Garmin Vivoactive 6 review: The tailored training and week-long battery life has impressed me
Fitness trackers have come a long way since just tracking steps, and Garmin can be thanked for a lot of this progress, having been a leader in the market since 2003. Its newest all-rounder model, released in April this year, is designed to blend health tracking with everyday life.
Priced from £260, The Vivoactive 6 is top of the midrange. To put it into perspective, Garmin watches range from £80 to £1,599.99 – but most sit below £400.
The new smartwatch claims to monitor how much energy is running in your body, plus there's a new personalised sleep coach. With more than 80 preloaded sport activities to track, advanced safety tools like incident detection and up to 11 days of battery life, it's an excellent option whether you're a casual athlete or just health-conscious and wanting to track fitness and sleep, without the luxury price tag.
JUMP TO
How we test fitness trackers
I've tested several fitness trackers from the Garmin Venu 3S to the Whoop 4.0 and the new Whoop MG, and I track my health and fitness each day with a smart watch. I always spend around a month wearing a tracker, taking it running and wearing it during HIIT sessions, yoga classes and sleep. I wanted to see how accurately the Garmin Vivoactive 6 tracked my activity, sleep and recovery levels.
I also tested how long the battery life lasted and the charging time. I considered how comfortable the tracker was to wear, both during the day and as I slept. As none of this wear would be useful if the app wasn't easy to understand, I also thought about how easy the data was to digest and how accurate it was by comparing it to other smart watches.
Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended
Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles.
From running shoes to exercise bikes, all reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.
Design, display and controls
Score: 9/10
I'll admit, the look of my fitness watch matters a lot to me, and if you feel the same, this model will impress you. There's a thinner and lighter design than before, with a lightweight aluminium bezel and a choice of four colours: green, white, black and pink. Like other Garmin watches, it offers both a responsive touchscreen and physical buttons for easy navigation.
The 1.2-inch AMOLED display (a type of thin, bright display technology) is bright and clear, making it simple to check stats like steps, sleep and heart rate with just a swipe. The two side buttons are intuitive: the bottom returns you home, while the upgraded round top button starts and stops activities in just a few clicks. I wore it day and night; its silicone strap is comfortable, though it can rub after prolonged wear. At night, the watch's sleep mode ensured no bright light from the screen disturbed my rest, making it a great all-day companion.
Score: 9/10
Having my health stats instantly accessible on my wrist was genuinely useful – I often found myself swiping down to check steps, calories burned and my body battery (an estimate of your energy reserves throughout the day, decided by a combination of heart rate, stress level, activity and sleep quality). While I didn't use the Garmin app as obsessively as some might, it proved helpful after intense workouts or when chasing a specific goal. The watch supports tracking for up to 80 preloaded sports, and I appreciated being able to add favourites like walking, running, strength and cardio to the main menu for quick access.
In terms of detail, the tracking isn't quite as comprehensive as the Apple Watch. It provides key stats such as calories burned and heart rate zones during HIIT sessions, but lacks in-depth visualisations. However, running metrics are more robust, with pace and distance on the watch and further details like cadence (the number of steps taken per minute) in the app. Notably, Garmin's new Pace Pro feature helps structure training plans by acting like a coach on your wrist, helping you to pace yourself throughout a race or training run, though setup could be more intuitive.
Sleep tracking is another highlight, offering a sleep score, consistency insights and a sleep coach that recommends optimal rest based on your activity. The body battery and daily reports are excellent additions, helping you gauge when to push harder or take a well-earned rest.
Other lifestyle features
Score: 8/10
Much like Garmin's Venu 3S, this watch offers Garmin Pay, enabling contactless payments directly from your wrist. While setting it up through the Garmin Connect app took a little time, the four-digit PIN adds a reassuring layer of security.
You can also download playlists from apps like Spotify, and this model boasts increased storage compared to previous versions, making it even more convenient for workouts.
Although I initially skipped email and text notifications, adjusting these settings later via the app was straightforward. Android users can even reply to texts directly from the watch - a handy feature for staying connected on the go. For added peace of mind, Garmin includes safety and tracking features that can alert your emergency contacts if you feel unsafe or experience an incident while exercising. Overall, these smart features make the watch versatile enough for both fitness and everyday life.
App and connectivity
The watch pairs seamlessly with both Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth, while Wi-Fi is required for accessing email and text notifications. It also integrates smoothly with fitness platforms such as Strava, MyFitnessPal and Apple Health, making it easy to transfer data like body mass and sleep metrics across your favourite health apps.
All your activity data syncs automatically to the Garmin Connect app, which provides a more detailed breakdown of your health and fitness statistics. While the app isn't quite as intuitively designed or comprehensive as the Whoop 5.0 app, for example, I found myself checking it daily for deeper insights into my workouts and sleep patterns.
