Smartwatches · owner-verdict comparison

Garmin Forerunner 970 vs Vivoactive 5: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Garmin Forerunner 970: 68% of 75 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 56 for the Vivoactive 5.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Garmin Forerunner 970

68%of 75 owners recommend

68% recommend · 9% neutral · 23% don't

Owners praise

Remarkably light, slim, and comfortable for all-day and 24/7 wear
Packs the full Fenix-level feature set into a smaller, cheaper package
Strong battery life in typical use, often a week or more

Owners complain about

Ghost touches and an oversensitive touchscreen, sometimes unusable until disabled
Battery can drain badly, dying mid-run or dropping to around 30 hours
Reboots and reliability issues during workouts, with slow Garmin support

Full owner report →

Vivoactive 5

55%of 56 owners recommend

55% recommend · 27% neutral · 18% don't

Owners praise

Strong battery life, typically lasting several days to a week on a charge
Great value for the price, often cited around $199-$299 and roughly half the cost of a Venu 3
Comfortable, lightweight, and slim on the wrist compared to bulkier Garmin models

Owners complain about

Removed altimeter/barometer and stair-climb tracking that were present on the Vivoactive 4, disappointing upgraders
Switch to an AMOLED display and loss of the transflective MIP screen from earlier models, which some owners say makes it feel cheaper and less usable outdoors
Heart rate and sleep tracking accuracy complaints, including sleep scores called consistently wrong and HR sensors described as unreliable

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Garmin Forerunner 970 if

✓Runners wanting a lightweight, full-featured GPS watch
✓Small-wrist users needing a thin, comfortable watch
✓Fenix owners wanting the same features but lighter
✓24/7 wearers who track sleep

Skip it if

Those wanting a rugged, heavy-duty build
Budget-conscious buyers put off by the high price

Get the Vivoactive 5 if

✓Casual gym-goers and moderately active people wanting a budget-friendly Garmin
✓Non-tech-savvy buyers who want an easy, simple smartwatch experience
✓Runners, cyclists, and hikers who don't need altimeter or advanced navigation
✓Anyone upgrading from a basic fitness band who wants Garmin ecosystem data

Skip it if

Skiers/hikers needing elevation tracking, since the altimeter was removed
Serious runners wanting precise distance/pace, which many find inaccurate

What Garmin Forerunner 970 owners say

“I just upgraded from the 935 to the 970 and I am very happy with this decision!”
— @WolfgangUllrichPhoto on YouTube

“getting the Flashlight for a forerunner is amazing!”
— @vpnconsult on YouTube

“Garmin overpriced the 970.”
— @mccask on YouTube

What Vivoactive 5 owners say

“I'm very happy with my vivoactive 4 and will likely ask for the vivoactive 5 for Christmas.”
— @tinwhiskerSC on YouTube

“This watch seems like amazing value and a great choice for the more casually gym-go'er/runner/moderately active person”
— @martinjrgensen8377 on YouTube

“So disappointed they removed Stairs. I feel like I need to stick with the Vivoactive 4 for this reason.”
— @dianacrabtree6546 on YouTube

Garmin Forerunner 970 vs Vivoactive 5: frequently asked questions

Is the Garmin Forerunner 970 or the Vivoactive 5 better?

Real owners lean toward the Garmin Forerunner 970: 68% of 75 owners recommend it, vs 55% of 56 for the Vivoactive 5.

Who should get the Garmin Forerunner 970?

Owners point the Garmin Forerunner 970 at runners wanting a lightweight, full-featured GPS watch, and small-wrist users needing a thin, comfortable watch.

Who should get the Vivoactive 5?

Owners point the Vivoactive 5 at casual gym-goers and moderately active people wanting a budget-friendly Garmin, and non-tech-savvy buyers who want an easy, simple smartwatch experience.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Garmin Forerunner 970 is ghost touches and an oversensitive touchscreen, sometimes unusable until disabled. For the Vivoactive 5, it's removed altimeter/barometer and stair-climb tracking that were present on the Vivoactive 4, disappointing upgraders.