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Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music: more music!

Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music: more music!

April 10, 2020

Introducing the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music
Features of the Vivoactive 3 Music
Vivoactive 3 versus Vivoactive 3 Music: comparison and differences
Our opinion on Vivoactive 3 Music
Garmin Vivoactive 3 price and availability

Buy Vivoactive 3 Music

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Price (from)

i-Run

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329 € 299

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329 255 €

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Buy Vivoactive 3

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Price (from)

Alltricks

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299 € 219.99

Amazon

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299.99 199.7 €

Baker

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299.99 € 279.99

Go-Sport

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229.99 € 191.78

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Introducing the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music

Garmin has just announced, on June 13, the release of Vivoactive 3 Music, an improved version of Vivoactive 3 which we reviewed recently. This new model is almost identical except for the addition of an mp3 player associated with 4 GB of memory to embark and listen to anywhere your favorite music: sport, city, work … No more bulky port of a Smartphone to go do your sport or move! The watch allows you to go light and free training.

This innovation is not new. Garmin had recently integrated this function in the very complete Forerunner 645 Music, a high-end running watch but aimed at a more targeted audience. By integrating an mp3 player in the Vivoactive 3, a more versatile watch, the brand places itself at the same level as its competitors (Apple and its Apple Watch, Fitbit or even Tom Tom) and reaches a much wider audience, both sportspeople and non-athletes.

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The main functions of Vivoactive 3 Music

The Vivoactive 3 Music is almost the clone of the previous model with an additional mp3 player (read our review and opinion on the Vivoactive 3). There are still some differences to take into account to help you choose between the 2 models.

It is a very complete watch for its price, versatile and offering many functions. This is the reason why we considered it as "the Swiss knife watch" in our review of the Vivoactive 3. This watch is also aimed at a wide audience, from the sportsman to the non-sportsman, whether it is to do a sport or track activity.

The smartwatch integrates the following main functions:

Multisports: more than 15 integrated sports (running, cycling, swimming in the pool, skiing, golf, yoga, bodybuilding, indoor sports including elliptical, rowing machine, stepper, etc.)
Music function: mp3 player and 4 GB of memory (about 500 titles) and listening via headphones or bluetooth earphones – New
Borderless display and ultra resistant curved glass – New
GPS & GLONASS
Wrist heart rate monitoring (optical drive)
Payment Garmin Pay contactless (NFC chip)
Customizable via Connect IQ: thousands of free screens, widgets and applications to download from the Connect store
Activity tracking functions: number of steps taken, calories expended, sleep analysis, climbs, etc.
Many functions: VO2max and fitness age calculation, stress and fitness Review, workout schedule, relaxation exercises and more
smart health connected watch: call, email and text notifications, remote object control (sports camera, lighting), live weather information, follow-up during your sport, follow-up of Uber support, etc.

Woman running while listening to music with a watch

The music function: up to 500 titles on board

This is the great novelty of this model. For 30 € more than the old model released in 2017, Garmin offers an mp3 player on board its Vivoactive 3 Music and enough memory to carry up to 500 musical titles. This eliminates the need for a smartphone to listen to music when you go running, walking, shopping or even working. Simple bluetooth headphones are enough for free listening!

You can also connect the watch to other devices (headphones or bluetooth speaker for example) and thus enjoy its music, listen to an audio course or a conference at health home in your sofa or in the shower. The volume is adjusted and the songs are selected from the watch. You can also do it from a Smartphone thanks to bluetooth.

The smartwatch allows you to easily import personal audio files from a computer via a USB cable and the free Garmin Express application or even via Wi-Fi from certain platforms offering music streaming such as Deezer (for Deezer Premium + subscribers , an option that Garmin has been promising since the release of the previous model and which should be offered very soon). Once synchronization is complete, music can be listened to directly on the watch without connection. Vivoactive 3 Music supports many formats (AAC, MP3, M4A, M3U, M3U8, PLS, WAV, WLP).

Note that it is not possible to transfer protected files, for example songs purchased on a streaming service other than those having an agreement with Garmin (like Deezer soon). So, if you are a Spotify user for example, you will not be able to import music from this platform.

Features of the Vivoactive 3 Music

Weight43g

Activity trackerYes

Vivoactive 3 versus Vivoactive 3 Music: comparison and differences

Vivoactive 3 and Vivoactive 3 Music watches compared

Aside from adding an mp3 player, there are very few differences between the 2 models. However, we have found some changes that are good to know before making your choice. Garmin seems to have done its best to pull the prices down to offer this new model at the best price. We note in particular the disappearance of the steel bezel, a slightly lighter weight but a thicker case, a lower autonomy.

To learn more about the differences between the two models and see a comparative table, see our article: Comparison Vivoactive 3 vs Vivoactive 3 Music: the differences, which one to choose?

Our opinion on Vivoactive 3 Music

We could not Review this watch which is very similar to the Vivoactive 3. However, we studied the user manual and reviewed the differences displayed on the Garmin site.

Cardio watch reviews and comparison

A selection of 25 sports watches at the best price

The heart rate monitoring has become an essential tool for athletes, whether to train, lose weight or simply maintain their shape. But today's watches offer more than just a pulse. Depending on the sport practiced, they have an impressive number of additional functions allowing you to make the most of your outing. How to find your way around?

See the comparison

The presence of an mp3 player on this watch (and probably on other models of Garmin sports watches in the near future) is a real asset for all those who like to do their sport, go for a walk or even work while listening to music. music without having to clutter up a cell phone. We transfer his favorite music (individually or through playlists) directly to the watch in a few clicks, then put on the bluetooth headsets and off we go for hours of music (Garmin announces up to 5 hours of battery life).

For 30 € more, there is no hesitation, especially since Garmin has lowered the price of the old model. So, for the same price, we now have an mp3 player! In addition, we found this watch prettier because of its curved and borderless screen.

The fact that the case is a little thicker is not a concern. The difference is relatively small but you still need to know because some people may be sensitive to it. We can also regret the disappearance of the stainless steel bezel which gave the watch a more robust appearance. Exit also the menu scroll strip on the side of the watch, however practical.

For those who do not listen to music or can not part with their Smartphone, this new watch obviously has no interest compared to the old model.

For demanding athletes looking for a watch with music, it is better to move towards a more complete watch like the Forerunner 645 Music (read our opinion here). But if the budget is limited and we are looking for a simple and cheaper watch, we can turn to the Tom Tom Runner 3 Music (with GPS track) or otherwise, for an even lower price, the Tom Tom Runner 2 Music (see our Review).

Newsflash : i-Run is currently offering a strong promotion on the Tom Tom Runner 2 Music: less than € 60 for the Tom Tom Runner 2 Music and less than 80 € for the Tom Tom Runner 2 cardio + Music.

We liked

"Swiss army knife" side of the watch (wealth of functions, number of sensors) supplemented by the very practical music function
Design, borderless touch screen
Integrated sports
Contactless payment
smart health connected functions (well-being, physical condition, etc.)
Price (the same as the old model which has dropped)

We'd have liked

Touch strip on the side to scroll through the menus (present on the old model!)
A little more autonomy

Garmin Vivoactive 3 price and availability

Vivoactive 3 Music is already available on the Garmin site and on the Internet. It will soon be in major brands (Boulanger, ehealth, etc.).

It is offered at € 329.99 (recommended price) or € 299.99 for the model without music. These prices include the watch with its strap and a charging and data transfer cable.

Interchangeable straps can be purchased separately and are offered at € 29.99