Garmin India has rolled out a notable update for its lifestyle-focused smartwatch, the Vivoactive 5, just ahead of the festive shopping period. Starting 16 January 2026, under the Republic Day Sale, the black variant of the Vivoactive 5 is now priced at INR 22,990. Alongside the price reduction, Garmin has also confirmed a total 2-year warranty, which is a meaningful upgrade from the usual coverage offered in this category.
Taken together, these two changes suggest a slightly different approach from Garmin this year. Rather than pushing only premium performance features, the company seems to be leaning into long-term reliability and broader accessibility, especially for users in the Indian market who want something dependable for daily wear, not just workouts.
Key Takeaways
- Special Pricing: Vivoactive 5 (Black) available at INR 22,990 during the Republic Day Sale
- Extended Warranty: Now backed by a 2-year warranty, double the standard coverage
- Battery Life: Up to 11 days in smartwatch mode on a single charge
- Health Monitoring: Body Battery, sleep coaching, HRV status, and Pulse Ox tracking
- Inclusive Tracking: Dedicated wheelchair mode with push-based activity tracking
Focusing on Wellness Over Competition
Unlike Garmin’s more performance-driven sports watches, the Vivoactive 5 is clearly positioned as an everyday wellness companion. It is not trying to overwhelm users with race-day metrics or advanced training load graphs. Instead, it focuses on helping people manage work, rest, and light exercise in a way that feels sustainable. I think this approach will appeal to users who want to stay active without constantly feeling like they are training for something.
The AMOLED touchscreen display plays a big role here. Health trends are easy to read at a glance, whether it is sleep quality, stress levels, or daily energy. Over time, this kind of visibility can make it simpler to recognize patterns, when to push a little harder, and when it might be smarter to slow down and recover.
By lowering the price and extending the warranty, Garmin is also making a quiet but deliberate pitch to users who might otherwise choose a budget fitness band. A 2-year warranty, especially for a device meant to be worn almost 24/7, sends a clear signal of confidence in build quality. This extended coverage applies to units purchased through authorized Indian retail channels, ensuring access to local service and compliance with Indian consumer regulations.
Advanced Sensors and Daily Insights
On the sensor side, the Vivoactive 5 continues to monitor the body around the clock, including during sleep. The Sleep Coach feature generates a daily sleep score and offers guidance on how much rest you might need, based on activity, stress, and recovery. It is not overly prescriptive, which is probably a good thing, but it does give enough context to help users make better decisions.
Another standout feature is the Body Battery energy monitor. It tracks energy levels throughout the day on a scale from 1 to 100, offering a simple way to understand how sleep, activity, and stress interact. Over time, many users find this more intuitive than raw data points like heart rate alone.
The inclusion of a wheelchair mode is also worth highlighting. When enabled, the watch tracks daily pushes instead of steps and supports sport profiles designed specifically for wheelchair users, including handcycling. This kind of inclusive design is still relatively rare and shows Garmin’s intent to make health tracking genuinely useful across different mobility needs.
Hardware and Design Features
From a design perspective, the Vivoactive 5 keeps things practical. It features a lightweight 42mm aluminum bezel paired with a soft silicone band that is comfortable enough for all-day wear. The 5 ATM water rating means it can handle swimming sessions and everyday exposure to water without concern.
There are some omissions compared to Garmin’s higher-end models. For example, it does not include a built-in speaker or microphone for taking calls, something you will find on more expensive options like the Venu series. Still, it retains reliable GPS for outdoor activities such as walking, running, and cycling, which for most users is the core requirement.
Battery life remains a strong point. Garmin claims up to 11 days in standard smartwatch mode. If you enable the Always-On display, that figure drops to around 5 days, which feels like a reasonable trade-off given the AMOLED screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Does the 2-year warranty apply to all Garmin watches?
A1: Garmin has extended a 2-year warranty to several models launched in India after January 2024. This includes the Forerunner 165, Fenix 8, and the Vivoactive 5.
Q2: Can I take phone calls on the Vivoactive 5?
A2: No. The Vivoactive 5 does not include a microphone or speaker for voice calls. You can still view notifications and, on Android phones, reply to messages using the on-watch keyboard.
Q3: How does the wheelchair mode work?
A3: When enabled, the watch uses its accelerometer to detect pushes instead of steps. It also unlocks dedicated activity profiles for wheelchair-based workouts like handcycling.
Q4: Where can I buy the Vivoactive 5 at the sale price?
A4: The INR 22,990 pricing is available through Garmin’s authorized online and offline partners in India, including major electronics retailers and official Garmin brand stores.
