Garmin Vivoactive 4 vs. Vivoactive 3: Which should you buy?

The Vivoactive 3 was first released two years ago and has been a popular choice ever since. Now that there's finally a successor available, it's important to compare the two wearables so you can decide which one is the better pick. The Vivoactive 4 brings with it some subtle changes that are worth discussing, as well as some big changes that just might win you over.

From offering two different sizes to making music storage a standard feature, there's a lot of positive upgrades here. Both editions provide you with a solid all-around fitness smartwatch that's going to meet the needs of most casual lifestyle athletes. If you were a fan of the Vivoactive 3, you'll certainly appreciate all the features that come with the new model. It's got a hefty price tag, but it may just be worth it for all that you get this time around.

New additions

Source: Garmin Pictured: Vivoactive 4

With the previous model, the only size option was 43mm. The new Vivoactive 4 is available in 45mm and a model called the 4S, which is 40mm. Both watch sizes are the same price. The only difference between the two is size and battery performance. Additionally, the 4S offers a rose gold variant while the 4 is only available in slate and silver.

Like its predecessor, the new model comes with an always-on transflective display. However, you'll now have two buttons on your watch instead of one. The upper right button is for selecting, stopping, and starting while the lower right button is for going back and lapping.

	Vivoactive 4	Vivoactive 3
Dimensions	45.1 x 45.1 x 12.8 mm	43.4 x 43.4 x 11.7 mm
Display	1.3", 260 x 260 pixels	1.2", 240 x 240 pixels
Sensors	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, Pulse Ox, accelerometer, thermometer	GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Garmin Elevate™ wrist heart rate monitor, altimeter, compass, accelerometer, thermometer
Battery	Smartwatch mode: 8 days GPS with music: 6 hours	Smartwatch mode: 7 days GPS: 13 hours
Connectivity	Bluetooth®, ANT+®, Wi-Fi®	Bluetooth® Smart and ANT+®
Water-resistant	5 ATM	5 ATM
Touchscreen	✔️	✔️
Notifications	✔️	✔️
Garmin Pay	✔️	✔️
Music storage	✔️	❌
On-screen workouts	✔️	❌
Incident detection	✔️	❌

The Vivoactive 4 offers an impressive eight days of battery life in smartwatch mode and six hours in GPS and music mode. The 4S dips down to seven days in smartwatch mode and five hours in GPS and music mode, which is what you got with the more expensive Vivoactive 3 Music model. The standard Vivoactive 3 gives you seven days in smartwatch mode and 13 hours in GPS mode.

As far as the similarities go, both the Vivoactive 3 and the Vivoactive 4 offer built-in GPS, smartphone notifications, Garmin Pay, and 5 ATM water resistance. You'll have access to some of the same workouts, including strength, cardio, and elliptical training along with stair-stepping, floor climbing, indoor rowing, and yoga. They both come with stress tracking, sleep tracking, and heart-rate monitoring.

Source: Android Central Pictured: Vivoactive 3

Other than the physical differences, there are quite a few tracking improvements. The Vivoactive 4 now offers a Pulse Ox sensor for monitoring blood oxygen saturation levels and respiration tracking for monitoring the number of breaths taken per minute. The combination of these two features promises more insightful sleep data. You'll also have Body Battery™ Energy monitoring, hydration tracking to log daily water intake, and underwater wrist-based heart rate for swimming.

The Body Battery is a great new feature that allows you to check your energy levels throughout the day by collecting data from heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, stress, and activity. This will help you schedule workouts and rest at the most ideal times. Speaking of which, you'll have plenty of options for workouts, including the sports apps with preloaded workouts, preset workouts available to download from Garmin Connect, the ability to create customizable workouts, and Garmin Coach training plans.

Not to mention that the Vivoactive 4 boasts over 40 on-screen workouts for strength training, cardio, yoga, and Pilates, which takes a page out of Fitbit's book. You can follow along with your watch as it demonstrates proper form and technique for a chosen workout. It also provides you with new breathwork activities that are intended to promote focus and relaxation.

Source: Garmin Pictured: Vivoactive 4S and Vivoactive 4

Last but definitely not least, both the Vivoactive 4 and 4S automatically come with music storage rather than charging you more for a model with this feature. You'll be able to download your favorite playlists and songs from third-party services such as Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music. This means you can now enjoy phone-free music when you're working out. Finally! This is a highly-desired feature among fitness enthusiasts, and Garmin delivered.

How to decide

Not surprisingly, the price of the Vivoactive 3 has been marked down thanks to this new release, which makes it a fraction of the cost of the new Vivoactive 4. If you're content with the more basic tracking and features offered by the predecessor, it's a great deal for those on a budget. However, if you're craving more and don't mind spending more to get it, the new Vivoactive 4 is an excellent pick. Keep in mind that at this price point, you can spend just a tad more for the Garmin Venu, which has a stunning AMOLED display and many of the new features you see here.

When all is said and done, we feel good about the Vivoactive 4. It brings so many well-deserved improvements, like two size options, standard music storage, and a long list of tracking features that help you get an in-depth look at the state of your overall health and fitness. If the cost doesn't deter you, you're going to be more than happy with the new Garmin Vivoactive 4.

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