Apple Watch Series 8
Score: 81/100
Garmin vívoactive 5 Ivory
Score: 87/100Rankings
The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a compact 1.2-inch AMOLED fitness smartwatch with long battery life and a rich health-tracking suite. Its trade-offs include the absence of solar charging and fewer ultra-premium features. Best suited for fitness enthusiasts who value battery endurance and a lightweight design.
The Apple Watch Series 8 GPS 45 mm offers a premium OLED display, fast S9 processor and a full suite of health sensors. Its drawbacks are the need for daily charging and the lack of cellular capability in the GPS-only version. Ideal for iPhone users who want top-tier health tracking without cellular independence.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
18 hours | 264 hoursbest | |
38.1 mmbest | 30.5 mm | |
| ↓ lower better | 36.3 g | 36 gbest |
— | 30best | |
64 GBbest | 4 GB |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 36.3 g | 36 g |
Water & Dust Resistance (IP Rating) | 50m | 5 ATM |
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 18 hours | 264 hours |
Display(3) | ||
Display Size (mm) | 38.1 mm | 30.5 mm |
Display Resolution | 396x484 | 390x390 |
Display Type | OLED | AMOLED |
Storage(1) | ||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 64 GB | 4 GB |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Series 9 for its ultra-bright 2000-nit display, the speed of the new S9 processor and the innovative Double Tap gesture, calling the interaction "magical." They also highlight richer workout visuals and Precision Finding via UWB, while noting that the GPS-only model still needs daily charging and lacks cellular capability, and that the weight gain over the 41 mm version is marginal.
Everyday users praise the watch's seamless iPhone integration, reliable fitness and health tracking, and the readability of the bright screen. Common complaints revolve around the need to charge daily, occasional sync hiccups with the iPhone, and band comfort issues for smaller wrists.
