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As usual for Garmin, their new products have been published first thing in the morning, which will likely break the embargo they have imposed on bloggers and journalists.
The Garmin Forerunner 955 and the Forerunner 255 are now live and available to buy from the Garmin website. At the moment, there is no sign of the Edge 1040 bike computer, which was rumoured to launch.
There is nothing particularly surprising about the new watches because most of the information has been leaked over the past few weeks.
Garmin Forerunner 955 Price and Availability vs Fenix 7
As we know most of the features, it is the confirmation of price and availability that was most important to me.
The Forerunner 955 Solar is £549.99, and it comes in white or black with shipping in 1-2 weeks.
The non-solar Forerunner 955 is £479.99 and is also available in white or black, and shipping for this is 2-3 weeks.
In comparison, the Fenix 7 is £690 and £599 for the Solar / Standard models. There is not much discount to be had on Amazon, with the standard Fenix 7 being £580.
The older Forerunner 945 is currently on Garmin for £500. Availability via third parties is scarce, Wiggle still had it listed as £460, and Amazon has renewed options for £350. There seems to be little reason to go for this option over the new watch.
Garmin Forerunner 955 vs 945 vs Fenix 7 Battery
One of the best things about Garmin is the battery life. To confirm what has previously been revealed:
| Forerunner 955 | Forerunner 945 | Fenix 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartwatch | 15 days | 14 days | 18 days |
| Smartwatch + Solar | 20 days | N/A | 22 days |
| All-Systems GNSS mode plus Multi-Band with music | 8.5 hours | N/A (10hrs GPS + Music) | Not stated |
| GNSS/Multi-band no music | 20 hours | N/A | 23 hours (sapphire only) |
| Above with Solar | 22 hours | N/A | 26 hours (sapphire only) |
| GPS only, no music | 42 hours | 36 hours | 57 hours |
| Above with Solar | 49 hours | N/A | 73 hours |
| Ultratrac mode: | 80 hours | N/A | Not stated Max Battery is 136 hours |
| Above with Solar | 110 hours | N/A | Not stated Max Battery is 289 hours |
Garmin Forerunner 955 Features
The overall feature set is very similar to the Fenix 7, but there are a few additions. One notable feature is that multi-band GNSS is standard whereas the Fenix 7 required the Sapphire model.
Below are the highlights rather than an exhaustive list of features.
Larger Display and Touch Screen
Not much to say here. You have a slightly larger display with improved resolution while retaining almost the same dimensions as the previous generation. It has also been upgraded with a touch screen.
Running Power
We knew it was coming, but now it is confirmed. Running power is now natively integrated into the watch, but you will need one of the Garmin devices that can provide running dynamics. They state the Running Dynamics Pod or HRM-Pro monitor. I think the HRM-Run or Tri should work, but it seems Garmin no longer sell these on their website.
HRV Status
This sounds like it could be one of the big useful upgrades, and it affects several other features. HRV used to require a manual test, but the watch will now perform the tests during sleep and is supposed to be one of the best ways to provide insight into your current condition.
Training Readiness
This will use your HRV as well as sleep quality, recovery, training load and more to give you insight into your training readiness for the day.
Training Status
This already existed with previous devices, but now it uses new indicators such as HRV status, your recent exercise history and performance, get an easy insight into your overall effort — and whether you’re training productively, peaking or strained.
Acute Load
I am sure this is a different phrase than they have used previously, but it appears to be identical to the data you get under the 7-day load page on older devices.
Morning Report
This appears to be one of the features that will be rolled out on all new watches (and maybe older devices). It is a simple feature that will give you a daily overview when you wake up in the morning.
Real-Time Stamina
This was one of the big features to launch on the Fenix 7, and it is therefore used on the FR955. Use this data to track and manage your exertion — and help avoid overexerting at the start of your run or bike.
Multi-band GPS and Full-Colour, Built-in Maps
Again, this was launched with the Fenix 7 series and should provide more accurate GPS with faster lock-on times.
Overall
Most of the recent Garmin watch launches have felt quite underwhelming with incremental upgrades. They are still amazing; it is just that they have become some good; there are only incremental improvements to be had (similar to most phone launches).
The same could be said here, but I like the fact that Garmin has launched a feature-rich watch without the corresponding price hike we have all become too familiar with.
There is a decent price gap between this and the Fenix 7 series, and this has quite a few additional features.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
