Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., today announced the vívosmart HR, a touchscreen activity tracker1 with ElevateTM wrist heart rate technology that provides a full suite of smart notifications.
The Garmin vívosmart HR touchscreen activity tracker with Elevate wrist heart rate technology provides a full suite of smart notifications. (Photo: Business Wire)
The vívosmart HR features a large sunlight readable display that’s always on. In addition to 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the vívosmart HR counts floors climbed and measures activity intensity. When paired with a compatible smartphone2, users can receive text, calls, email, calendar and social media alerts, control music, and more. The vívosmart HR activity tracker will be available for pre-orders today, and in Best Buy stores and at BestBuy.com on November 1. In Canada, Best Buy Canada and BestBuy.ca will also carry the vívosmart HR in November.
The vívosmart HR is being introduced in conjunction with a 360-degree global advertising campaign called “Beat Yesterday,” which includes television, print, digital and social media executions that show how Garmin wearable devices help people as they strive to do better than they did the day before. “Beat Yesterday” is about being healthier and moving more, farther or faster each day.
“This is the first activity tracker from Garmin with Elevate wrist heart rate technology that monitors your heart rate 24/7, offering more feedback on your daily activity, calories burned, workouts and sleep,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “Thanks to the vívosmart HR’s always on high-resolution display, you can review your progress against your fitness, and stay connected with a full suite of smart notifications while you’re on the go.”
The vívosmart HR’s sleek band is lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear. With up to five days battery life and a 5 ATM (50 meter) water rating3, users rarely have to remove the device.
In addition to tracking steps, calories, distance, heart rate and displaying the time of day, vívosmart HR gives users credit for the extra effort thanks to an integrated barometric altimeter. The vívosmart HR also measures activity intensity through Intensity Minutes so users can monitor their progress against weekly aerobic activity goals recommended by leading health organizations, including the American Heart Association, World Health Organization, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Like its predecessors, the vívosmart HR reminds users when they’ve been sitting too long, learns their current activity level and creates a customized daily step goal, motivating them to develop healthy habits and stay active throughout the day. Users can also manually set floors climbed and activity intensity goals.
Built for today’s connected world, the vívosmart HR lets users stay connected with vibration alerts for smart notifications including incoming calls, texts, social media, calendar alerts, and more. Users can also control the music on their smartphone from the vívosmart HR, send a signal to help locate their smartphone when they’ve misplaced it, and remote control a Garmin VIRB camera (sold separately).
The vívosmart HR automatically syncs with the recently updated Garmin Connect™ Mobile app4 for iPhone® or AndroidTM so users can check in throughout the day to view reports on activity progress, track their sleep hours, join step challenges and more. Garmin Connect Mobile’s easy-to-use interface provides daily information and trends over time and can be linked to a MyFitnessPal account to automatically sync calorie and nutritional information, allowing users to view their activity versus consumed calories, and remaining calories (based on goals set in MyFitnessPal) for the day.
Available in three colors – black, imperial purple and midnight blue - the vívosmart HR has a suggested retail price of $149.99 USD. It will be available for pre-orders today, and at Best Buy stores and at BestBuy.com on November 1. Best Buy Canada and BestBuy.ca will also carry the vívosmart HR in November. Additional online and store availability will begin in January 2016.