CMF Watch Pro vs. Garmin Vivoactive 5: Detailed Comparison

## CMF Watch Pro vs. Garmin Vivoactive 5: Detailed Comparison

Choosing between CMF Watch Pro and Garmin Vivoactive 5 can be a challenge, as they meet different needs and budgets. Let’s take a look at a detailed comparison to help you make the right choice.

Design and Build Quality

The CMF Watch Pro has a premium design with an aluminum alloy case, making it more premium than most budget smartwatches. The watch band is comfortable and flexible, suitable for all-day wear. However, the bezel is thick and uneven, and the buttons feel a bit small. The charger is a simple two-pin magnetic USB-A cable, which is functional but not as elegant as wireless charging.

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 watch, on the other hand, has a bright AMOLED display and solid construction. It’s lightweight and has a comfortable strap, making it suitable for both workouts and everyday use. However, the plastic buttons feel uneven to the touch and sometimes require repetitive pressing, and the AMOLED display is glare and difficult to read outdoors without brightness adjustment.

Display

The CMF Watch Pro features a bright and crisp AMOLED display that is easy to read outdoors. However, the lack of automatic brightness adjustment can be annoying when switching between indoor and outdoor conditions.

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 watch also features a bright and colorful AMOLED display that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. There are two display modes: always-on and gesture-assisted. The always-on mode is suitable for quick browsing, but drains the battery faster.

Features

The CMF Watch Pro has basic features such as step tracking, heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking. It also has a built-in microphone and speaker for making phone calls directly from the watch. However, the fitness tracking features are basic and their accuracy is questionable, especially in terms of heart rate during different activities. The watch has limited interaction with notifications, users can only read messages but not reply to or delete them. The ecosystem is closed, and there is no data export or integration with third-party fitness apps.

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 offers balanced features for its price: new sleep metrics like Sleep Coach and sleep tracking, accurate GPS tracking, and offline music playback. The device also supports Garmin Pay for convenient phone-free use. However, the lack of a barometric altimeter negatively impacts mountaineering and downhill tracking. The heart rate sensor uses an outdated Elevate Gen 4 sensor and does not support ECG, which may reduce accuracy for high-intensity activities.

Battery life

The CMF Watch Pro has a long battery life, enough for several days of general use. However, it falls short of the claimed 13 days. With normal usage, including fitness tracking and notifications, expect the watch to last 3-5 days on a single charge.

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 has a battery life of up to 7-8 days with normal use and 3-4 days with constant mapping. This makes it a reliable companion for extended use without the need for frequent recharging.

Pros and Cons of CMF Watch Pro

Pros:

• Premium Design: The aluminum alloy body provides a more premium feel.
• Bright AMOLED display: Good outdoor visibility.
• Built-in microphone and speaker: Make phone calls directly from the watch.
• Comfortable strap: Suitable for sensitive wrists.
• Good battery life: It lasts for several days with normal use.

Disadvantages of CMF Watch Pro:

• Unstable smartphone connection: Often have to check and sometimes reconnect manually.
• Users can only read messages but not reply to or delete them.
• Lack of automatic brightness adjustment: Requires changing brightness manually, which can be inconvenient.
• Basic fitness tracking: Questionable accuracy, especially for heart rate.
• Closed ecosystem: No data export or integration with third-party fitness apps.

Pros and Cons of Garmin Vivoactive 5

Pros:

• Bright AMOLED display: Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
• A strong competitor in this price range.
• New sleep metrics: Includes Sleep Coach and sleep tracking.
• Accurate GPS tracking: Not inferior to higher-end Garmin models.
• Battery life: Up to 7-8 days with normal use.
• Real-time music playback and Garmin Pay: Convenient to use without a phone.

Disadvantages of Garmin Vivoactive 5:

• Lack of barometric altimeter: Affects tracking of floor climbs and descents.
• Heart Rate Sensor - Older Elevate Gen 4: Lacks ECG support, which may reduce accuracy for high-intensity exercise.
• May not be suitable for users with small wrists.
• Plastic buttons feel flimsy to the touch.
• Reflective AMOLED display: May be difficult to read outdoors unless brightness is adjusted.
• Accuracy of sleep stage tracking is questionable

Conclusion

The CMF Watch Pro is a good budget option for those looking for a stylish smartwatch with basic features. It is a good choice for Android users who want a decent design, good battery life and notifications. However, serious athletes and those who need advanced features should look for a different device.

On the other hand, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a solid fitness watch with a great AMOLED display, good battery life, and tons of useful features. It’s a great choice for those who need a versatile fitness companion to record their daily activities and workouts. It doesn’t have all the “bells and whistles” like the more expensive Garmin watches, but it offers a great balance between features and cost.