Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch vs Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch

9.0/10 Excellent

4.5★ (5,400 owners)

AMOLED, Garmin Coach, Garmin Pay, 11-day battery, strength training modes. Everyday Garmin.

Full Review

Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm

9.0/10 Excellent

4.4★ (4,800 owners)

AMOLED, Fitbit sensors, ECG, Google Assistant, Pixel integration, 24hr battery. Google's flagship watch.

Full Review

At a Glance

	Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch	Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm
247Verdict Score	9.0/10	9.0/10
Owner Rating	4.5★ (5,400)	4.4★ (4,800)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Battery	11 days	24 hours

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch: AMOLED, Garmin Coach, Garmin Pay, 11-day battery, strength training modes. Everyday Garmin. Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm: AMOLED, Fitbit sensors, ECG, Google Assistant, Pixel integration, 24hr battery. Google's flagship watch. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch

Garmin Coach provides free adaptive training plans for 5K, 10K and half-marathon without subscription
AMOLED display with 11-day battery at Garmin's mid-range pricing
Garmin Pay contactless payments for post-run purchases
Strength training tracking identifies exercises and counts reps automatically — unique at this price
Breath work and mindfulness tracking alongside physical fitness metrics

Less sport depth than Forerunner 265 — for serious athletes the running metrics are more limited
Garmin Pay requires supported bank — not universally available in UK

Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm

Best Google integration: Google Assistant, Maps, Pay and YouTube Music natively on the watch
Fitbit health sensors including ECG, SpO2 and body temperature — comprehensive health suite
Pixel phone users get exclusive features: seamless connection, battery sharing and personalised charging
24-hour battery is adequate for most users with charger access overnight
Emergency SOS via LTE enables calls without the phone present

24-hour battery trails Huawei GT4, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and all Garmin alternatives significantly
Best value requires owning a Pixel phone — non-Pixel Android misses several headline features
Wear OS app ecosystem smaller than Apple Watch despite improvements

FAQ

Which is better, Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS or Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm?

Is the Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS worth the extra cost?

The Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS best suited to?

AMOLED, Garmin Coach, Garmin Pay, 11-day battery, strength training modes. Everyday Garmin.

Who is the Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm best suited to?

AMOLED, Fitbit sensors, ECG, Google Assistant, Pixel integration, 24hr battery. Google's flagship watch.

What are the main downsides of each?

Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch: Less sport depth than Forerunner 265 — for serious athletes the running metrics are more limited; Garmin Pay requires supported bank — not universally available in UK. Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm: 24-hour battery trails Huawei GT4, Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and all Garmin alternatives significantly; Best value requires owning a Pixel phone — non-Pixel Android misses several headline features.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — Garmin Vívoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch sits at 4.5★ from 5,400 verified Amazon owners, and Google Pixel Watch 3 45mm at 4.4★ from 4,800.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.