Garmin Vivoactive 6 ZDNET's key takeaways The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is available in four colors for $300.
The AMOLED display is brilliant, the available activity functions are comprehensive, and the battery lasts 5-11 days.
There is no altimeter, the 30 minute smart alarm interval is a bit long, and it's a bit small for those with larger wrists. View now at Amazon View now at Garmin more buying choices
Garmin's latest smartwatch for the masses, the Vivoactive 6, brings a fresh perspective to its lineup with a stylish design and approachable price.
With the continuation of its upgrade cycle, Garmin chose a smaller form factor for the Vivoactive 6, with support for a broad range of activities -- a great watch for users who do a lot of different things but don't need deep insights in one particular area.
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The Vivoactive 6 also incorporates the new Smart Alarm feature for the first time on a Garmin smartwatch. This feature wakes you within 30 minutes of your set alarm time when it detects you're in a light sleep phase. We first saw this capability with Fitbit years ago, so it's nice to see Garmin helping us wake up happier.
I'm not sure I want to be awakened 30 minutes before my alarm, but the idea here is that it'd be easier to get up if you're in a light sleep phase. It will take some experience to see how well it works, and if it's really better to be awoken earlier, as opposed to sleeping longer but jolted awake from a deep sleep.
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I have larger wrists, so I found the Vivoactive 6 a bit too small for me, but the 42mm diameter is sure to fit the majority of people. The watch's design is very minimalist, though, with curved edges and an overall sleek feel that is a departure from most chunky smartwatches. It measures just 10.9mm thick and weighs 36 grams, so you can sleep soundly without it interrupting your sleep as you twist and roll.
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