Fitness Trackers / Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) vs Polar Loop (2025)
Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) vs Polar Loop (2025)
Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022)
Nothing paywalled and the best data export in the category — but the GPS is your phone's.
Wins overall by 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.7 points. Nothing paywalled and the best data export in the category — but the GPS is your phone's.
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) and Polar Loop (2025) are both closely matched fitness Tracker models, and the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) is $50 cheaper than the Polar Loop (2025) ($149.99 vs $199.99). On Display & Usability, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads (6.0 vs 2.0/10) — screen size, brightness and how much you can actually read on the wrist mid-workout.. On Phone Independence, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads (3.0 vs 2.5/10) — how much the device can do with the phone left at home — a real GPS chip and on-wrist readouts score high, connected-GPS screenless bands score low.. On Battery Life, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads (6.5 vs 6.0/10) — real endurance once continuous heart rate, SpO2 and the always-on display are enabled, not just the headline figure.. Overall, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores 6.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.2/10 for the Polar Loop (2025). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) | Polar Loop (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2025 |
| GPS | Connected GPS — the band has no GPS chip and uses the paired phone's location for outdoor distance and route | None — no GPS chip. The Polar Flow app can use the phone's GPS when you start an outdoor session manually |
| Display | OLED touchscreen, 66% larger than the vívosmart 4 (Garmin's press release does not state the panel dimensions) | None — screenless; everything is read in Polar Flow |
| Rated Battery Life ( days) | 7 | 8✓ |
| What the Battery Claim Assumes | 'Up to 7 days' in smartwatch mode. Garmin does not publish a separate figure for all-day Pulse Ox enabled, which is the setting that drains it fastest | Polar rates up to 8 days with continuous HR active; the band holds about four weeks of data if it goes unsynced |
| Subscription Model | None for anything on the device. Garmin Connect is free; the optional Garmin Connect+ tier adds AI summaries but gates nothing the vívosmart 5 measures | None. Polar states full access to every feature from day one with no monthly fee — the explicit anti-WHOOP position |
| Annual Subscription Cost ($) | 0 | 0 |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM — Garmin rates it swim- and shower-proof | WR30 — Polar rates it for bathing and swimming, a weaker rating than the 5 ATM bands here |
| ECG / AFib & FDA Status | No ECG hardware and no AFib detection on this model — Garmin's ECG app is limited to its Venu/fenix lines | No ECG hardware and no AFib detection |
| SpO2 Sensor | Yes — Pulse Ox, spot-check, all-day or overnight | Not listed by Polar for the Loop — the sensor package is optical HR, HRV and accelerometer |
| Phone Compatibility | iOS and Android via Garmin Connect | iOS and Android via Polar Flow |
| Charger | Proprietary 4-pin Garmin clip charger | Proprietary Polar Charge 2.0 USB-C cable (included) |
| Data Export | Garmin Connect exports individual activities as GPX/TCX/CSV, offers a full account data export, and has a documented developer API | Strongest in the screenless class — Polar Flow exports sessions as TCX/GPX, offers a full account data export and a documented AccessLink API |
| Warranty | 12 months | 24 months |
| Colors | Black, White, Cool Mint | Black, Greige, Blue |
Category Scores
Tracking Accuracy
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) and Polar Loop (2025) are level here, at 8.0/10 each. how closely steps, heart rate and sleep match reference devices — and how badly the optical sensor falls apart at high intensity. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Subscription Freedom
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) and Polar Loop (2025) are level here, at 9.5/10 each. the category's trap dimension: how much of what you paid for keeps working without a membership. A 10 means nothing is paywalled; a 1 means the hardware is unusable the moment you stop paying. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Phone Independence
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads clearly here, 3.0 against 2.5 — a 0.5-point margin on how much the device can do with the phone left at home — a real GPS chip and on-wrist readouts score high, connected-GPS screenless bands score low.. If that is what you are buying for, the Polar Loop (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Life
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-point margin on real endurance once continuous heart rate, SpO2 and the always-on display are enabled, not just the headline figure.. If that is what you are buying for, the Polar Loop (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Display & Usability
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 2.0 — a 4.0-point margin on screen size, brightness and how much you can actually read on the wrist mid-workout.. If that is what you are buying for, the Polar Loop (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Health Features
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-point margin on depth of the health sensor suite and how much of it is FDA-cleared and enabled in the US.. If that is what you are buying for, the Polar Loop (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
App & Data Portability
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on quality of the companion app and whether you can get your own data out in a documented format.. If that is what you are buying for, the Polar Loop (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) and Polar Loop (2025) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. what the first year genuinely costs — purchase price plus any subscription needed for the advertised features. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) if…
- • Display & Usability matters most to you — the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores 6.0/10 here (screen size, brightness and how much you can actually read on the wrist mid-workout.).
