Just in time for Global Running Day, Garmin is introducing two new running watches to its Forerunner line: the $ 349.99 Forerunner 255 and the $ 499.99 Forerunner 955. Both GPS watches carry multi-band GPS and new racing features, including a racing widget. The Forerunner 955 will also come in a solar version, which, as its name suggests, adds solar charge for an even longer battery life.
The Forerunner 255 is a lightweight, mid-range watch based on the Forerunner 245. It comes in two sizes. The standard Forerunner 255 will measure 46 mm and weigh 49 grams, while the smaller 255S will measure 41 mm and weigh 32 grams. There will also be variants of Forerunner 255 Music and 255S Music, which can store up to 500 songs on the same clock. Garmin says it also includes Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer playlists. Music models will cost an additional $ 50 for a total of $ 399.99. The watches have a water resistance of 5 ATM with an estimated battery life of 14 days, with up to 30 hours in GPS mode.
Major additions on this occasion include a new racing widget, the state of heart rate variation (HRV) during sleep, multiband GPS and the possibility that triathletes can switch more easily between sports with a single pressure of button. The race widget will include information about race preparation, including performance predictions, race day time, and a countdown clock. Multiband GPS is an increasingly popular feature in multi-sport watches that increases GPS accuracy by enabling communication with multiple satellite frequencies. Promise is better accuracy in environments where it is difficult to get a good signal. Finally, the clock also includes a “morning report” feature. When a user wakes up, the watch will provide a brief summary of the time of day, a daily workout suggestion and a report of last night’s sleep, recovery time, training status and status. of HRV.
Compared to the Forerunner 245, line 255 adds an NFC chip for Garmin Pay. Otherwise, it’s not too different when it comes to sensors. It still includes continuous heart rate monitoring as well as SpO2 sensors to enable functions such as body battery. The metric measures how well you have recovered during sleep, as well as the “drainage” you are during the day due to stress. The Forerunner 255 series will also support basic smartwatch features such as push notifications and Garmin security features such as incident detection and live tracking. For training features, it will also provide users with daily training tips, as well as access to training programs through Garmin Coach and detailed metrics in the Garmin Connect app.
The Forerunner 955 series adds solar charge and a new training preparation metric. Image: Garmin
The Forerunner 955, meanwhile, is more of a top-of-the-line race watch. (Although not as complete as the Garmin Fenix flagship series.) It has a 47mm full-color touchscreen that is always active and weighs 52 grams. Button fans don’t have to worry, though. The 955 still includes five physical buttons that can be used in conjunction with the touch screen. Like the 255 series, it has a water resistance of 5 ATM, but has a slightly longer battery life with an estimated 15 days, with 42 hours in GPS mode. There’s also a $ 599.99 Forerunner 955 Solar, which includes Garmin’s patented Power Glass lens. With solar charging, the 955 Solar gets up to 20 days on a single charge, with 49 hours in GPS mode. (This means you get about three hours a day in 50,000 lux conditions, so take it with a grain of salt).
Like the Forerunner 255 series, the Forerunner 955 also features multiband GPS, HRV status, morning reports, and the new racing widget. It also has a new training preparation metric. As the name implies, the metric takes into account sleep, recovery time, HRV, and some other metrics to give users a score that indicates how “ready” they are for a workout. It also adds real-time resistance tracking, which Garmin first introduced with its Fenix 7 series.
In terms of health tracking and smart features, the Forerunner 955 has the same basic features as the 255. However, it does add some additional training metrics, such as PacePro and ClimbPro, which offer real-time guidance. about your pace and elevation. You can also store a larger number of songs at 955 – 2,000 to be exact.
Both the Forerunner 255 and the Forerunner 955 are available starting today. The Forerunner 255 is available in four colors: gray, pink, blue, and black. Meanwhile, the Forerunner 955 is available in black and white.