[Closed] Possible PSA: Garmin Vivoactive 3 music £149

Paid £20 more for one from Amazon a few weeks ago, pleased with it so far. It's much more watch-like than the Vivosmart HR+, with the round face and replaceable strap, and has everything I want from an all-round activity tracker.

One thing that might put some off is its definitely a budget product - it's well made but the body is light and plastic, and the screen is lower quality than more expensive smar****ches. I think the compromises are fine for the price, but it doesn't look as good as the promo shots.

Body of my vivoactive 3 isn't plastic, It's metal. Never bought the music version, never listen to music whilst running or cycling.

Dagnammit.

I paid £220 a couple of months ago, and the week after Amazon reduced it by £50.

Great watch though, anyone want to buy my apple watch?

Edit - I'd definitely prefer it if the body was the same as the none music one. Screen protectors don't fit this one and I'm sure am going for to smash it sooner or later. But I like to be able to listen to music running without having to take my phone with me.

Which model Apple Watch?

Ah, I take it the music version is plastic. Another reason not to!

Hmm, wife's birthday next month. She's broken her Vivoactive HR.

@jambo

Series 3 GPS 42mm in space grey.

Only got it in January, but I prefer Garmins way of doing things after 2 years with a FR235 then vivoactive hr.

Thanks OP. Been waiting for this to go sub £170 again after the Amazon deal, and this is substantially under. Ordered!

Are these ideal as an everyday watch and any good for on the bike or mainly a run/swim watch?

Ta

I use mine as an everyday watch. Use it on the bike but I also use a Garmin cycle computer. Just be careful the screen does scratch, I've got a big scratch on mine but the touch screen still works perfectly fine.

On the back of this PSA I rode to the local argos that had one in stock (albeit was a 75km round trip!)..
Really lovely watch.. Slim.. Neat... I like the fact I've stuck a few spotify playlists on the watch and connected my headphones so I can run /gym without my phone.. Heaven!

All in all, pretty happy!

DrP

Wear mine all the time. Good for logging shorter rides, bear in mind battery life with GPS and music is about 5 hours. Haven't tried pairing with any bike sensors as I have an edge too but it should be compatible. Data from the watch and the edge integrate well afterwards.

Running gets the most attention in terms of features but there's more data there that can be picked up from the watch sensors.

I've got a Vivo 3 and wear it all the time. It's a fairly attractive watch in my opinion. I've stopped using my edge 1000 (another thing that needs selling) as the Vivo handles all the tracking I need. Obviously you don't really look at it too much whilst riding. It's surprisingly accurate in the pool.after the first couple of swims it is now pretty much 100% accurate. Pairs easily with chest HR monitor and to Connect. I'm a fan.

Pretty much what he said. Use it every day for all sorts of stuff, sleep tracking, calories, steps, stairs climbed etc, makes way more sense than a bike specific computer.

If I do need to follow a mapped route on a device, prob only done it 4 or 5 times in 16 years of biking, I'll use OS on my phone now.

One little bug/annoyance i've noted..not sure if there's a fix??

Often I'll record a ride as one ride, but it's sort of a there-and-back (i.e commute to work...work all day..commute back).. I found yesterday that if i pause the activity, the battery still drains down as if it's recording.. so if i ride to work, then pause it all day, it's unlikely to last the whole day for the ride back.

Of course the work around is to simply 'end' the ride there, and have the ride back as a separate ride!

Anyone else found this?

DrP

Canny see a solution to that tbh, there's a vivoactive 3 chat on facebook with some tech guys on there, best place to ask, or contact Garmin?.

Will have a see... realistically, i don't think it's a 'fault' as such.. I imagine that until you actually "stop and save" a ride, it'll always be in 'high GPS record mode', hence draining the battery..

DrP

Sounds like its keeping the GPS on. I suspect the response might be that's intended and pausing an activity for hours isn't the expected usage. Can't hurt to ask their support though, maybe its supposed to turn GPS off after a while.

Thanks OP, I'm picking one up later today. Need something slightly more business like than the Instinct for work.

On the Instinct, you can pause it then choose "Resume later". I presume that will turn the GPS off, until you resume it for the ride back.
Don't know if the Vivoactive has this option?