While Apple in particular has been dominating the wearable space as of late, there are plenty of other brands still in the mix for your wrist space. Garmin is now on the fourth generation of its popular vívofit wearable, which was just announced this week. Thanks to impressive battery life that surpasses a year this may be its most intriguing offering to date.
Garmin has been offering a wide-range of wearables for some time now. For those that aren’t in need of a full-on smartphone companion, such as Apple Watch, vívofit offers a nice blend of simplicity and fitness tracking. Along with its battery life claims, Garmin is offering an upgraded always-on color display amongst a number of intriguing features this time around.
While its easy to look at Garmin’s wearables as a simplistic version of other more full-featured offerings, this approach delivers some capabilities that the competition lacks. That includes the ability to wear the new vívofit in just about any scenario. Garmin claims that its latest fitness tracker can hang in the pool, shower or a bath tub without any issue.
“An activity tracker is only as effective as how often you wear it, and this is where the vívofit 4 really shines — you can set it and forget it,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “It’s the ideal device for customers who want something reliable that they don’t need to hassle with or take off to recharge.”
Garmin’s newest wearable is capable of handling all of your typical fitness tracking demands, including counting steps and more. There’s also smartphone integration to a certain point, as you’ll receive alerts and reminders in some instances.
Where the new vívofit really shines is its impressive battery life that is said to last over one-year. Paired with an always-on color display, the fourth gen model offers a handful of intriguing features for those not in need of a high-end wearable.
Garmin’s latest release is available today for $80 in three different colors.
[9to5-press-release]
Garmin® introduces the vívofit® 4 activity tracker
OLATHE, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), today announced the vívofit 4, a daily activity tracker1 with an incredible 1+ year battery life – no charging necessary – and a sunlight-readable, always-on color display. Designed for 24/7 wearability, the vívofit 4 is swim- and shower-safe and features a sleek, comfortable band. The vívofit 4 is ready to go right out of the box, and can be paired with a smartphone for additional features. Easy to set up and simple to operate, all that’s left is to put it on and go.
“An activity tracker is only as effective as how often you wear it, and this is where the vívofit 4 really shines – you can set it and forget it,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “It’s the ideal device for customers who want something reliable that they don’t need to hassle with or take off to recharge.”
Right out of the box, the vívofit 4 starts tracking steps and encourages users to stay active with a colored move bar that fills up when a user has been stationary for too long. It also assigns daily step goals based on current activity levels which automatically adjust to the user, gradually nudging them toward a healthier, more active lifestyle.
For those customers looking for more than just basic activity tracking, the vívofit 4 can be paired with a smartphone, adding even more functionality and options, such as tracking sleep, intensity minutes and more. Forget to start or stop a timed activity? Thanks to Move IQ, the vívofit 4 is able to detect changes in a user’s movement and automatically capture and classify activities such as walking, running, biking, swimming and using an elliptical. Users can use the vívofit 4 as their everyday watch, complete with a countdown timer, stopwatch and multiple alarms. A weather widget gives a quick, illustrated look at the day’s weather. The vívofit 4 even includes Find My Phone for those who need a little extra help keeping track of their smartphone.
Through the Garmin Connect app, users can customize the vívofit 4 with various watch faces, color themes and personalized text, such as an emergency contact or motivational phrase. Interchangeable accessory bands (sold separately) make it easy to switch up colors and styles to match any mood or outfit.
Within the newly redesigned Garmin Connect, a free online community, it is easier than ever to get an at-a-glance look at important stats like steps and sleep. Users can filter and customize their data so that they are only seeing what is most relevant. Users can connect with friends and family to motivate one another, join challenges, engage in friendly competitions and more. And speaking of competitions, vívofit 4 users with children who own vívofit jr. 2 devices can compete against one another using the Toe-to-ToeTM timed step competition feature to determine who is clearing the table that night. The vívofit 4 will periodically sync with Garmin Connect throughout the day.
The vívofit 4 is available in White (S/M), Limegreen Speckled (S/M) and Black (S/M and L) for a suggested retail price of $79.99, available on Amazon.com today. Interchangeable accessory bands are available in a Speckled Merlot and Speckled Navy combo pack (S/M) for $29.99. Accessory bands in Speckled Black (S/M), White (S/M) and Black (S/M and L) are available for individual purchase for a suggested retail price of $19.99.
The ever-expanding Garmin fitness segment develops technologies to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Whether users are runners, cyclists, swimmers, multi-sport athletes, or simply looking to stay active throughout the day, there is a product that can help them reach their health and fitness goals.
For decades, Garmin has pioneered new GPS navigation and wireless devices and applications that are designed for people who live an active lifestyle. Garmin serves five primary business units, including automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation. For more information, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at garmin.com/newsroom, contact the Media Relations department at 913-397-8200, or follow us at facebook.com/garmin, twitter.com/garmin, or youtube.com/garmin.
[/9to5-press-release]
FTC: 9to5Toys is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links
Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!