The In Focus section on the homepage offers a concise overview of your fitness and sleep, while the At a Glance section displays key daily stats, including heart rate and calories burned. As a runner, I found the extra detail, such as lap times and stride charts, particularly valuable, though a more user-friendly app refresh would be welcome.
Battery life
Score: 10/10
Once fully charged, this fitness tracker boasts an impressive battery life of around 11 days – one of the longest I've encountered. As I'm used to charging my Apple Watch daily, I found it refreshing to only need a weekly top-up. Naturally, after particularly intense workout days or extended GPS use, the battery drained faster but still comfortably lasted about a week.
A thoughtful design feature is the battery indicator, prominently displayed when you swipe down on the watch face, showing both percentage and estimated days remaining – an improvement over the Garmin Venu 3S. Charging is straightforward via a USB-C cable that magnetically attaches to the back, taking roughly an hour to reach full power.
Overall, this model marks a significant upgrade from Garmin's usual five to seven-day charge cycle, making it a strong contender for those looking for longevity in a fitness tracker.
Technical specifications
The Garmin Venu 3S is a Telegraph Recommended Best Buy, but although it's more expensive, how does it compare to the Vivoactive 6's other features?
Should you buy the Garmin Vivoactive 6?
I loved the Garmin Vivoactive 6 for its smart design and ease of use. Some features, like the running tools, were tricky to set up, but the personalised sleep advice and morning reports felt genuinely helpful. The app isn't as intuitive as Apple's, but the watch puts key stats right at my fingertips. At just under £300, it offers great value with plenty of data and functionality.
Yes, if:
You need personalised health advice, such as how much sleep is enough for you
You are a mid-range runner and you're looking to push yourself with pace or get a PB
You need a long battery life
No, if:
You need a running-specific watch – other Garmin watches, such as the Forerunner range, have more detailed stats
You just want basic health stats – a cheaper watch could be a better option for you
£279
Buy now
Price at
John Lewis
Garmin Vivoactive 6 FAQs
What are the key upgrades from Vivoactive 5?
Slightly lighter and more compact, it offers running features like Pace Pro, along with improved GPS accuracy and enhanced movement sensors.
What's the battery life?
Up to 11 days, dependent on GPS use.
Does it support wireless charging?
No, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 does not support wireless charging.
Does it have a barometric altimeter for elevation tracking?
No, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 does not have a barometric altimeter for elevation tracking. Instead, it relies on GPS data to estimate elevation, which is less accurate and means features like stair tracking and precise elevation gain are not available on this model
What sensors does the Vivoactive 6 have and what do they track?
Optical Heart Rate sensor for heart rate, blood oxygen sensor to measure blood oxygen saturation, GPS for outdoor activities and a Gyroscope sensor to accurately track movement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
12 minutes ago
- The Sun
Terrified mum shares the chilling nursery snap of her toddler that saved his life – but can you spot the hidden killer?
LAURA Davies claims a photo of her son playing at nursery "saved his life" by revealing a potentially fatal hidden cancer. The picture caught a strange cloudiness in two-year-old Sidney's eye, which was actually a sign of retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer that can affect young children. 6 6 6 "I've got to be honest I probably wouldn't have noticed it [without the picture]," the 39-year-old mum-of-two from Flintshire, said. Laura said her husband Tom Davies, 39, first noticed a strange cloudiness in their two-year-old son Sidney's left eye in April when it hit the light. "He was basically sat in his high chair opposite the French doors in our kitchen and my husband was like, 'his eye doesn't look right," she recalled. The mum searched online for information relating to cloudy eyes but all that came up was information about cataracts so she just made a mental note to keep tabs. But when Sidney's nursery took a snap of him as he enjoyed a day in the sensory room, the camera flash revealed his left eye was cloudy compared to his right. "It was almost like it was reflecting the light, it's really hard to describe. It was like his eye wasn't there, it was like a mirror," Laura said. After a visit to her GP and Specsavers, Sidney was eventually referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital and had an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer which starts in the retina, the inner layer in the back of the eye, on May 19. Doctors diagnose around 40 to 50 children with retinoblastoma in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research UK. Almost 99 to 100 out of every 100 children diagnosed survive for five years or more after they are diagnosed. "It was horrendous," the mum said. "We were so worried." Docs decided the best course of action would be to remove the eye and brave Sidney underwent the op on 27 May. Initially this really concerned Laura. "All the thoughts run through your head of how they are going to cope in school and kids are horrible and things like that. "But I was also looking at it [the eye] and thinking, 'I just want it out' because you could literally see it [the cancer]." She said it was "so scary" to watch their young so endure so many operations. "I think we went into mum and dad mode," she explained. "You kind of just get through it. 6 6 "Afterwards when we found out that he was okay and he didn't need any chemotherapy then it all hit me if I'm honest. "I burst out crying [when he got the all clear]. It was such a relief." Sidney currently has a temporary plastic shell fitted in his eye socket called a conformer but is undergoing another operation in July to have a prosthetic eye fitted. Laura said docs also discovered Sidney's retina was torn and had come away from the back of his eye, which can cause vision loss. They were not sure how long it had been since he had been able to see out of his left eye. "I don't know whether it was bothering him before, whether it was blurry. We'll never know really," the mum said. 