Garmin has released solar-powered versions of two Forerunner smartwatches, giving the popular smartwatch a longer battery life that will increase its appeal to long-distance runners, runners and more.
The new flagship model in the range, the Garmin Forerunner 955, now has a battery life of up to 49 hours in GPS mode, improving the 36 hours of its predecessor in 945, while a touch screen has also been added. to enhance the interface with the wide variety of health and fitness tracking features and mapping features on offer.
In its battery saving mode, Garmin says that the Forerunner 955 can last up to 20 days and that the move will be a welcome upgrade for many cyclists, with battery life being one of the main concerns at the moment. to Choose a Bicycle Computer or a Smart Watch The addition of the Garmin Power Glass Solar Charging Lens brings the Forerunner closer to the current leader in American battery life betting, the more than 80-hour Enduro, and the solar versions. of the most premium Fenix watch.
The latest version of the Forerunner retains its rugged yet sleek look and also includes a new multi-band GPS feature that filters out inaccurate signals to improve accuracy.
There are several new features to help with preparation and recovery, such as heart rate variability (HRV) status; and features inside, such as a race widget, which includes race day time and a countdown clock, and real-time metrics.
Turbo-trainer compatibility
Like all the best smart watches for cycling, the Forerunner 955 can be connected to a power meter, and Garmin offers versions compatible with the SPD-SL, SPD and Look Keo pedals with the Rally power meter pedals. It can also be used with Garmin Tacx turbo trainers and of course can be synchronized with Strava.
While the added features of the Forerunner 995 will make it more attractive to cyclists, it is still essentially a running watch, the Garmin announcement will arrive on World Race Day, but it also has a feature to keep track of swimming stretches, so it is an equally suitable option. for triathletes.
Its versatility is its strength, however, and what it offers more than, for example, Enduro, is that it includes space to store up to 2,000 songs of music. It also retains the Garmin Pay functionality of its predecessor for contactless payments.
Forerunner 255
The Garmin Forerunner 255 includes four different options (image credit: Garmin)
Along with the 955, Garmin has announced the launch of the Forerunner 255, which claims up to 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode and 14 days in smartwatch mode.
In fact, there are four options available on the Forerunner 255, with a music version that can store up to 500 songs, each with two sizes.
The same HRV and race status widget features are available, and both the 255 and 955 have Garmin Pulse Ox, which controls blood oxygen saturation levels and women’s health functions, such as the menstrual cycle and pregnancy monitoring.
Price and availability
The Forerunner 955 is now available for £ 479.99 ($ 499.99), while the Forerunner 955 Solar is £ 549.99 ($ 599.99).
The two sizes of the Forerunner 255 are the same price. The standard version is priced at £ 299.99 ($ 349.99), while the music version is slightly more expensive at £ 349.99 ($ 399.99).