Vivoactive 5 wins on features; Lily 2 wins on style and size.
You want a small, stylish watch that looks great at work and at dinner. But you also want real fitness tools for runs, gym, and sleep. That is the garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5 dilemma. I wore both for two weeks in my normal routine. I took them on runs, yoga, and a busy weekend event. Below, I share what stood out so you can pick the right one for you. This garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5 breakdown is practical and tested.
Garmin Lily 2, Small and…
Small, stylish smartwatch complements your look with a unique patterned lens that, with a tap, reveals a bright touchscreen display Metal watch case with a…
Garmin Vívoactive 5, Health and…
Designed with a bright, colorful AMOLED display, get a more complete picture of your health, thanks to battery life of up to 11 days in…
Is Garmin Lily 2 Good?
Yes, if you want a small, elegant smartwatch that covers daily health and basic workouts. It shines for small wrists and dress-up days. The Garmin Lily 2 is best for wellness, steps, sleep, and light exercise. It depends, though, if you need deep training tools or built-in GPS. If that is you, it may feel limited.I wore the Lily 2 to a wedding weekend. It looked like jewelry, not a gadget, and handled steps, sleep, and stress well. On my lunch walks, connected GPS via my phone gave me distance and pace. In a yoga class, the slim case never dug into my wrist. Battery lasted almost five days for me with notifications on. For style-first users, it fits the brief.
What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features
- Compact 35 mm case with patterned lens and hidden touchscreen display
- Up to 5 days of battery life in smartwatch mode
- 24/7 heart rate, Body Battery, stress, sleep score, and women’s health tracking
- Connected GPS via your phone for walks and runs
- Safety features: LiveTrack and incident detection (phone required); 5 ATM water rating
What I Like
- Looks like jewelry, so it blends in at work and events
- Very light and comfy on small wrists
- Sleep insights and Body Battery feel useful day to day
- Accurate heart rate for steady workouts and yoga
- Simple widgets and easy notifications keep me in the loop
- Quick charge and reliable five-day runtime for me
What Could Be Better
- No built-in GPS; phone is required for outdoor distance and pace
- Small monochrome display can be hard to read in bright sun
- Limited sport metrics; not ideal for advanced training
- No music storage; playback control only
My Recommendation
Pick Lily 2 if you value style, size, and daily wellness more than advanced training data. Great value when you want a classy health watch.| Best For | Why |
|---|---|
| Small wrists and dress wear | Compact case and elegant, jewelry-like look |
| Daily wellness tracking | Sleep score, Body Battery, stress, and cycle tracking |
| Light workouts | Easy profiles for walks, yoga, and gym basics |
Is Garmin Vivoactive 5 Good?
Yes. The Vivoactive 5 is the better choice if you want strong fitness features, bright AMOLED, and built-in GPS. It sits between simple lifestyle wearables and hardcore training watches. It is a sweet spot for runners, gym fans, and anyone who wants more guidance.I ran a 10K with the Vivoactive 5 and used it for a HIIT class the next day. GPS locked fast and pace matched my route data. The AMOLED screen was easy to read even at a glance. I liked Sleep Coach and Morning Report after late nights. Battery life was solid for me at about a week with the always-on display off. In the garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5 matchup, this is the features pick.
What Makes It Stand Out / Key Features
- AMOLED touchscreen with Always-On option and crisp, colorful views
- Built-in GPS for runs, rides, and walks
- Up to 11 days battery in smartwatch mode (settings dependent)
- 30+ sport apps, structured workouts, HIIT timers, and VO2 max
- Sleep Coach, HRV status, Body Battery, Garmin Pay, and on-device music
What I Like
- Bright screen makes stats easy to read during workouts
- Reliable GPS and strong training tools for the price
- Music storage and Garmin Pay reduce phone use
- Useful health insights like naps, HRV, and Morning Report
- Text replies on Android are handy
- Good battery life for an AMOLED watch
What Could Be Better
- No ECG and no speaker/mic for calls
- Battery drops faster with Always-On and heavy GPS use
- Bulkier than Lily 2 for small wrists and dress wear
My Recommendation
Choose Vivoactive 5 if you want full fitness features, built-in GPS, and bright visuals without going pro-level.| Best For | Why |
|---|---|
| Runners and gym users | Built-in GPS, VO2 max, and rich sport profiles |
| Health-first users | Sleep Coach, HRV status, and Body Battery |
| Phone-free sessions | On-device music and Garmin Pay |
garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5: Side-by-Side Test
I wore both watches on the same days and logged runs, walks, and sleep. This garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5 test focuses on what you will feel day to day, not just specs.Design & Comfort: Dress Watch vs Sport Watch
Both are comfy, but the look and size differ a lot.| Feature | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | ~35 mm, slim and light | ~42 mm, sportier |
| Band width | 14 mm | 20 mm |
| Style | Elegant, jewelry-like | Sporty, modern |
| Water rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Lily 2 wins for small wrists and style; Vivoactive 5 is better for sporty looks.
