While the Garmin Vivoactive 6 may appear primarily designed for fitness and lifestyle use, it certainly does not overlook training, as we’ll see in this comprehensive review.
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Garmin didn’t take long to update its lifestyle and fitness-oriented smartwatch line. Just a year and a half after introducing the Garmin Vivoactive 5, the American brand unveiled its latest entry-level sports watch, the Garmin Vivoactive 6.
To find out what it’s capable of, we tested it for several weeks. Here’s our full review of the Garmin Vivoactive 6.
Garmin Vivoactive 6 Technical Specifications
| Model | Garmin Vivoactive 6 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 42.2 mm x 42.2 mm x 10.9 mm |
| Screen Resolution | 390 × 390 pixels |
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Internal Memory | 8 GB |
| Weight | 36 g |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Yes |
| Sleep Analysis | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient Light Sensor | Yes |
| Protection Rating | 5ATM |
| Product Sheet |
The watch for this test was provided by the manufacturer.
Garmin Vivoactive 6: A Compact Watch with a Discreet Design
At first glance, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a worthy successor to previous Vivoactive range watches, particularly the Vivoactive 5, which was the first to feature an Amoled screen.
The new Garmin watch sports a rounded design with a very discreet “lifestyle” look, primarily geared towards health tracking, fitness, or wellness activities like yoga, relaxation, or meditation.
The watch is also quite suitable for smaller wrists with its single size—unlike the models in the Venu range—measuring 42.2 x 42.2 x 10.9 mm. The Vivoactive 6 is also very light, weighing 23 grams without the strap and 36 grams with the included silicone strap. This is a plus, as a lighter watch tends to have less inertia during arm movements in physical activity and stays better attached to the wrist. This light weight is largely due to the materials used: a plastic case and an aluminum bezel around the screen, protected by simple Gorilla Glass 3—not sapphire glass.
Regarding controls, the Vivoactive 6 deviates from higher-end Garmin watches like the Fenix or Forerunner models. Here, you won’t find the traditional five buttons of the American brand but only two, positioned on the right side of the case: one round and one oblong.
While the Garmin Vivoactive 6’s interface hides it well with its Amoled display and black backgrounds, it’s worth noting the particularly wide borders around the screen. Indeed, the display only occupies 52.9% of the watch’s surface area, which is relatively low.
Finally, the Vivoactive 6 is certified 5 ATM, meaning it can be worn for swimming. As for the straps, while Garmin provides a 20 mm wide silicone model, the watch lugs allow easy replacement with any strap featuring a quick-release pump system. This is a plus for customizing the look of the Vivoactive 6 outside of sports activities.
Garmin Vivoactive 6: An Effective Amoled Screen
In terms of display, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 doesn’t particularly revolutionize the category. It’s worth noting that the Vivoactive 5 was already a significant step forward for the American brand, as it was the first model in the range to feature an Amoled screen instead of an LCD.
Logically, we find the same round, tactile Amoled panel here, with a 1.2-inch diameter display offering a resolution of 390 x 390 pixels and a density of 325 pixels per inch. It’s strictly the same screen as the previous watch. This allows for a contrasted display with vivid colors and overall good brightness, while ensuring a sufficient definition to not individually perceive each pixel.
The watch also features an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the screen brightness to match the environmental light where you are located. This is convenient for checking training data in full sunlight without squinting or for checking the time in the evening without straining your eyes.
The Vivoactive 6 also includes an always-on display mode, allowing you to permanently display the time and some data in a darker tone. Naturally, this mode will logically consume more energy. However, it can be programmed to activate only during certain hours—for example, from 9 AM to 11 PM—just like the feature that turns on the display when you raise your wrist.
Regarding watch faces, the Vivoactive 6 offers 10 preloaded by default, but it’s possible to download many more—with customization options for shades or complications—from Garmin’s Connect IQ app.
Garmin Vivoactive 6: Tactile Navigation and Smart Wake-Up
While Garmin uses four buttons for navigation on its watches dedicated to running or trail, the Vivowatch range is limited to two buttons positioned on the right side of the case. Therefore, interaction with the interface will necessarily involve the touchscreen or certain shortcuts.