'A new lease of life' The tot will have to wear protective goggles when he plays sport but other than that Laura hopes her son will be largely unaffected by the prosthetic. "In terms of the effects on him it's been quite minimal because he's already dealt with that himself, not being able to see out of that eye," she explained. "He will go down the steps very carefully unlike my other son who is older and who's like a bull at a gate. "You sort of think back and think, 'maybe that's why?' but he's a happy boy, he showed no signs of this. We didn't notice that he couldn't see out of his eye." She added: "It's funny because people have said when they see him on the school run and things that he's got a new lease of life. Laura's husband is taking part in a sponsored walk up and down Moel Famau, the highest hill in the Clwydian Range, 12 times in 12 hours with family and friends to raise money for Birmingham Children's hospital. The have launched a JustGiving page, wich has already raised £955 of it's £1000 target. The distance will be around 40 miles in total and Laura said she and their two children are planning to join him for the last summit. Symptoms of retinoblastoma Most children with retinoblastoma seem fine. But two common signs that parents first notice in their child are that: they have a white glow or white reflection in the centre of their eye (pupil) - this is also known as leukocoria their eyes are not looking in the same direction (a squint) - also known as strabismus The pupil might look white, like a cat's eye reflecting light. This is sometimes noticed in photos when a flash is used. The pupil appears white rather than the typical red colour. Other less common symptoms might include: you or the school noticing your child can't see properly inflammation and reddening of their eye uncontrollable movement of their eye from side to side (nystagmus) Children do not usually complain of any pain. In very few cases, a child might be referred to a specialist children's doctor (paediatrician) because they are: not gaining weight developing normally During their tests, the abnormal retinoblastoma gene usually shows up in a blood test. Specsavers Broughton Park Ophthalmic director Kelly Gibson said: "We're incredibly grateful that Laura attended with her son, Sidney, to see us after being alerted by a concern from his nursery. "It's reassuring to know that I was able to ensure he received the urgent care he needed. "We're relieved that his condition was caught early, and he received treatment in a timely manner. "Stories like this are a powerful reminder of how important it is to attend for an eye examination if you ever notice a change or feel that something isn't quite right with your eyes. "It also highlights the importance of eye examinations for children, whether it is due to a concern or a routine review, we look after all ages. "An eye examination can sometimes uncover signs of more serious health conditions, and acting early can make all the difference." 6
Telegraph
13 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Streeting: Half my colleagues use weight-loss jabs
Wes Streeting has revealed that 'half my colleagues' are on weight-loss jabs. The Health Secretary said the slimming drugs were 'the talk of the House of Commons' as he pledged to widen access. Robert Jenrick and Nadine Dorries are among the politicians who have admitted taking weight-loss jabs. The drugs, which include Wegovy and Mounjaro, were originally designed to treat Type 2 diabetes but are now in widespread use by those looking to lose weight. Speaking on LBC, Mr Streeting said: 'Weight-loss jabs are the talk of the House of Commons. Half my colleagues are on them and are judging the rest of us, saying 'You lot should be on them'.' Mr Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, admitted to taking Ozempic last year but said he stopped after 'a short period of time'. He said: 'To be honest, I was overweight. I took Ozempic for a short period of time, didn't particularly enjoy it, but it was helpful. 'Since then I've just lost weight in the normal way by eating less, eating more healthily, doing some exercise – going to the gym, going running.' Ms Dorries wrote in the Daily Mail that taking the weight-loss jabs had given her the confidence to wear bikinis this summer. She said: 'My overall health is massively improved; my blood tests are all normal, the pain in my left hip has disappeared and the aches and niggles are now just what you would expect for a woman of my age. 'So, am I beach ready? Am I looking forward to my first post-Mounjaro summer holiday? In short, yes!' Mr Streeting told the media on Thursday morning: 'The thing is, if you can afford these weight-loss jabs, which can be over 200 quid a month, well, that's all right for you. 'But most people in this country haven't got a spare two-and-a-half grand a year, and often the people who have the worst and most challenging obesity also have the lowest income. 'So I'm bringing to weight-loss jabs the principle of fairness which has underpinned the NHS.' He added: 'It should be available based on need and not the ability to pay. And that's what we're going to do on weight-loss jabs, as well as a number of other things, including people getting more fit, more active, supporting people on diet and nutrition... that's the bit of the weight-loss jab debate that sometimes gets lost. 'It's not that you can have some weight-loss jabs and stuff your face with Jaffa cakes...' He said obesity costs the NHS billions a year, adding that taxes have been going 'up and up' to pay for the health service.
