Garmin Vivosmart 6 vs Vivoactive 6: Expected differences

The design of the Vivosmart lineup involves a pill-shaped body (the tracker itself) and a silicon band that this case slots in. Garmin offers silicon bands in different colors—black, white, and cool mint—but you can find a plethora of third-party bands on Amazon.

We don't know the exact size of the upcoming Vivosmart 6, but chances are the new model will use the same design and probably the same bands as its predecessor. Even if it turns out to be different, expect a wide variety of third-party bands pretty soon after the official launch.

Now, the Vivoactive 6 has a big advantage in terms of bands available, because it uses a standard 22 mm quick-release mechanism. This means you can put on almost any 22 mm band and transform the watch into a much more stylish device.

The Vivosmart 6 is expected to bring one big upgrade to the lineup - a dedicated GPS module. The previous version was limited to connected GPS experience and relied on your smartphone to track your position during outdoor exercises.

Another improvement is expected in the number of activities—according to the latest rumors, the Vivosmart 6 will be able to track 30 different sports—including walking, running, cycling, swimming, and even wheelchair user activities. The info comes from lines buried inside the code of an Indonesian site listing the Vivosmart 6.

In terms of smart features, we expect the basic ones on the Vivosmart 6—like notifications, weather reports, music controls, find my phone, reject calls, and text replies. We don't expect much improvement in this area. The Vivosmart 6 probably won't have onboard storage either. 

Sleep and stress tracking will most likely be present on the Vivosmart 6, as these are features available on the previous model. The Vivoactive, on the other hand, has a big advantage in this area, as it's a more complete smartwatch.

Thanks to the onboard memory, you can load songs to listen to during your workout, and the Wi-Fi connectivity allows for Spotify and Deezer support, plus there are also contactless payments. The basic smartwatch features are there, even though there's no app store as such, and you get notifications, a weather app, and live location sharing.

The Vivoactive 6 does a better job at workout and health tracking too. It supports over 80 activities and can also provide some additional insights thanks to the temperature sensor. There's a nap detection feature, sleeping coach, fitness age, Body Battery, and more.

There's one single model of both devices, but we expect the Vivosmart 6 to come in two band sizes, just like its predecessor. It's the same device, but the length of the strap is different. The Vivoactive also comes in just one 42 mm size, but you can change the band with a standard 22 mm one, which is a big plus.

When it comes to pricing, the Vivosmart 6 is expected to retain the $149 price tag of the previous model, while the Vivoactive 6 launched at $300, even though at this very moment it's discounted to $249 on Garmin's official site.