Depending on your view of features such as Body Battery and music playback, upgrading from the already excellent Vivoactive 3 might not be a huge priority. But what's pleasing is that, in adding Spotify support and improving the watch's aesthetic appeal, Garmin has fixed the small gripes most people...

Excellent fitness tracking features; Attractive design and easy-to-read display; Good price

Lacks in-depth running analysis; New features don't add a great deal

Does everything you could want as a sports watch - Garmin functionality spot on.

awesome

By taking a lot of what's great about the more expensive Fenix and Forerunner devices and compressing that into a compact and far more affordable device, the Vivoactive 4 will be the perfect fitness tracker for many, without breaking the bank.

Significantly improved design; Practical two-button solution; Great value for money; Offline music listening

Still struggles with HIIT workouts; Display tech means low quality graphics/animations; Garmin Pay not supported by a lot of banks

Garmin's excellent Vivoactive 4 fitness tracker offers insights about your breathing, sleep, and stress, motivating training plans, and smartwatch features like contactless payments, downloadable apps, and onboard music storage.

Respiration tracking; Pulse oximeter readings; On-screen workout animations; Onboard music storage and support for Bluetooth headphones; Underwater optical heart rate monitoring; Pilates support

Uses multiple smartphone apps; Excessive badges

If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that really balances form and function, the $349.99 Garmin Vivoactive 4 should be at the top of your list. This feature-rich GPS fitness tracker/smartwatch hybrid boasts a stylish design, more than 20 preloaded sports apps, onboard music storage, and support for Bluetooth headphones. It builds on its excellent predecessors with the addition of on-screen workout animations, Pilates support and enhanced yoga metrics, pulse oximeter readings, respiration tracking, and underwater heart rate monitoring. It's expensive, but it offers tremendous value for the price, earning our Editors’ Choice for high-end fitness trackers. Vivoactive 4 vs. Vivoactive 4S The Vivoactive 4 comes in two sizes. The 40mm model, somewhat confusingly named the Vivoactive 4S, is for wrists measuring 4.3 to 6.8 inches in circumference and comes in gold/pink, rose gold/white, silver/gray, or slate/black color options. The 45mm model, the Vivoactive 4, is for wrists 5.3 to 7....

Garmin's excellent Vivoactive 4 fitness tracker offers insights about your breathing, sleep, and stress, motivating training plans, and smartwatch features like contactless payments, downloadable apps, and onboard music storage.

Respiration tracking; Pulse oximeter readings; On-screen workout animations; Onboard music storage and support for Bluetooth headphones; Underwater optical heart rate monitoring; Pilates support

Uses multiple smartphone apps; Excessive badges

While the Apple Watch dominates the smartwatch market and there is really no other competitor, there are plenty of options for those looking for wearables that provide more advanced health tracking and exercise features.

Advanced health tracking features; High quality materials; fit; and finish; Responsive touchscreen interface; Offline music and Garmin Pay support; Extensive golfing support

Heavier than the 245 Music; Display a bit dim for indoor use

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is another great sports-focused smartwatch that you’re going to struggle to find something better for the price. While smartwatch features have largely stayed the same as its predecessor, there’s even more going on on the health and fitness front.

Great screen; Animated workouts are a nice addition; Crammed with features

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 puts the tech smarts of the watches used by the ultra-marathon-running elite into a more accessible wearable. You may not get all the pro-style advice of a Forerunner, but you do get the rest.

Great exercise tracking, with full GPS; On-watch music streaming; Stacks of stats;

ANT+ HR broadcast mode does not work well yet; No Performance Condition/training load monitoring; Spotify/Deezer integration should be more friendly

Great product just have to watch the battery life