Garmin has taken the wraps off its vivosmart HR+ activity tracker, with wrist-based heart rate plus GPS, which is set to land in Australia this month.The vivosmart HR+ is equipped with Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology, providing 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and also tracks steps, distance, calories, floors climbed and activity intensity.
Decked out with an always-on, sunlight-readable display, it has a water rating of 5ATM, and is swim and shower safe.
The addition of GPS to the vivosmart line allows users to more accurately track distance, time and pace for their activities, along with viewing a map of their activity, with additional running features including personal records, virtual racer, Auto Pause, Auto Lap and walk/run mode.
Using Elevate wrist heart rate technology, the vivosmart HR+ quantifies the intensity of users’ fitness activities using intensity minutes, helping monitor progress against activity goals recommended by leading health organisations.
The vivosmart HR+ also comes with Garmin Move IQ, which continuously monitors for periods of sustained activity, automatically recognising walking, running, biking, swimming and elliptical training, allowing users to “easily track their exercise throughout the day without needing to start a timed activity”.
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When synced with Garmin Connect, a free online fitness community, users can additionally review their full day of activity in a timeline view.
Garmin Connect allows users to track workouts, sleep patterns and trends, join online challenges to compete against friends and earn virtual badges, while Garmin Connect Insights, smart wellness insights personalised to each user, provide cues to help users reach goals, shout-outs when milestones have been met and relevant healthy tips from experts.
Users can also see how they are doing in comparison to people like them through Insights.
Users can receive smart notifications, including incoming calls, texts, emails, social and calendar reminders, from a compatible smartphone, with other connected features allowing users to control music on their smartphone and find their phone when they’ve misplaced it.
The vivosmart HR+ has up to five days of battery life in watch/activity tracking mode (with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, no GPS) and up to eight hours using GPS.
Priced at $349 RRP, it will be available in regular size black/shark fin grey, imperial purple/kona purple and midnight blue/bolt blue, along with an extra-large black/shark fin grey band.
