Apple Watch SE 3 vs Garmin Vivoactive 5
Both the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Garmin Vivoactive 5 sit in the everyday smartwatch class, and Apple and Garmin are clearly watching each other. On the overall scorecard, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is ahead: 2 of 4 areas, with battery life doing the heavy lifting. And the price tags aren’t close: the Apple Watch SE 3 came in $51 below the Garmin Vivoactive 5 at launch.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Health & Fitness Sensors Garmin Vivoactive 5 wins
- Battery Life Garmin Vivoactive 5 wins
- Smart Features & Connectivity Apple Watch SE 3 wins
- Price Apple Watch SE 3 wins
- Health & Fitness Sensors1.7
- Smart Features & Connectivity10.0
- Health & Fitness Sensors3.3
- Smart Features & Connectivity3.3
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 has 1367% more rated battery life
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 doesn’t just edge this one; 11 days against 18 h is a lead you’ll feel. Ratings assume typical use; GPS workouts and always-on screens will shorten both.
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The Apple Watch SE 3 has a cellular option
For anyone who wants a cellular option, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is out of the running. With the Apple Watch SE 3, you can leave your phone at home on a run; the Garmin Vivoactive 5 depends on it for connectivity.
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The Apple Watch SE 3 has 60 GB more storage
Big gap, real consequences. The Apple Watch SE 3’s 64 GB versus the Garmin Vivoactive 5’s 4 GB changes how the two compare in daily use. More storage leaves room for offline music, podcasts and maps on your wrist.
-
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 has blood-oxygen readings
It’s a clear yes for the Garmin Vivoactive 5 and a clear no for the Apple Watch SE 3. Wrist-based blood-oxygen data is a wellness indicator rather than a medical measurement, so treat it as a trend.
Design & Size
- Apple Watch SE 3 44 mm × 0.42 in
- Garmin Vivoactive 5 42 mm
A larger body can leave more room inside, while a smaller one is easier to live with in tight spaces. Here, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the larger watch.
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 42 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 42 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Display
Too close to call
There’s no meaningful winner in the display section; the two are too close to separate. On display alone, you can’t go far wrong with either.
Health & Fitness Sensors
Garmin Vivoactive 5 leads
Call it a small but real win for the Garmin Vivoactive 5 in this area. The Garmin Vivoactive 5 pulls ahead with blood-oxygen readings. Blood-oxygen readings can add context to sleep tracking and to training at altitude. The health & fitness sensors verdict goes to the Garmin Vivoactive 5.
Blood oxygen
Apple Watch SE 3: no Garmin Vivoactive 5: yes The Garmin Vivoactive 5 can take blood-oxygen readings; the Apple Watch SE 3 can’t.
Battery Life
Garmin Vivoactive 5 leads
In the battery life category, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 isn’t just ahead; it’s clearly ahead. The Garmin Vivoactive 5 comes with 1367% more rated battery life. Longer battery life means fewer nights on the charger, which also makes sleep tracking easier. Weighing only battery life, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 comes out ahead.
Rated battery life
Apple Watch SE 3: 18 h Garmin Vivoactive 5: 11 days The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is rated to last longer between charges, a big deal on trips and long weekends.
Smart Features & Connectivity
Apple Watch SE 3 leads
The Apple Watch SE 3 dominates the smart features & connectivity section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Apple Watch SE 3 scores with a cellular option. Cellular models usually cost more and need a plan, so it’s only worth it if you’ll use the freedom. Anyone shopping mainly on smart features & connectivity should start with the Apple Watch SE 3.
Cellular option
Apple Watch SE 3: yes Garmin Vivoactive 5: no A cellular option lets the watch take calls, receive messages and stream music without your phone nearby.
Storage
Apple Watch SE 3: 64 GB Garmin Vivoactive 5: 4 GB For notifications and fitness tracking alone, storage rarely matters.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Display type | Always-On Retina LTPO OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution (largest) | 368 x 448 | 390 x 390 |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | N/A (not specified) |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Health & Fitness Sensors
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Optical heart rate | Yes | Yes |
| ECG | No | No |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes (winner) |
| Skin temperature | Yes | N/A (not specified) |
| GPS | Built-in L1 GPS (GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou) | Built-in GNSS (single-band) |
| Dual-frequency GPS | No | No |
Battery Life
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated battery lifeManufacturer rating, typical use | 18 h | 11 days (winner) |
| Rated life in low-power modeManufacturer rating | 32 h Shortest low-power mode | N/A (not specified) |
| Charging | Fast charging, 0 to 80% in about 45 min | N/A (not specified) |
Smart Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S10 | N/A (not specified) |
| Storage | 64 GB (winner) | 4 GB Least storage in class |
| Cellular option | Yes (winner) | No |
| Contactless payments | Yes | Yes |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone only | iPhone and Android |
| Software | watchOS | Garmin proprietary |
Design & Durability
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size (largest) | 44 mm | 42 mm |
| Available sizes | 40 mm, 44 mm | 42 mm |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m |
| Case material | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
| Thickness | 0.42 in | N/A (not specified) |
| Weight (largest, no band) | 1.16 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | Apple Watch SE 3 | Garmin Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $249 (winner) | $300 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
In launch price, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the clear budget pick, coming in $51 (20%) below the Garmin Vivoactive 5. Paying $51 extra for the Garmin Vivoactive 5 means getting 1367% more rated battery life and blood-oxygen readings.
Launch prices in the US as of September 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Apple Watch SE 3 if…
- you want a cellular option
- you want more room for music and maps (64 GB vs 4 GB)
- you don’t need the extras that cost $51 more
Choose the Garmin Vivoactive 5 if…
- you hate charging your watch every day (11 days vs 18 h)
- you want blood-oxygen readings
- you like a watch that takes up less room
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
We’d point most buyers to the Garmin Vivoactive 5. The main exception is if you know that a cellular option would make a real difference in your routine.
Which has better battery life, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
On paper, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 has the edge: 11 days of rated battery life against 18 h for the Apple Watch SE 3. Real-world results also depend on how you use it.
Which is larger, the Apple Watch SE 3 or the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
Size goes the other way: the Apple Watch SE 3 is larger (0.42 in), and the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is the smaller option (42 mm).
Is the Apple Watch SE 3 cheaper than the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
The Garmin Vivoactive 5 launched at $51 more than the Apple Watch SE 3, based on prices as of September 2025.
Does the Apple Watch SE 3 have more storage than the Garmin Vivoactive 5?
The Apple Watch SE 3 offers more, with 64 GB against 4 GB.
Executive Summary
I love a proper cross-brand matchup, and the Apple Watch SE 3 against the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is exactly that. It’s hard to argue with 1367% more rated battery life, which is exactly what the Garmin Vivoactive 5 brings. It also helps that the Garmin Vivoactive 5 has blood-oxygen readings. On the other side, the Apple Watch SE 3 brings a cellular option, and I wouldn’t dismiss that.
The Apple Watch SE 3 is built for people who weigh smart features & connectivity heavily, and the Garmin Vivoactive 5 for people who weigh health & fitness sensors.
My pick: the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is the one I’d buy, unless you care more about a cellular option than anything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.