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I have previously posted some basic information about the Garmin Forerunner 255, which will be released this Wednesday, 1stone June 2022.
Florian in fitness tracker testing Usually a reliable source of information and seems to have the full specs of the new Forerunner 255.
There are some specs that look odd. Battery life is listed as the same between the two size variants, which is usually not the case. Therefore, the following information may change when the watch is officially released.
Garmin Forerunner 255 Models, Connectivity, and Battery
As already reported, there will now be two sizes, the standard 255 and the new smaller 255S, these will also be split into music and no music models.
Two new sizes fit either side of the FR245, the 255S has a 1.1-inch display, while the FR255 is 1.3 inches.
All models will use a transflective MIP display, not AMOLED, and there’s no mention of a touchscreen. This makes sense, since these watches are at the affordable end of the Forerunner line.
These watches will now also have multi-band GPS connectivity similar to the higher-priced watches.
Assuming the battery life numbers are accurate, the smartwatch’s performance has increased substantially, from one week on the FR245 to two weeks on the FR255 model. GPS battery life has also increased, but only by 6 hours in GPS mode.
Only the music version has WiFi, the same as the FR245.
| Forerunner 245 | Forerunner 255S | Forerunner 255 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size | 1.2″ | 1.1″ | 1.3″ |
| display glass | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 240×240 | 218 x 218 | 260×260 |
| pixel density | 200 PPI | 200 PPI | 200 PPI |
| aspect | 42.3 x 42.3 x 12.2 mm | 41 x 41 x 12.4 mm | 45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm |
| weight | 38.5 g | 39 g | 49 g |
| wristband | 20mm quick release | 18mm quick release | 22mm quick release |
| water proof | 5 ATMs | 5 ATMs | 5 ATMs |
| Battery smart watch mode |
up to 7 days | up to 14 days | up to 14 days |
| Battery Global Positioning System |
up to 24 hours | up to 30 hours | up to 30 hours |
| Battery GPS + Music |
up to 6 hours | Up to 6.5 hours | Up to 6.5 hours |
Garmin Forerunner 255 and Forerunner 245 – New Features
There are several big feature upgrades:
Sports profiles have doubled to over 30, although I personally don’t think a lot of profiles are beneficial.
The Garmin Forerunner 255 will now have HRV status. That’s also included in the premium FR955, so it’s surprising they’ve also rolled it out on one of their cheaper watches. Heart rate variability will be recorded at night, which can be used to assess your training status.
It is also expected to include operating power. This has been around for a long time; a lot of people wanted this to use the watch itself as a data source, similar to Polar. However, you’re more likely to need accessories. The running power feature appears to be only natively integrated, allowing you to set power zones for your running workouts. This feature also works on older watches like the Fenix 6.
A new race widget will provide race-related training tips, daily suggested workouts, weather forecasts, and estimated completion times based on classes and your training and fitness.
The new Morning News will also appear on the watch. We’ve seen this on some devices now, and it provides a general overview in the morning, including weather, sleep scores, body battery, and any appointments.
The watches also now have an upgraded barometer for more accurate altitude data, and they have Garmin Pay, which was used on several other models a few years ago.
Price and Availability
Pricing was previously reported as:
- Forerunner 255 (music) for €400 (£335/$420)
- Forerunner 255 (no music) for €350 (£293/$367)
US pricing may be $350/$400 (if not possible)
For the UK, that’s about £50 more than the Forerunner 245’s MSRP. Currently, you can get the Garmin Forerunner 245 without music for £172, with prices starting as low as £150 in April.
I think you get a lot of upgrades that help justify the price increase. However, the Forerunner 955 reportedly launched at just $500, which could make the FR255 less attractive if it ends up being accurate.