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Young mother-of-two shares one piece of misinformation everyone needs to know about killer disease - after 'piles' turned out to be stage 3 bowel cancer
Busy working mother Jenna Borthwick could always find a reasonable explanation for feeling under the weather; she was tired, it was her period, it was just another flu from nursery. But in reality, she was one of the thousands of young Britons unaware that they are living with deadly bowel cancer. The 31-year-old, from the Scottish Borders, posting on TikTok, revealed the one bit of crucial 'misinformation' that might be stopping people from taking their symptoms seriously. In a series of images titled 'symptoms that led to my bowel cancer diagnosis in March 2025', she goes into greater detail about how it was discovered that she had an advanced stage of the disease. She wrote: 'So many people asking what my symptoms were: some of these like the tiredness/cramps/and catching colds could be traced back quite a few months but it's so easy to pin these down to something else. 'Busy working mum? Of course I'm tired. Cramps? Must be getting my period! Why am I catching every single cold/ flu going around? Must be my toddlers coming home from nursery!' She continued that it was only a few months before her formal diagnosis that more physical symptoms began to ramp up, and she thanks her doctor for taking her concerns seriously and agreeing that 'there was something not quite right'. Summarising how she was 'constantly ill in the lead up to my diagnosis', Ms Borthwick said that she needed the toilet every time she ate, had blood in her faeces, had abdominal cramps, and felt like she needed to empty her bowels constantly. 'The other symptoms only started two/three months prior to my diagnosis and I actually went to my GP quite quickly,' she added. 'I was super lucky that she ran tests quite early on and she knew there was something not quite right. 'We did however think it was piles to start with, and then inflammatory bowel disease as I think the symptoms are very similar.' Ms Borthwick then revealed the common piece of misinformation which could cost lives. She said: 'People always told me bright red blood wasn't anything to worry about and that dark blood was what you had to watch out for, this is so wrong. Get any sort of blood in your poo checked.' Due to the blood in her faeces, Ms Borthwick was referred for a colonoscopy—where a thin flexible camera is inserted into the rectum—by her GP who wanted to rule out conditions like Crohn's Disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. But it was during this initial investigation that doctors discovered a 'tumour so large it was close to being a full bowel obstruction'—and things began to rapidly escalate. Ms Borthwick recalled: 'I was bossing life at work on the Monday, told I had cancer the Tuesday, admitted into the hospital the Wednesday, and [had] surgery the Thursday.' Her cancer was found to be stage 3 an advanced stage that means while the cancer has begun to spread it has yet to reach distant parts of the body. Ms Borthwick underwent an eight hour surgery to remove the mass from the left side of her bowel. While the operation was a success she has to undergo a four month course of chemotherapy, to try and eliminate any remaining traces of the cancer. Before beginning the treatment, Ms Borthwick told her followers that she underwent an egg retrieval procedure at Edinburgh Fertility Clinic so she and her husband could hopefully fulfil their dream of having a third child. Her case comes amid a concerning and mysterious rise in rates of bowel cancer among under 50s. A recent global study found rates of bowel cancer in under 50 year-olds are rising in 27 of 50 nations. England is averaging a 3.6 per cent rise in younger adults every year - one of the highest increases recorded, with roughly 2 per cent rise among young people in the US. While the disease is known to be linked to obesity, experts have noted that it also seems to be occurring in fit and healthy patients. Some believe the explanation must lie in environmental factors young people have been exposed to more than previous generations, such as plastics and even pollution. Signs of bowel cancer include abdominal pain, a lump in the abdomen, bloating and feeling very tired or short of breath. Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in the stool, occurs when cancerous tumours bleed into the digestive tract. However, bowel cancer can also appear with no symptoms until it has spread, where it becomes harder to treat. Overall, just over half of bowel cancer patients are expected to be alive 10 years after their diagnosis. But cancers of all types are on the rise in young people. In a landmark study, Cancer Research UK examined 50 years of NHS data and found that the risk of developing cancer has risen sharply, particularly among young people. In this demographic diagnoses had risen by up to 23 per cent in people aged 20 to 49. Researchers are still trying to explore factors being the rise in early onset cancers, with some suggesting modern diets, exposures to microplastics, or a combination of several triggers could be to blame.