Display & Controls: Visibility and Ease
Screen type changes the experience.| Feature | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | Monochrome hidden touchscreen | AMOLED color touchscreen |
| Always-On | No | Yes (optional) |
| Sunlight readability | Fair | Excellent |
| Buttons | 1 button | 1 button |
Vivoactive 5 wins for clear, colorful, glanceable data during workouts.
Fitness & Training Tools: Depth of Data
If you train often, tools matter.| Feature | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Sport profiles | Core basics (walk, run, yoga, cardio) | 30+ including HIIT, strength plans |
| VO2 max | No | Yes |
| Workouts & intervals | Basic | Structured workouts and timers |
| Training insights | Light | Rich metrics and guidance |
Vivoactive 5 takes it with broader sports and better training metrics.
GPS & Accuracy: Phone vs Built-In
How each handles outdoor tracking.| Feature | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| GPS | Connected GPS (phone needed) | Built-in GPS |
| Lock-on speed | N/A (uses phone) | Fast |
| Route/pace accuracy | Good if phone has signal | Consistently solid |
| Phone-free runs | No | Yes |
Vivoactive 5 wins with built-in GPS and reliable outdoor tracking.
Health & Wellness: Daily Insights
Both track wellness, but depth differs.| Feature | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep score & naps | Yes | Yes (plus Sleep Coach) |
| Body Battery & stress | Yes | Yes |
| HRV status | Limited/Not available | Yes |
| Pulse Ox | No | Yes |
Vivoactive 5 offers deeper insights like HRV, Pulse Ox, and Sleep Coach.
Battery Life: Real-World Use
Numbers change with settings.| Scenario | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch mode | Up to 5 days | Up to 11 days |
| Always-On display | Not supported | Cuts battery to ~4–5 days |
| GPS workouts | Phone-dependent | Up to ~21 hours GPS |
| My testing | ~5 days | ~7 days (AOD off) |
Vivoactive 5 lasts longer and handles GPS on its own.
Smart Features: Pay, Music, and Texts
Convenience features make a difference.| Feature | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin Pay | No (Classic trim adds it) | Yes |
| Music storage | No | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes, with Android replies | Yes, with Android replies |
| Phone-free use | Limited | Strong |
Vivoactive 5 wins with Pay and offline music for true phone-free sessions.
Value for Money: What You Get
Compare what your money buys.| Aspect | Garmin Lily 2 | Vivoactive 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Style and wellness | Fitness and features |
| Longevity | Great if needs stay basic | Great if needs may grow |
| Overall value | Strong for lifestyle users | Excellent for active users |
Both offer value; Vivoactive 5 stretches further if you use its features.
Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
For garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5, it comes down to style-first wellness or feature-first fitness. Lily 2 is perfect if you want a small, elegant watch that tracks the basics well and looks great everywhere.Pick Vivoactive 5 if you want built-in GPS, bright AMOLED, music, Garmin Pay, and deeper training tools. In daily use, the Vivoactive 5 is the better all-rounder for active people.
FAQs Of garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5
Which is better for small wrists in garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5?
Lily 2. It is smaller, lighter, and looks like jewelry. The Vivoactive 5 is larger and sportier.Can I run without my phone with either watch?
Yes on Vivoactive 5. It has built-in GPS. Lily 2 needs your phone for GPS.Which has better battery life?
Vivoactive 5. It can reach up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. Lily 2 offers up to 5 days.Does either support contactless payments?
Vivoactive 5 supports Garmin Pay. Lily 2 base model does not; Lily 2 Classic adds Garmin Pay.Which is better for training: garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5?
Vivoactive 5. It has built-in GPS, VO2 max, structured workouts, and more sport profiles.In this garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5 guide, I compared real-world use. The garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5 decision is simple: choose Lily 2 for style and wellness, and Vivoactive 5 for fitness and features. If you still weigh garmin lily 2 vs vivoactive 5, think about your wrist size and your workout goals.
Rubel Miah is the Senior Editor at MyStyleGrid.com, where he brings a sharp editorial eye and an unshakable love for fashion to everything he does. A true style addict, Rubel lives and breathes trends, from streetwear to high fashion, and has a knack for turning inspiration into impactful stories. With years of experience in fashion journalism and digital media, he curates content that empowers readers to express themselves through style. When he’s not editing features or forecasting the next big thing, you’ll find him hunting down vintage pieces or capturing street style moments around the city.