- • Phone Independence matters most to you — the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores 3.0/10 here (how much the device can do with the phone left at home — a real GPS chip and on-wrist readouts score high, connected-GPS screenless bands score low.).
- • Battery Life matters most to you — the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores 6.5/10 here (real endurance once continuous heart rate, SpO2 and the always-on display are enabled, not just the headline figure.).
- • Health Features matters most to you — the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores 7.0/10 here (depth of the health sensor suite and how much of it is FDA-cleared and enabled in the US.).
- • App & Data Portability matters most to you — the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores 9.0/10 here (quality of the companion app and whether you can get your own data out in a documented format.).
Pros & Cons
Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022)
Pros
- +Nothing it measures is paywalled — Body Battery, stress, sleep and Pulse Ox are all free, forever
- +Best data portability in the category: per-activity GPX/TCX/CSV plus a documented API
- +Bands are genuinely user-replaceable and come in two wrist sizes
- +Garmin Connect's training and sleep history is deeper than anything Fitbit gives away free
Cons
- −$149.99 for connected GPS only — the $159.95 Fitbit Charge 6 has a real GPS chip for $10 more
- −Four years old with no successor, and the screen is small and dim next to a $52 Xiaomi band
- −Garmin does not publish what all-day Pulse Ox does to the 7-day battery claim
- −No ECG, no AFib detection, no exercise-equipment heart-rate broadcast
- −Yet another proprietary clip charger
Polar Loop (2025)
Pros
- +Polar's sports-science pedigree — Nightly Recharge and SleepWise — with no subscription attached
- +Two band sizes in the box, so the fit problem is solved at purchase
- +Real data portability: TCX/GPX export, account export and a documented API
- +Two-year warranty, double the Fitbit and Amazfit norm
Cons
- −$199.99 for a screenless band with no GPS chip and no SpO2 — the $99.99 Amazfit Helio Strap does the same job
- −WR30 rather than 5 ATM, the weakest water rating in this comparison
- −8 days is the shortest battery life of any screenless band here
- −No ECG, no AFib detection, no FDA-cleared health feature
- −Polar Flow's interface is dated next to WHOOP's and Google Health's
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) or Polar Loop (2025) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Display & Usability, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) or the Polar Loop (2025)?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores higher on Display & Usability (6.0/10 vs 2.0/10) — screen size, brightness and how much you can actually read on the wrist mid-workout..
Which is better for Phone Independence, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) or the Polar Loop (2025)?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores higher on Phone Independence (3.0/10 vs 2.5/10) — how much the device can do with the phone left at home — a real GPS chip and on-wrist readouts score high, connected-GPS screenless bands score low..
Which is better for Battery Life, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) or the Polar Loop (2025)?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores higher on Battery Life (6.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — real endurance once continuous heart rate, SpO2 and the always-on display are enabled, not just the headline figure..
Which is better for Health Features, the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) or the Polar Loop (2025)?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) scores higher on Health Features (7.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — depth of the health sensor suite and how much of it is FDA-cleared and enabled in the US..
Is the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) worth the price difference over the Polar Loop (2025)?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) is the cheaper option at $149.99 versus $199.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Display & Usability.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) is the better fit if you mainly care about everyday-steps. The Polar Loop (2025) is the better fit for screenless.
What's the warranty on the Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) vs the Polar Loop (2025)?+
The Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Polar Loop (2025) ships with a 24-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Garmin vívosmart 5 (2022) — $149.99
Premium Option
Fitbit Charge 6 (2023) — $159.95
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.