoring FunctionSleep Tracking FunctionGPS Tracking FunctionSmartphone Notification FunctionMusic Playback Control FunctionContactless Payment Function
4.7Overall Rating
4.9Display Quality and Size
4.8Health and Fitness Tracking Features
4.7Smartphone Compatibility
5.0Battery Life
4.9Water Resistance
4.9GPS and Connectivity
4.5Manufacturer Reliability and Warranty
4.0Cost Performance
#4

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$899(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13

Ultraperformance GPS smartwatch designed for ultra-endurance athletes with extreme battery life and detailed mapping.

Display Size1.4 inchesDisplay Resolution- pixels
Battery Life90 daysWater Resistance10 ATM
Heart Rate MonitoringYesGPSYes
Bluetooth SupportBluetoothNFC Support-
Operating SystemGarmin OSWeight63 grams
Heart Rate Monitoring FunctionSleep Tracking FunctionGPS Tracking FunctionSmartphone Notification FunctionMusic Playback Control FunctionContactless Payment Function
4.7Overall Rating
4.5Display Quality and Size
4.8Health and Fitness Tracking Features
4.7Smartphone Compatibility
5.0Battery Life
4.8Water Resistance
4.9GPS and Connectivity
4.5Manufacturer Reliability and Warranty
4.0Cost Performance
#5

Garmin

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$226(incl. tax)Amazon price as of 2025-08-13

The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a health and fitness GPS smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and long battery life.

Display Size1.2 inchesDisplay Resolution - pixels
Battery Life11 daysWater Resistance - ATM
Heart Rate MonitoringYesGPSYes
Bluetooth SupportYesNFC SupportYes
Operating SystemGarminOSWeight36.85 grams
Heart Rate Monitoring FunctionSleep Tracking FunctionGPS Tracking FunctionSmartphone Notification FunctionMusic Playback Control FunctionContactless Payment Function
4.6Overall Rating
4.7Display Quality and Size
4.8Health and Fitness Tracking Features
4.7Smartphone Compatibility
5.0Battery Life
4.0Water Resistance
4.8GPS and Connectivity
4.5Manufacturer Reliability and Warranty
4.5Cost Performance