My eyes are filled with you.
Sweet and lovely, you know what I mean.
I tell you, I like you.
Let's hold hands and go for a run together.
The moment I got the watch, I couldn't help but hum this song. Its appearance is absolutely stunning, definitely my type. I wore it and ran 40KM on the same day; it's more than just a boost, it's like a direct injection of adrenaline! Considering it was the cold winter during the New Year with heavy smog, why did it take me a month to write this review? Please be patient and keep reading.
Standard accessories: vívoactive 3 main unit, USB charging cable, Chinese user manual.
(Front)
The dial is made of Corning Gorilla Glass from the USA, durable and long-lasting. Paired with the Garmin Chroma sunlight-readable display, it remains clear even in bright light. The screen can display in both directions and can be set according to usage habits, a blessing for left-handed users.
The optical heart rate sensor and charging port are clearly visible; changing the strap is also very simple.
The watch has only one button.
The side swipe control slider introduces a new interactive design, which is one of the biggest features of the vívoactive 3. You can switch and browse directly through side swiping.
The pattern on the outside of the strap adds a sense of design, while the smooth inside enhances wearing comfort. The details are handled very well.
My wrist circumference is 13.5CM, and I wear it on the third-to-last buckle, which fits perfectly. So, girls with slender wrists don't need to worry.
Comparing it with the Garmin Forerunner 225, it easily wins with a weight of 43.2g.
Official price: 2180
The vívoactive 3 includes more than 15 sports modes to meet different exercise needs. With built-in GPS, it can record exercise tracks and obtain exercise data without a phone.
1. Road running
As the most basic sports mode, it remains stable and accurate as always.
2. Trail running
Although the vívoactive 3 does not finely divide running modes, I still tested it in various environments, mainly evaluating the GPS accuracy outdoors.
3. High-altitude testing
Generally speaking, during exercise, factors such as temperature, humidity, and altitude can affect data accuracy to varying degrees. Fortunately, during the entire test, with a maximum temperature of 34 degrees and an altitude close to 4000M, it still held up well.
Altitude chart
4. Swimming
The 50-meter waterproof rating means it can be used for swimming, in the rain, and in the shower.
The weather was too cold, so I didn't dare to go outdoors and just splashed around in the indoor heated pool.
5. Cycling
6. Aerobic exercise
Personally, I feel the calorie data is somewhat low. An hour of regular aerobics consumes about 300 calories, while high-impact should be 600-800 calories. It definitely consumes more than an hour of slow running.
7. Strength training
This strength training test was actually an hour of barbell exercises. Probably due to the many and complex movements and fast-changing rhythm, the watch only automatically recognized one set of movements - the bench press.
To test the watch's battery life, I specifically took the vívoactive 3 to participate in the Gaoligong Super Mountain Trail Race. PS: It pairs perfectly with casual wear, super stylish.
Although it cannot pre-load maps, it didn't affect my use during the race. The reason for the delayed review is to showcase its performance in such a challenging event.
Before starting, I turned off Bluetooth to save power as much as possible, but probably because the temperature on race day was as high as 34 degrees, the battery drained quickly. When I set off from CP5, it was down to 1% battery, so I quickly took out my power bank. From the time I reached CP5, it lasted exactly 7 hours.
At CP6, there was a Garmin super charging station, which was very considerate. This definitely counts as Garmin's value-added service. They help you pre-load maps before the race, solve various problems, and provide private support for your watch during the race. Impressive!
The technician told me that turning off the heart rate monitor saves more power. After doing so, it accompanied me to the finish line. In other words, it only needed one charge during the 28-hour race, which is quite satisfactory. After all, its positioning is a fashionable sports smartwatch, so taking it on a mountain trail was quite a challenge for it.
A small episode: After the 28-hour Gaoligong Super Mountain Trail Race, both the watch and I were in a messy state. I was really worried that the pure white appearance would be permanently ruined. But to my relief, it looked brand new after washing with hand soap. Garmin didn't disappoint me.
5. Biggest expectation
Another major highlight of the vívoactive 3 is its collaboration with China UnionPay to launch the Garmin Pay feature. By adding a bank card through Garmin Connect, you can make payments with a simple touch (coming soon).
Even if my wallet is empty and my phone is dead, as long as I have Garmin, my mom won't worry about me going out anymore.
6. Other daily uses
In addition, the vívoactive 3's wrist-based optical heart rate monitor can track continuously 24/7. It records daily activity steps, distance, calorie consumption, sleep, and other daily activity data, and measures VO2 max, fitness age, and all-day stress scores to better understand your condition and adjust accordingly.
After connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, you can receive smart notifications for calls, texts, WeChat, etc., and reply with pre-set messages. Using the LiveTrack feature, friends can always know your location. You can also download new watch faces, widgets, apps, data fields, etc., from Garmin Connect IQ, or use Face It to DIY your own watch face, creating a personalized vívoactive 3.
You can also create your own running, cycling, aerobic, and strength training plans and download them to the vívoactive 3 for long-term scientific training.
Summary
The vívoactive 3 is positioned as a smart GPS sports watch. Its high appearance makes it very suitable for daily wear, and its rich sports modes can meet the basic needs of ordinary sports enthusiasts. The touch screen operation is simple and easy to use, and the functional data is commendable. The only regret is that it cannot pre-load track maps, losing part of the trail running market. However, I am genuinely looking forward to the upcoming payment feature.