CES 2015: Garmin launches stylish Vivofit 2 fitness tracker
At CES 2015 this week, Garmin is set to unveil two new additions to its Vivofit range, adding a new lick of paint and some extra functionality to its already successful fitness tracker. The Garmin Vivofit (which we reviewed last year), has had a new refresh for 2015 with the mouthy Vivofit 2 and the good-looking Vivofit 2 Style Collection.
The Vivofit 2 is really similar to its predecessor, but it comes with added audio cues, which gives users no excuse to stay still and inactive. (Or just a hefty dose of guilt if they do.) To some this may be a fairly irritating feature, but for those on the hunt for more motivation it could also be a brilliant USP. It also has a built-in backlight, which is one of the main things I felt the original wearable was missing, enabling users to check on their stats and the time even when it’s dark.
The Vivofit 2 Style Collection is all about the looks, turning the kinda dull (but super bright) current Garmin Vivofit options into great-looking wearables fit for the gym, a night out or a subtle addition to an outfit for work. The Signature Series features leather and stainless steel strap options for your Vivofit. The gold option looks like a great statement piece, but the rose gold has to be our favourite and is always a huge hit amongst fashion bloggers and the young, style conscious crowd. Then again, shiny faux-metal options can be a lot more tacky than you’d expect in the flesh, so we’re looking forward to our team getting their hands on them later in the week and finding out just how they fare.
The updated gadgets still have the same basic design as the original Garmin Vivofit, so only take the plunge if you’re a fan of larger screens and retro-style numbers beaming up at you throughout the day.
We all expected CES 2015 to be packed full of brand spanking new wearable tech startups, but it’s great to see companies we already know and love launching updated gadgets too. Many are criticising Garmin for only making minor changes to the Vivofit, but as I was such a huge fan of the original, I’m tempted to shout back ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’. After all, the brand already has the VivoSmart if you’re looking for something that’s more like the fitness tracking bands from the likes of Fitbit and Nike+ with added smart phone integration.
According to sources today, the Garmin Vivofit 2 and the more stylish versions are expected in the first half of 2015 and will retail at around $129.99. No official information about UK prices or more accurate release dates yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
Our team on the ground at CES will be giving you an exclusive look at both the Vivofit 2 and Garmin Vivofit Style Collection wearables later in the week.
In the meantime, check out the CES 2015 page to keep up to date with all of the latest news, views and gossip from Las Vegas and subscribe to our YouTube channel to see hands-on news with our editor Holly Brockwell from the show floor.
