This is our comparison of the Vivoative Hr vs Fenix 3 Hr activity tracker watches by Garmin.
Garmin Vivoactive Hr and Garmin Fenix 3 Hr are two of the most popular smartwatches by the same manufacturer. They are designed to gauge your performance for any type of outdoor activity you like to pursue.
Both these watches are known for capturing heart rate data effectively, but they have received mixed reviews on the accuracy of those data.
So, we decided to test them both and see which of these watches is more accurate and reliable in terms of heart rate monitoring.
Like Garmin Fenix 3 takes the lead in almost all other aspects, it is also a clear winner for its heart rate monitoring feature. However, we will still look at both of these watches because there is also a steep difference in their price, with Vivoactive available at almost half the price of Fenix 3.
Here is a detailed analysis of the two watches, particularly in terms of their heart rate data accuracy and other features you might be interested in.
So, let’s get started.
Vivoactive Hr Vs Fenix 3 Hr – Feature Comparison
Screen & Display
Garmin Fenix 3 Hr has a 1.2-inch transflective color screen with a sapphire glass lens. This is probably the most prominent reason for its steep price because it comes with scratch-resistant glass, while Garmin Vivoactive doesn’t come with this feature.
Moreover, its screen resolution is 218 x 218 pixels with 257 PPI pixel density sharpness. However, it’s not a touchscreen display; instead, the watch comes with five buttons to navigate your way from one screen to another.
Garmin Vivoactive Hr is a well-designed GPS smartwatch with a large color display and touchscreen functionality. The functions and screens are easy to navigate, and you can easily customize the watch face to suit your preferences.
The watch comes with only two buttons for controlling all the functions, which is quite convenient. However, despite these seemingly great design features, the watch seems to have received several negative reviews simply because of its display.
The screen of Vivoactive Hr is designed to be read outdoors in the sunlight. And therefore, when the light is low, the display is difficult to read. However, you can change the backlight setting to improve its display.
It is possible to change the setting of the display from backlight level 3 to level 9. But keep in mind that this brightness level will affect the watch’s battery life.
HR Review
Garmin Vivoative Hr has a built-in heart rate monitor, and it captures your HR data without needing an external strap. In addition, the device offers different heart rate zones for different activities, such as running and cycling.
It is possible to set your resting heart rate and choose your zone before you start an activity. However, if you want to broadcast your heart rate data to another Garmin device, it will decrease the battery life of your watch.
Garmin Fenix 3 Hr comes with a wrist-based HR monitor and is compatible with ANT+ devices. You can easily turn the monitor off if you don’t need this reading.
Its optical heart rate monitor is located on the back of the watch, which does not cause any discomfort to the wearer. The retail package includes the HRM-Run with an additional cost of $50, an accessory that offers six additional running dynamics metrics, namely vertical oscillation, cadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical ratio, and ground contact time balance.
It has been found that Fenix 3 Hr measures the heart rate quite accurately for any activity you choose.
Activity Tracking Features
Both watches are almost similar when it comes to various activity-tracking features, such as;
- Calories burned
- Activity vs. inactivity
- Sleep quality and number of hours slept
- Steps taken
- Goal setting
- Alarm clock
- Heart rate
- GPS
Fenix 3 comes with an internal memory of 32 GB and it is compatible with Android and iOS devices and the ones running Windows OS.
For most people, the activity tracking features mentioned above are adequate.
How to Avoid Getting Erroneous HR Results
The manufacturer gives complete instructions on using the HR function on both these watches to avoid erroneous results. It is not recommended to use any kind of lotion or sunscreen on your wrist where the band rests. Moreover, you are advised not to scratch or tamper with the heart rate sensor located on the back of the device.
The watch is supposed to be worn above your wrist bone, and it should be snugly fit but not too tight either. Before starting your activity, wait for the heart icon to appear on the screen.
It is also recommended to rinse the device with water after each workout session to ensure it works properly the next time you want to monitor your heart rate.
If the watch is loose on your wrist, it will not give proper heart rate data. Remember that your watch will automatically use the wrist-based monitor unless you connect an ANT+ monitor with your device.
Vivoactive Hr Vs Fenix 3 Hr – The Winner
When we compare these two smartwatches in terms of their HR accuracy, we find Fenix 3 to be much better. In addition, it comes with an HRM-Run Performance Bundle that helps you get some additional metrics for activities like running and cycling.
This watch is quite close to being the perfect health and fitness companion you can get your hands on. If you pursue multiple sports with running being your primary fitness activity and would like to analyze and calibrate your heart rate to achieve maximum performance, this watch is definitely going to be a great pick.
However, it is quite an expensive device. If you have a low budget but you still want a reliable HR monitor along with all the other features that modern activity trackers offer, then choose Garmin Vivoactive Hr as your fitness partner.
Conclusion
People use smartwatches for various reasons, and monitoring their heart rate data is one of the most common reasons. However, we also see that a good number of people give negative reviews on any activity tracker they are using that comes with either a built-in or a wrist-based HR monitor.
What they complain about most of the time is erratic or inconsistent heart rate data. We have compared two very popular smartwatches in this context that offer heart rate monitoring.
Both watches offer the same basic activity tracking features as well as special functions like calendar reminder, alarm, incoming calls, goal setting, find my phone, music control, and camera shutter control. They are also equipped with GPS and heart rate monitors.
We found Gramin Fenix 3 Hr to be better overall, including its heart rate monitoring feature. In addition, it comes with optical HR functionality as well as an additional HRM-Run strap that you can wear across the chest for more accurate data.
It’s a big watch with a round display and one of the most expensive smartwatches you can get your hands on. So, it might not be suitable for everyone especially those who just want to use the basic activity tracking features.
It’s also important to note that getting erroneous HR data is sometimes not the fault of the device. It is a good idea to read the owner’s manual especially when you are using a new feature for the first time. This is to ensure that you use the watch correctly and avoid getting faulty results.
