Garmin Approach S42 vs Garmin Vivoactive 3Size, Specs & Wrist Fit Compared
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Garmin
Approach S42
Garmin
Vivoactive 3
The Garmin Approach S42 and Garmin Vivoactive 3 share a near-identical 43.4mm case, so wrist presence comes down to thickness, lug-to-lug and weight.
Specification Comparison
| Spec | GarminApproach S42 | GarminVivoactive 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Case Width | 43.4mm | 43.4mm |
| Thickness | 11.7mm | 11.7mm |
| Weight | 43g | 43g |
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Water Resistance | Waterproof | 5 ATM |
| GPS | 15 hours | 13 hours |
| Display | 1.2 inches | 1.2 inches |
| Always-On Display | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | 10 days | 7 days |
| Has wireless charging | No | No |
| Has a removable battery | No | No |
| Battery life with GPS on | 15 hours | 13 hours |
| Has a solar power battery | No | No |
| Has a rechargeable battery | Yes | Yes |
| Has a battery level indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Charge time | — | 1 hours |
| Released | 2021 | 2017 |
Full Specification Comparison
115 specs| Spec | Garmin Approach S42 | Garmin Vivoactive 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| width | 43.4 | 43.4 |
| height | 43.4 | 43.4 |
| volume | 22.04 cm³ | 22.04 cm³ |
| weight | 43 g | 43 g |
| thickness | 11.7 | 11.7 |
| resolution | 240 x 240 px | 240 x 240 px |
| screen size | 1.2 inches | 1.2 inches |
| Display type | LCD | LCD |
| Has a display | Yes | Yes |
| pixel density | 282 ppi | 282 ppi |
| water resistance | Waterproof | Waterproof |
| Always-On Display | Yes | Yes |
| has a touch screen | Yes | Yes |
| waterproof depth rating | 50 m | 50 m |
| Watch band is replaceable | Yes | Yes |
| Has sapphire glass display | No | No |
| has branded damage-resistant glass | No | Yes |
| ATM rating | — | 5 ATM |
| width of band | — | 20 mm |
| Battery | ||
| battery life | 10 days | 7 days |
| has wireless charging | No | No |
| has a removable battery | No | No |
| battery life with GPS on | 15 hours | 13 hours |
| Has a solar power battery | No | No |
| has a rechargeable battery | Yes | Yes |
| charge time | — | 1 hours |
| Sensors | ||
| has GPS | Yes | Yes |
| has a compass | No | Yes |
| Has a barometer | No | Yes |
| has a gyroscope | Yes | No |
| Has a cadence sensor | No | No |
| has an accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Monitors perspiration | No | No |
| Has a heart rate monitor | No | Yes |
| Has a temperature sensor | No | No |
| Monitors blood oxygenation levels | No | No |
| Features | ||
| release date | 2021-03-16 | 2017-09-01 |
| Has a stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Has smart alarm | No | No |
| Has call control | No | Yes |
| Has silent alarm | Yes | Yes |
| internal storage | 0.64GB | — |
| Has notifications | No | Yes |
| Locates your phone | No | Yes |
| Acquires GPS faster | No | No |
| Can be used to answer calls | No | No |
| Has a built-in camera remote control function | No | No |
| warranty period | — | 1 years |
| has HRV tracking | — | No |
| measures VO2 max | — | Yes |
| Has ECG technology | — | No |
| has a front camera | — | No |
| has fall detection | — | No |
| has voice commands | — | No |
| Has vibrating alerts | — | Yes |
| number of microphones | — | 0 |
| shows readiness level | — | No |
| measures resting heart rate | — | Yes |
| has irregular heart rate warnings | — | Yes |
| has fast/slow heart rate notifications | — | Yes |
| Connectivity | ||
| has NFC | No | Yes |
| supports ANT+ | No | Yes |
| supports Wi-Fi | No | No |
| has a cellular module | No | No |
| Is compatible with iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Is compatible with Android | Yes | Yes |
| supports Galileo | — | Yes |
| Bluetooth version | — | 4.2 |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Has auto pause | Yes | Yes |
| Available on PC | Yes | Yes |
| Is compatible with Windows | No | No |
| Is compatible with Mac OS X | No | No |
| has an external memory slot | No | No |
| Compatible with smart scales | Yes | Yes |
| has a battery level indicator | Yes | Yes |
| has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack | No | No |
| Compatible with external heart rate monitors | Yes | Yes |
| has aptX | — | No |
| maximum Bluetooth range | — | 10 m |
| App & Software | ||
| Ad-free | Yes | Yes |
| Free app | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks BMI | Yes | Yes |
| Has coaching | Yes | Yes |
| Includes maps | Yes | Yes |
| Supports routes | Yes | Yes |
| Has achievements | Yes | Yes |
| Has goal setting | Yes | Yes |
| Has live tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Has exercise diary | Yes | Yes |
| Predicts ovulation | Yes | Yes |
| Can be personalised | Yes | Yes |
| Has weight tracking | Yes | No |
| Predicts start date | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks water intake | Yes | No |
| Has period notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Has temperature tracking | No | No |
| Doesn’t require account | No | No |
| Provides activity reports | Yes | Yes |
| Displays fertile window notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Counts how many calories you've burned | Yes | Yes |
| Has inactivity alerts | — | Yes |
| Activity tracking | ||
| Measures pace | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks distance | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks elevation | Yes | Yes |
| Designed for golf | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks your sleep | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks steps taken | Yes | Yes |
| Has a route tracker | Yes | Yes |
| Has exercise tagging | Yes | No |
| Has multi-sport mode | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks calorie intake | Yes | No |
| Provides sleep reports | Yes | Yes |
| Detects activities automatically | Yes | Yes |
| Has a stroke counter for swimming | No | Yes |
| Designed for diving | — | No |
Wrist Fit
Garmin Approach S42
Sits best on wrists ~46–62mm wide (≈ 12.3–16.6cm circumference).
Garmin Vivoactive 3
Sits best on wrists ~46–62mm wide (≈ 12.3–16.6cm circumference).
2D Dimension Schematics
Accurate scale drawings based on case dimensions. Drag to pan, Ctrl+scroll to zoom. Works for every watch regardless of photo availability.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garmin Approach S42 bigger than the Garmin Vivoactive 3?
Both have a 43.4mm case. Compare their thickness and lug-to-lug above to judge wrist presence.
Which fits a smaller wrist better, the Garmin Approach S42 or the Garmin Vivoactive 3?
The Garmin Approach S42 suits wrists around 46–62mm wide, and the Garmin Vivoactive 3 around 46–62mm. The one with the smaller lower bound is the safer pick for a small wrist.
Can I see the Garmin Approach S42 and Garmin Vivoactive 3 side by side at true scale?
Yes — the schematics and photos above show both watches at matched scale, and our fit tool overlays each on your wrist width.