Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro
The Verdict
Both watches deliver strong fitness tracking and smartwatch features, but they cater to different priorities. Garmin's Vivoactive 5 excels with exceptional battery longevity, offering up to 11 days of smartwatch use and 21 hours in GPS mode, making it ideal for users who dislike frequent charging. Its lighter 36g design feels less intrusive on the wrist, and the 390x390 AMOLED display remains crisp despite the smaller 1.2-inch screen. However, it lacks skin temperature monitoring and relies on Garmin's proprietary OS, limiting third-party app availability. TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro counters with a larger 1.43-inch display at 466x466 resolution, superior Snapdragon W5+ processor with 2GB RAM, and a unique dual-display system delivering an astounding 45 days in Essential Mode. It includes skin temperature monitoring and runs full Wear OS 3.5 for Google apps and services. The tradeoff is noticeable weight at 44.3g and higher price. Choose Vivoactive 5 if battery anxiety is your main concern and you prefer lightweight wear; select Enduro if you want a larger screen, broader app ecosystem, and longer stretches between charges through smart mode switching.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Garmin Vivoactive 5 if…
- →Bright AMOLED display looks stunning and is readable in sunlight
- →11-day battery with AMOLED is best-in-class for lifestyle watches
- →Lightweight at 36 g — one of the lightest feature-rich smartwatches
Buy the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro if…
- →Dual display system — 90-hour smart mode or 45-day essential mode
- →Full Wear OS with Google Play Store, Maps, and Google Assistant
- →Snapdragon W5+ chip delivers smooth performance for a Wear OS watch
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Garmin Vivoactive 5
Pros
- Bright AMOLED display looks stunning and is readable in sunlight
- 11-day battery with AMOLED is best-in-class for lifestyle watches
- Lightweight at 36 g — one of the lightest feature-rich smartwatches
- NFC for Garmin Pay contactless payments
- Wheelchair mode and Body Battery energy monitoring for accessibility
Cons
- No multi-band GPS — less accurate than Forerunner or Fenix in dense areas
- No built-in maps for trail navigation
- No cellular option — phone dependent for notifications
- Limited third-party app ecosystem compared to Apple/Samsung
TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro
Pros
- Dual display system — 90-hour smart mode or 45-day essential mode
- Full Wear OS with Google Play Store, Maps, and Google Assistant
- Snapdragon W5+ chip delivers smooth performance for a Wear OS watch
- NFC for Google Wallet and contactless payments
- Military-grade MIL-STD-810H durability
Cons
- No ECG monitoring despite the health-focused positioning
- Bulky at 48 mm — too large for small wrists
- Wear OS 3.5 — not the latest Wear OS 4
- Mobvoi's app ecosystem is less polished than Samsung or Google
Full Specifications
| Spec | Garmin Vivoactive 5 | TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Garmin OS (Connect IQ) | Wear OS 3.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 36 g | 44.3 g (without strap) |
| Case material | Aluminum bezel with fiber-reinforced polymer case | Stainless steel and high-strength nylon |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 11 days (smartwatch), 21 hrs GPS | Up to 90 hrs (Smart Mode), 45 days (Essential Mode) |
| Display | ||
| Size | 42mm (1.2 inches) | 48 mm (1.43 inches) |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED + FSTN dual display |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 390 x 390 | 466 x 466 |
| Processor | ||
| Chipset | Garmin custom processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 |
| RAM | — | 2 GB |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Garmin products or all Mobvoi products. View full details for the Garmin Vivoactive 5 or the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro.