We might earn a fee from hyperlinks on this web page.
Deal pricing and availability topic to alter after time of publication.
The Garmin Forerunner 255 is on sale proper now for $229.99, its lowest worth ever. That’s about half the worth of the Forerunner 265 ($449.99), which is the present technology (and my private favourite working watch). The 2 watches have practically an identical options—I’ll clarify the variations under—making the 255 an unbelievable cut price.
The variations between the Forerunner 255 and the 265
Left: 265S (the smaller, newer mannequin). Proper: 255 (the bigger one with the MIP display screen that is presently on sale).
Credit score: Beth Skwarecki
The numbered fashions can get complicated, however I promise you’ll have the ability to comply with alongside. Simply keep in mind that the 255 is the marginally older one which’s on an enormous sale proper now, and the 265 is the newer model.
The newer 265 is my favourite working watch. You’ll be able to learn my evaluation right here: it has a ton of nice options for runners. Some are concrete and practical: bodily buttons, a lot of choices for knowledge screens, and a dual-band GPS for further location accuracy. Others are extra software-y however nonetheless arguably helpful: coaching standing, every day steered exercises. The battery additionally lasts between one and two weeks, relying on what number of exercises you do.
The 255 has all of those identical options. The one options which might be meaningfully totally different between the 255 and 265 are:
-
The 255 has the older, always-on MIP display screen, whereas the 265 has a smartphone-style AMOLED display screen.
-
The 255 doesn’t have a touchscreen. You’ll use the UP and DOWN buttons on the left aspect to scroll by way of choices.
-
The 255 can’t retailer music, except you purchase the 255 Music model.
-
The 255 doesn’t have Coaching Readiness, however it does have Coaching Standing. (Personally, I by no means use Coaching Readiness, so this isn’t a lot of a loss. You’ll be able to all the time have a look at your HRV development, which the watch additionally reviews, in order for you a way of how recovered you’re every morning.)
For the detailed checklist of each minor function that’s totally different between the 2, you’ll be able to try this comparability web page on Garmin’s website.
Which Forerunner 255 model you need to get
There are 4 variations of this watch, in comparison with two variations of the 265. Three of them are on sale.
-
The common Forerunner 255 is the bigger measurement (45.6 mm) and doesn’t have music storage.
-
The Forerunner 255S is the smaller measurement (41 mm) and in addition doesn’t have music storage.
-
The Forerunner 255 Music is the bigger measurement (45.6 mm) and does have music storage, so you’ll be able to play tunes from the watch whereas leaving your cellphone at house.
-
The Forerunner 255S Music is the smaller measurement (41 mm) with music storage. I’m not seeing any reductions on this one, so it nonetheless prices $100 greater than its non-music counterpart—sufficient that you could be wish to have a look at the Forerunner 265S as an alternative.
Personally, I all the time have my cellphone with me after I run, so I’ve by no means discovered the standalone music function very useful. Should you assume you would possibly use it, although, it’s usually a $50 improve, however presently solely a $20 improve on the bigger measurement of the watch.
That can assist you determine, the photograph above exhibits the distinction in screens between the AMOLED 265S (left) and MIP 255 (proper). It additionally exhibits the scale distinction between the smaller and bigger fashions; the 265S on the left is 41.7 mm, very near the 255S at 41 mm.
What do you assume to date?
How previous is the 255, anyway?
The 255 is just one 12 months older than the 265. They had been launched in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Earlier than that, Forerunner releases tended to be three to 4 years aside. The short turnaround between the 255 and 265 is sensible while you understand they’re mainly the identical watch with a unique show.
So I wouldn’t count on a 255 to really feel outdated anytime quickly. The principle query you could ask your self is: How do I really feel about an MIP display screen? I’ve written extra in regards to the distinction between MIP and AMOLED right here. MIP screens don’t gentle up, though they’ve a backlight that may come on routinely while you elevate your wrist. At relaxation, they’re “all the time on,” within the sense that they’re all the time displaying one thing, so that you’ll by no means look down at a clean display screen. They’re additionally brightly reflective in daylight.
AMOLED screens are extra like a smartphone display screen, with glowing pixels, and watches sometimes flip off the show while you’re not utilizing it to avoid wasting vitality. (You’ll be able to allow an always-on setting, however it eats battery.) That stated, the general battery life on each watches is analogous on default settings—14 days not counting actions for the 255, and 13 days for the 265.
Some individuals choose the MIP screens, and if that features you, this can be a no-brainer: snag the 255. You’ll be able to even get a refurbished model for $179.99, which makes this one of many least expensive Garmin watches in any line.