- Swipe down: access notifications
- Swipe up: access the data timeline
- Swipe right: go back
- Single press on the top button: access activities and apps
- Long press on the top button: access quick settings
- Short press on the bottom button: go back
- Long press on the bottom button: customizable shortcut
Overall, most of the menus and interfaces of a higher-end Garmin watch are present, except for the absence of a wheel for quick access to certain options. The ability to customize the long press on the oblong button to launch certain settings is appreciated. Unfortunately, no button or shortcut allows direct return to the home watch face, and you must repeat the swipe right or short press on the bottom button to return to the dial.
In terms of features, we find what Garmin has accustomed us to in the past, namely a watch primarily dedicated to health tracking and sports training. In other words, only the pre-installed apps on the watch will be accessible to you, with the exception of a few solutions offered by third-party developers on Connect IQ. This is far from the versatility of a Wear OS watch or an Apple Watch.
However, the watch allows storing up to 8 GB of music for training with wireless earphones, without the smartphone. However, it lacks a microphone and speaker and thus cannot be used to make calls. We also note the presence of Garmin Pay, Garmin’s contactless payment solution.
On the other hand, the Vivoactive 6 introduces a new feature for Garmin’s alarm app, the “smart alarm.” When you set a vibrating alarm, you can choose to activate this function, which will allow the watch to vibrate up to 30 minutes before the chosen time if you are in a light sleep phase. A good way to ensure that the alarm does not go off at the worst moment, during deep sleep, and does not sacrifice your recovery. This is a good idea and well executed, even if it’s a bit late, as the first brands to offer this kind of feature have been doing it for ten years. But better late than never.
Garmin Vivoactive 6: A Fitness Watch That Holds Its Own For Running
The Garmin Vivoactive is positioned primarily as a fitness watch, rather than a model for running or trail. However, despite this positioning, the American brand has decided to offer a wide array of functions related to sports or health.
In terms of sensors, we find the essentials, namely an optical heart rate sensor, a pulse oximeter for SpO2, a gyroscope and an accelerometer for movements, and a GPS chip for distance and pace.
What’s mainly missing are an electrocardiogram, reserved for high-end Garmin watches, and a barometric altimeter. Thus, the watch will not be able to evaluate your elevation or meters climbed in climbing, trail, or cycling.
GPS Accuracy of the Garmin Vivoactive 6
In terms of the GPS chip, the Vivoactive 6 is compatible with the main global GNSS systems: GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou. Two modes are also offered: all systems (multi-GNSS) or GPS only.
However, unlike running watches like the Forerunner 265, the Vivoactive 6 is not compatible with dual-frequency GPS, but only with the L1 frequency band. This should result in less accuracy in dense urban environments or under trees in forests.
To assess the accuracy of the Vivoactive 6’s GPS tracking, I compared it—in multi-GNSS mode—to a Garmin Fenix 8 in multi-GNSS dual-frequency mode, both in the city and in a park or on a track.
| Runs | Reference | Garmin Vivoactive 6 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 (park + track) | 11.162 km | 11.206 km | +0.39% |
| Run 2 (city) | 10.018 km | 9.882 km | -1.36% |
| Run 3 (park) | 10.196 km | 10.233 km | +0.36% |
| Run 4 (track) | 9.906 km | 9.879 km | -0.79% |
| Total | 41.282 km | 41.200 km | -0.20% |
Overall, the Vivoactive 6 performs very well with minimal difference from the measurements of the Fenix 8. It only struggles more in the city, with a difference of 1.36%. However, this is still quite low and not fundamentally bothersome.
As seen in the tracks above, the Vivoactive 6 produces the same track as the Fenix 8 on the track or in a park. However, it is more complicated in the city, where the watch sometimes gets lost on sidewalks and struggles in narrow streets.
Heart Rate Accuracy of the Garmin Vivoactive 6
For heart rate analysis, the Vivoactive 6 uses the Elevate Gen 4 sensor, an optical heart rate sensor now well known on Garmin watches and previously equipped on models like the Fenix 7 or the Forerunner 255.
To assess the reliability of the sensor, I compared the measurements of the Vivoactive 6 to those of a Polar H10+ heart rate strap, known for its reliability due to the use of two electrodes. I conducted a first session at a constant pace, in fundamental endurance, followed by a second session with eight 400 m intervals at a fast pace.
| Reference Measurement | Garmin Vivoactive 6 | Average Deviation | Average Deviation after 10 min | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average HR | 157 bpm | 157 bpm | +0.21% | +0.42% |
| Max HR | 165 bpm | 165 bpm |
| Reference Measurement | Garmin
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 Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.
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