Garmin has changed the look of the first Vivofit. The screen on the Garmin Vivofit Jr 3 has been shrunk down to a tiny square that you can move to other bands to give it a whole new look. It also adds a new metric called “Intensity Minutes” and automatic activity detection for walking, running, swimming, and biking.
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3: Description
Even with these changes, the Vivofit 3 is still a pretty simple fitness tracker that only tracks activity, calories, distance, and sleep. It’s a good tracker, but we like the Fitbit Alta and Fitbit Charge HR, which cost just a little bit more. Garmin is going for a look that is more fashionable and goes with most of your clothes. But the Vivofit 3 doesn’t look as good as the Fitbit Alta or the Misfit Ray. The band is made of rubber and has a pattern like a tyre tread, which is not very stylish.
The tracker comes in black, camo, or white, and in two sizes: Regular, which fits wrists that are 5.4 to 7.7 inches around, and X-large (6.5 to 8.9 inches). You can swap out the band that comes with the watch for a more stylish one from a designer like Jonathan Adler. With the Vivofit 3, the strap around your arm is held in place by prongs.
Like the Fitbit Alta, I had a little trouble putting it on with one hand, but once it was on, I barely noticed it was there. To keep the band on your arm, you can lock it in place by turning the wheel-shaped clasp on the strap. It feels much better than the Jawbone UP4.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Looks like a ‘real’ watch
- Marvel/Disney graphics
- Gamifies exercise
- Long battery life
Cons
- Cheap-looking design.
- Small, dim screen.
- Slow to automatically register activity.
- Doesn’t count stairs climbed.
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3: Specifications
| Band fit | 130-175 mm |
| Battery | Up to 1 year CR2025, user-replaceable |
| Display | Sunlight-visible transflective 64-color memory-in-pixel 112×112 pixels |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Sensors | Accelerometer |
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3: Design
Garmin’s Vivofit Jr. 3 looks more like a traditional watch than its predecessor, which looked more like a tracker. It has a square screen and a buckle on the strap, but is made of red rubber. It’s easy to use, but a little bigger than trackers like Fitbit’s Ace 2.
Its color screen, which shows the time, exercise stats, and characters, is one of its best features. We tested the red Marvel version, so superheroes were on our screen. There are also versions with the Little Mermaid, Disney princesses, and flowers for parents who don’t want a tie-in with a movie.
Unlike some cheaper watches, this one doesn’t have a touchscreen. Instead, it uses a button to the side of the screen. Our mini tester was a bit taken aback by this, as it’s different to most kids smartwatches, but she got used to it quickly and the button does the job of cycling between screens perfectly well.
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3: Display
The display is better than the last one because it has a 64-color screen that reflects light and looks great in direct light. When it’s dark, you can turn on the backlight by pressing the side button for a second. With a quick press of a button, you can move through time, steps, rewards, and more on the Vivofit Jr. 3. You can also set up a screen to show information about “In Case of Emergency.”
First of all, we found it hard to use the screen, even though it was easy to read when there was enough light. But because the screen cover is concave and the screen itself is small, you can’t see half of the screen if it isn’t at the right angle. Unless the backlight is on, which can be hard for a child to figure out.
The Fitbit Ace 2 is the device that is most like the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3. The Ace 2 can track steps, sleep, and encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes every day by giving them fun goals to work towards. You can use either your finger or the side button to move around the backlit display. The silicone band that goes all the way around the Ace 2 is also swim-proof and strong.
The FitBit Ace 2 doesn’t have a color display or a way to set up tasks. Since the battery can only last for 5 days, you will also have to remember to charge it. If your child has their own phone, the companion app has both a parent view and a kid view. Since it’s a Fitbit, the whole family can work together to stay healthy on the same platform.
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3: Battery Life
The Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 might be best known for its battery life. Unlike most watches, which need to be charged every few days or, in the case of the Neo, every day, Garmin’s newest one lasts about a year without being charged.
Even though we haven’t been able to test this (yet! ), it’s a big selling point for kids who forget to charge their devices and parents who already have a lot to do without having to remember to charge more devices. The only problem would be if you forgot to charge your iPhone or Android phone, but let’s be honest, that’s a common problem.
The battery in the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 will need to be changed at some point, but that’s the same as with most watches: you just buy a cell battery and put it in. Just keep those batteries away from kids so they can’t get hurt.
Price and Availability
The Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 was first announced in October 2020, and it is now ready to help kids be more active. Even though there have been a few sales, the price is still the same as when it first came out: $79.99 you can buy this smartwatch directly from Garmin’s website.
Along with three themes made by Garmin, the fitness tracker came out with models of Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, and Rapunzel from Disney Princess and Black Panther and Iron Man from Marvel. In May 2022, Garmin released The Mandalorian and Grogu versions of Star Was. In September 2022, they released a limited-edition Black Panther version.
Final Words
Yes, if you want your child to have a fitness tracker, whether it’s just to help them stay active and healthy or to help them stay active and healthy and also motivate them for a number of other reasons. This tracker is very good. I almost think it’s the best tracker for kids. The superhero and princess designs will be especially fun for kids.
It’s also not too expensive. Even though there are other trackers for kids, some of which have features that this one doesn’t, this one really does a good job of attracting younger users. Most of the time, this sells for about $80. But it’s currently on sale for $60 for a limited time. So it is a better deal than it would usually be.
FAQs
Does vívofit jr. 3 have GPS?
The Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 is its latest product for kids. Unlike Garmin’s adult version, it doesn’t have GPS, but it does have a lot of Disney features that are sure to keep kids interested.
Can you use a Garmin Vivofit 3 without a smartphone?
You can turn on the device and use it in limited ways until you finish setting it up on a computer or smartphone. You can only use the step count, auto goal, and move bar before you set it up. Once a day, your device clears your step count.
