Garmin announced a new version of the Vivoactive 3 with a feature that brings the device up-to-par with the newest versions of its competitors, the Apple Watch Series 3 and the Fitbit Ionic: music storage.

Featuring Garmin Pay contactless payments and thousands of ways to customize with free watch faces, widgets, data fields and apps through the Garmin Connect IQ store, the vivoactive 3 Music has been designed for running errands, running a 10K, and everything in between.

Featuring the same fitness, wellness and smart connectivity features first introduced on the vivoactive 3, the vivoactive 3 Music gives users an extra pep in their step with on-device music storage of up to 500 songs. Download offline music playlists from select music streaming services like Deezer (coming soon), iHeartRadio, or transfer music from a computer directly to the watch. Once the music is loaded, pair the vivoactive 3 Music with a set of compatible Bluetooth headphones (sold separately) and go.

Connecting the device to your PC and opening Garmin Express allows you to do a number of things: download music, install software updates, manage Connect IQ apps, and change device and profile settings. The Music program automatically identifies the default music program on your PC and mirrors the folders you have in that program such as playlists, albums, songs, and more.

Garmin Pay, a contactless payment solution, means vivoactive 3 Music wearers can leave their cash and credit cards at home and still stop for a coffee, pop in a store, or grab a bite to eat throughout their day. Utilizing their Garmin Pay wallet, users have the same rewards and benefits of the physical cards, with the convenience of having them right on the wrist for contactless payment.

With Elevate wrist-based heart rate and over 15 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps including yoga, running, strength training and more, the vivoactive 3 Music is packed with features to keep up with a varied active lifestyle. Like all of Garmin's wearables, it is safe for swimming and showering and has a battery life of up to 7 days in smartwatch mode and 5 hours in GPS with music mode.

The redesigned Garmin Connect makes it easier to beat yesterday with colorful activity cards that give users an at-a-glance to the most important stats. Simply scroll down to compare today's totals to past results or tap in for more detailed information. Activities and other stats captured by the device are presented in detail with data customized and filtered so that the user is only seeing what is most relevant to his or her goals. Users can connect with friends and family to motivate one another, join challenges, engage in friendly competitions and score colorful new Garmin Connect badges when goals are crushed.

The vivoactive 3 Music comes with a black silicone 20mm quick release industry standard band and has a suggested retail price of $299.99 and is available now. Accessory bands in different sizes are available for purchase separately for $29.99.

While Garmin devices work with Android and iOS, keep in mind that Android users get a few extra perks thanks to the openness of the platform. Android users can send quick-replies to text messages directly from the watch, while iOS users are limited to reading and dismissing message alerts. Android users can also use smart notifications to pick and choose apps to receive alerts from on the watch-for iOS users, it's all alerts, calls only, or calls and texts only.

Compared to the Apple Watch and Fitbit's devices, the Apple Watch makes a better smartwatch if you have an iPhone, allowing you to respond to messages and even make and receive calls if you have the LTE version of the Series 3 Watch.

Fitbit's devices have a friendlier mobile app than Garmin's, and Fitbit's social features make exercise a communal activity. Garmin has social features as well, and some athletes may even prefer them, but Fitbit's challenges, activity status and photo sharing, groups and other social features will appeal to a wider variety of users with different fitness levels.

General
Lens Material	chemically strengthened glass
Case material	polymer
Quick Release Bands	yes (20 mm, Industry standard)
Strap material	silicone
Physical size	43.1 x 43.1 x 13.6 mm Fits wrists with a circumference of 127-204 mm
Weight	39.0 g
Water rating	Swim, 5 ATM
Touchscreen	yes
Display type	sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
Display size	1.2" (30.4mm) diameter
Display resolution	240 x 240 pixels
Color display	yes
Battery life	Smartwatch mode: Up to 7 days GPS mode with music: Up to 5 hours GPS mode without music: Up to 13 hours
Memory/History	7 timed activities, 14 days of activity tracking data

 

Clock Features
Time/date	yes
GPS Time Sync	yes
Automatic daylight saving time	yes
Alarm clock	yes
Timer	yes
Stopwatch	yes

 

Sensors
GPS	yes
GLONASS	yes
Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate monitor	yes
Barometric altimeter	yes
Compass	yes
Gyroscope	yes
Accelerometer	yes
Thermometer	yes

 

Daily Smart Features
Connectivity	Bluetooth Smart and ANT+
Connect IQ (downloadable watch faces, data fields, widgets and apps)	yes
Smart notifications	yes
Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only)	yes
Calendar	yes
Weather	yes
Controls smartphone music	yes
Plays and controls watch music	yes
Music Storage	up to 500 songs
Find My Phone	yes
Find My Watch	yes
VIRB Camera Remote	yes
Smartphone compatibility	iPhone, Android
Compatible with Garmin Connect Mobile	yes
Garmin Pay	yes

 

Activity Tracking Features
Step counter	yes
Move bar (displays on device after a period of inactivity; walk for a couple of minutes to reset it)	yes
Auto goal (learns your activity level and assigns a daily step goal)	yes
Sleep monitoring (monitors total sleep and periods of movement or restful sleep)	yes
Calories burned	yes
Floors climbed	yes
Distance traveled	yes
Intensity minutes	yes
TrueUp	yes
Move IQ	yes
Fitness Age	yes (in app)
All-day Stress Tracking	yes

 

Fitness Equipment/Gym
Preloaded gym activity profiles	Strength Training, Cardio Training, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Floor Climbing, Indoor Rowing and Yoga
Cardio workouts	yes
Strength workouts	yes
Automatic rep counting	yes

 

Training, Planning and Analysis Features
GPS speed and distance	yes
Customizable data pages	yes
Customizable activity profiles	yes
Auto Pause	yes
Advanced workouts	yes
Downloadable training plans	yes
Auto Lap	yes
Manual lap	yes
Configurable lap alerts	yes
V02 max	yes
Customizable alerts	yes
LiveTrack	yes
Touch and/or button lock	yes
Auto scroll	yes
Activity history on watch	yes

 

Heart Rate Features
HR zones	yes
HR alerts	yes
HR calories	yes
% HR max	yes
HR Broadcast (broadcasts HR data over ANT+ to paired devices)	yes

 

Running Features
Preloaded run profiles	Running, Indoor Track Running, Treadmill Running
GPS-based distance, time and pace	yes
Run workouts	yes
Foot pod capable	yes

 

Outdoor Recreation Features
Preloaded outdoor recreation profiles	Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing
Back to start	yes
Total ascent/descent	yes

 

Golfing Features
Yardage to F/M/B (distance to front, middle and back of green)	yes
Yardage to layups/doglegs	yes
Measures shot distance (calculates exact yardage for shots from anywhere on course)	Automatic
Digital scorecard	yes
Stat tracking (strokes, putts per round, greens and fairways hit)	yes
Garmin AutoShot	yes
Green View with manual pin position	yes
Hazards and course targets	yes
PinPointer	yes
Round timer/odometer	yes

 

Cycling Features
Preloaded cycling profiles	Biking, Indoor Biking
Time/distance alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goal)	yes
Compatible with Varia radar (rear-facing radar)	yes
Compatible with Varia lights	yes
Speed and cadence sensor support (with sensor)	yes

 

Swimming Features
Preloaded swim profiles	Pool Swimming
Pool swim metrics (lengths, distance, pace, stroke count/rate, calories)	yes
Stroke type detection (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly)	yes
Swim efficiency (SWOLF)	yes