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VA3 build quality

Former Member
Former Member
Does anyone think Garmin will ever make a VA3 using aluminium, rather than plastic?

I think the watch looks quite nice but I'd prefer something a bit more premium that you can wear anywhere, like you can with an Apple Watch.

I've looked at other Garmin watches and I feel the VA3 is the best watch they make. Fenix and Marq are too expensive, the latter laughably so, and lack key features the VA3 has. The Vivomove HR looks good but is too basic.
  • 0
    I would be interested to know what features the VA3 has that are not included in the Fenix or Marq.

    I think you may have answered your own question btw. If you want premium then the Vivoactive range is not where you should be looking, you need to be looking at one of the premium range watches... Like a Fenix or Marq! ;)

    If you want looks at the lower price point then maybe
    the vivomove hr is worth a look. My wife has one and it does look good but the lack of GPS is a no no for me.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Hi. Fenix and Marq are missing music and touchscreen features? which seem to be pretty important for smart watch.

    While I'll happily spend a lot of money on a dress watch, I'm not going to want to do that with a smart watch because I'm probably going to replace it every year a so. I thought Tag and Apple had proved this point.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Does anyone think Garmin will ever make a VA3 using aluminium, rather than plastic?

    maybe you would have electromagnetic issues. Garmin is always screen on, can use a lot of additional sensor and still has a better autonomy than Apple.
  • 0
    Fenix and Marq are missing music and touchscreen features?


    - Fenix 5 Plus series and Marq have Music
    - Touchscreen is a "no no" for many athletes. That's also a reason why they removed it from the FR6xx series

  • 0
    IMHO aluminum is bad for wearable - ugly oxidation (allergies), excessive heat conduction. Simply bad for me. Titanium is here better choice :)
    As to VA3 - top is stainless steel and glass(no scratches at all after 12 M daily use), bottom - stainless steel and plastic. Brackets - reinforced with stainless steel inlays - very good! But! If you like Apple - use it - it's all up to you.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Thanks for the replies. I don't like the Apple Watch design. Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active is better, but it's too small and the fitness features are too basic. Maybe version 2 will be more compelling.

    Garmin have the right approach but I don't think the Fenix 5 Plus is a good value proposition for most people.
  • 0
    Maybe the FR645 would be a good compromise between VA3 and fenix 5 (plus). Though some had problems with a broken watch body (my wife's too, but the replacement ist holding well so far).
  • 0
    If you consider the fr935 and fenix5, they are basically the same watch - some call the 935 "the plastic fenix", and lots of runners prefer that over a fenix because of the weight difference and size, so a plastic watch isn't all bad.