Polar H9
Score: 83/100
Garmin Vívоactive 5
Score: 82/100Rankings
The Polar H9 is a chest-mounted ECG heart-rate sensor offering exceptional accuracy and a 400-hour battery life. Its main trade-off is the lack of onboard storage and reliance on a replace-once coin cell battery. Ideal for athletes who need precise data across multiple sports and appreciate dual-protocol connectivity.
Garmin's vívoactive 5 is a mid-range smartwatch featuring a bright 1.2-inch AMOLED display, extensive health sensors and up to 11 days of battery life. It omits ECG and dual-frequency GPS, limiting its appeal to serious athletes. Targets fitness enthusiasts who value a rich health suite and music storage without premium navigation features.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
400 hoursbest | 264 hours | |
| ↓ lower better | 60 g | 36 gbest |
— | 1.2 inbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 400 hours | 264 hours |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 60 g | 36 g |
Water Resistance (IP Rating) | IP68 | 5 ATM |
General(1) | ||
Operating Temperature (°C) | -10 to 50 °C | -20 to 60 °C |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Editors and CrossFit-focused reviewers consider the Polar H9 the best-value chest strap, emphasizing its precise ECG tracking, dual-protocol connectivity, and underwater capability.
Professional reviewers describe the vívoactive 5 as a well-rounded health-focused smartwatch, applauding its bright AMOLED display, impressive 11-day battery life, and comprehensive suite of health tools like Body Battery and Sleep Coach. They note the inclusion of wheelchair-specific modes as a strong accessibility point, but criticize the absence of a barometric altimeter, ECG, and dual-frequency GPS, which limits its appeal to serious athletes seeking precise elevation data.
Everyday users consistently praise the long battery life, vivid display, and intuitive health insights, especially Body Battery and sleep tracking. While overall sentiment is positive, a few users express disappointment over missing advanced GPS and altitude features, and the lack of disclosed weight creates some uncertainty about comfort.
