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Add to SafariWhen comparing Garmin Vivosmart vs Polar H7, the Slant community recommends Polar H7 for most people. In the question“What are the best heart rate monitors?” Polar H7 is ranked 2nd while Garmin Vivosmart is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Polar H7 is:
The elastic band comes in three sizes and is soft and malleable. The H7 sits pretty snugly against your chest and doesn't slip around while you're using it.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Smartwatch-like functionality
Vivosmart is capable of showing smartphone notifications and control music playback.
Pro Logs exercise
Pro Week's battery life
Pro Some customization options
Pro Displays time
Pro Good step counter
Pro Comfortable and secure
The elastic band comes in three sizes and is soft and malleable. The H7 sits pretty snugly against your chest and doesn't slip around while you're using it.
Pro Very accurate
The H7 was tested against an EKG, the medical standard for measuring heart rate, and it was found that the H7's readings matched up with the EKG 99% of the time.
You can see the accuracy tests here.
Pro Waterproof, so it's great for swimmers
The H7 is properly waterproof, making it a good option for swimmers. However, when underwater, your Bluetooth connection won't work so you're forced into using one of Polar's GymLink enabled watches.
Pro Supports a wide range of connectivity options
The H7 can connect via Bluetooth Smart or GymLink. It can connect to a wide range of apps (like Runkeeper, Runtastic, or Strava) and works with Bluetooth sports watches as well. The GymLink connection means it'll work with Polar's other sport watches or activity trackers.
Pro Long battery life with replaceable cell batteries
The H7 runs on a CR2025 coin battery which, as long as you disconnect the device from the strap when not in use, should last you upwards of a month before needing to be replaced.
Cons
Con Companion app is difficult to use
The way the information is presented is confusing and incoherent and there's no logical way to find necessary information.
Con No activity autodetection
Vivosmart does not automatically detect when you start to walk or run, you have to start and stop activity manually.
Con Reps counting feature does not work for some exercises
Reps counting feature is not reliable, sometimes it misses few reps and with some exercises it can count 1 rap, even if you did 10 reps for example. And it can't detect when you start the exercise, so you have to start and stop the counter manually. In practice I frequently forget to start and to stop the counter so after some time I simply sopped using this feature.
Con Difficult to check current time because display most of the time is turned off
In order to turn on the display, for example to see current time, you need to raise you hand and after some delay display some times turns on, sometimes not.
Other option is to double tap the display, which requires both hands.
If you frequently checking current time, it is really annoying.
Con App requires you to provide personal data in order to work
You have to register in the app providing information about your age, gender and weight.
Con App does not work without internet connectivity
It is not possible for example to enter your weight if you are not connected to the internet.
Con No GPS data is collected
Con Bluetooth doesn't work underwater
Unfortunately, the H7 can't communicate via Bluetooth when it's submerged. You'll have to use one of Polar's other GymLink enabled watches to get functionality while swimming.
