The purchase of a sports wristwatch is a decision involving upstream to ask some crucial questions. Since the explosion of the market of connected models, the choice became bloated, and there are many models in the same price range. What sport do I practice? What features do I need? I want a rather classic design or object geek? My answers have led me to a particular model: the Vívoactive at Garmin that I tested for you today.
The brand
Garmin was born in 1989 in Kansas on the initiative of Gary Burrell. Working for King Radio, a company of engineering specialized in the field of aviation, he spots in 1983 a young engineer at Magnavox, subcontractor of Philips for electronic components. His name: Min H. Kao, Taiwanese of origin. The two thus founded their own company under the name ProNav and recover a market initially to provide for Army satellite positioning systems. At the same time, they develop a first GPS for the general public, which despite its high price of $ 2500 will be a success, so much so that American soldiers will be fitted in during the Gulf war in 1991. After concerns about the rights to their name, they decided to change to Garmin, the contraction of their two names. Over time, especially from the early 2000s, what was then the project of two engineers will take a considerable extent with the development of GPS products for hikers, making Garmin the world leader in the sector. In an era where the fun connected products have invaded our daily lives, was that as a leader, the brand offers a complete range for the general public. New 2015 include the hybrid Smart Wristwatch Vívoactive, according to Digopaul.
Technical data
All these years, Garmin has accustomed us to get out of imposing get very technical and highly specialized intensive outdoor activities outdoor. This Vívoactive put poles in terms of design and features. More fun, the cheek above all map shows lightness to still touch the heart of the sportsmen with some 38 g wrist. Finished round patterns and heavy, it is square, flat and is discreet to be worn every day. Because indeed, the Vívoactive has been designed like a GPS watch, a tracker of activity but also a classic smartwatch.
In terms of ergonomics, it is equipped with two part and other case, and two other tactile physical buttons on the dial. The screen, treated anti-reflective is obviously touch to explore all the features. If it comes with a rubber strap, Garmin also offers two other additional which one leather. Also, the brand offers a kit with the HRM Run for a few euros more a frequency counter to measure his heart rate during exercise. Finally, the watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters deep and its announced battery as 3 weeks maximum GPS and 10 hours with.
With respect to the software, Garmin wanted to keep things simple. The wristwatch captures GPS waves, connects to the smartphone via bluetooth and offers native applications for running, cycling, swimming, walking and golf. It also measures them not and adapts to the way of life that is ours. Finally, like a real smart watch, the Vívoactive synchronizes with our phone to view the incoming notifications, calendar, weather, and manage our music playing. Last thing, Garmin offers a library of applications and widgets that we can add at will if you want to acquire new features or customize its screen.
Reviews
For this test, I had in hand the Vívoactive wristwatch in his black version (it is also available in white) with option «HRM Run» In his box, so we find unpacking, the strangely fine watch with its 8mm, the charger, a rather heavy loving base fitted with a USB port, then the frequency meter which is a belt to tie around his chest. Of course, initially we have eyes only for the watch and its square shape. Honestly, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and because of its lightness, I confess I found it a bit ‘toc ‘. Indeed, the case is plastic and it is extremely light. Nevertheless, the finishes are really well-done. I love still chosen-very sober, the gray logo design does not excessively and chromed buttons add an elegant touch to the whole.
Eagerly, I turn on my watch after his full load of an hour about. The time to install the software on my computer, my smartphone and create an account on the Garmin Connect platform to view all my future activities and manage the watch in a more general way. The first time that we put her on the wrist, it’s light that strikes and the watch is almost instantly forgotten. She does not interfere while espousing the shape of the wrist because of its flat and thin design. Switching, we see that Garmin has chosen a very basic interface. Basically with the date and the charge level displayed. The right button to activate the backlight, one on the left gives access to the applications. The connection is done easily on the phone then the GPS network when active this last. To start, Facebook notifications, reminders of calendar and incoming calls are appearing.
By plugging the watch to his computer, we have access to the management of a few parameters such as the updates (which is done even without the plug) and access to the Bank applications. She is not hyper garnished but allows to customize its dial and add a few sports functions as an interval timer for example.
I’m not a swimmer, nor pedaler, let alone golfer, but especially runner feet. It is this feature that I’m eager to test during a warm-down session. To tell the truth you, I was a scared initially, that of not being able to connect my headset in Bluetooth and the watch. It turned out quite possible during my tests before my race and music phone can even be controlled from the watch. On this side, the possibilities remain nevertheless limited and it offers the possibility of a “play/pause, previous/next” without even displaying the name of the track. A bit disappointed on this one but a software update could come to correct this point. Back in my race, and here it’s simple as pie. We launch the application, attached the heart receiver and the watch does the rest. She instantly calculates the speed, mileage, the pace of the heartbeat and recognizes even your path indicating the lap time if we run on track. On arrival, the results themselves on the smartphone app and the web interface. There is nothing more to know, ‘Easy as pie’ I tell you!
Beyond report accurately my heartbeat, my GPS track and my race pace, the watch also calculated my steps. It’s now generic on this type of device, you can set daily goals of activity. Also, kept watch on the wrist during the night calculates the activity during sleep, doing nothing to know in my opinion without the presence of an application to wake up at the end of a cycle to less to feel the fatigue. But I am convinced that Garmin also provides an update to that effect.
Shopping
The watch Vívoactive is available at the rate of € 249, €299 if you take the pack with “HRM Run”. With this product, the global leader in GPS positions itself on the market of the product design also concerned sportsmen. The software interface has been chosen deliberately simple, and it’s no more bad. In the end, after a few days test, the watch is discreet and we forget altogether (apart from when it vibrates to each notification). Whatever it is, everything has been designed to enable activity addicts follow their every move and gesture, and that’s what is very accomplished by Garmin: multi-interface full network for not missing a beat. Designed for experienced sportsmen and those Sunday this Vívoactive has everything to seduce, it is true for my personal case. Tested & approved!