If you want better pairing reliability
Choose Garmin MARQ Gen 2. It scores 4.8 vs 2.7 for pairing reliability, with a 4.2 overall score.
Garmin Forerunner 255 Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 255 for accurate GPS, long battery life, comfort, and serious run/triathlon training tools. Skip it if you need full maps, richer smartwatch apps, calls, or a brighter AMOLED-style experience.
Best for
Best for runners, triathletes, and data-focused fitness users who want accurate GPS, strong battery life, comfort, race planning, and Garmin's training ecosystem without paying for a higher-end mapping watch.
Not for
Not for buyers who prioritize full maps, calls, a large smartwatch app ecosystem, AMOLED-style brightness, or the simplest possible interface. It is also less ideal if Training Readiness is a must-have metric.
Verdict
Reviewers consistently frame the Garmin Forerunner 255 as a major upgrade for runners and emerging triathletes: GPS accuracy, battery life, comfort, race-focused coaching, HRV/Morning Report insights, and Garmin Connect depth all receive strong support. The main tradeoff is that it behaves like a serious sports watch first and a smartwatch second. Its MIP display is excellent outdoors but less flashy than AMOLED, mapping is mostly breadcrumb-level, and richer smartwatch tools such as calls, broad apps, and Training Readiness are either limited or absent. That balance makes it highly compelling for training value, less so for buyers who want a lifestyle smartwatch.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
48 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.021 (44%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.417 (35%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.49 (19%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.41 (2%)
Pros
-
GPS accuracy was one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling it extremely accurate, impressive, or among the best they had tested.
-
Battery life was a strong consensus positive, often lasting a week or more and improving greatly over older models.
-
Heart-rate accuracy drew broad praise across runs, rides, and workouts, with reviewers often finding it close to chest straps while still noting optical-sensor caveats.
-
Value was praised by most reviewers because the Forerunner 255 brought high-end training and GPS features to a midrange price, though some still found it expensive.
-
Comfort was one of the most consistent positives, with reviewers calling it lightweight, sleep-friendly, and easy to forget.
-
Workout variety was a major strength, especially for running and triathlon, though one reviewer missed a kayaking profile.
-
Coaching features were a highlight when tied to race planning and adaptive workouts, though one reviewer found basic suggested paces too slow.
-
Wellness insights such as Morning Report and Body Battery were usually praised as helpful, insightful, and easy to glance at.
-
Button controls were polarizing but mostly positive: many liked reliability during workouts, while some found the buttons numerous or squishy.
-
Outdoor visibility was a consistent strength, with the MIP display repeatedly praised for sunlight readability.
-
Customization was a standout, especially data screens, watch settings, and phone-based configuration.
-
Sleep tracking was generally considered improved and useful, with several reviewers saying sleep times matched reference devices, though some still saw overestimation or limits.
Cons
-
Navigation was mixed: one reviewer liked course waypoint support, but most criticism focused on missing full maps and basic breadcrumb guidance.
-
The app ecosystem was mixed to weak: one reviewer saw only a modest app selection, while another strongly disliked the meditation app.
-
Stress tracking was weakly received in the available opinionated evidence, with one reviewer saying the data did not feel interesting or useful.
-
Pairing reliability had one negative report where phone syncing stopped until the watch was rebooted.
-
Smartwatch features were repeatedly described as adequate rather than rich, especially compared with Apple Watch-style devices.
-
Brightness was a limitation for some reviewers, especially compared with AMOLED displays, though brightness controls helped.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smartwatches, this product is above average in onboard music storage, size options, third-party app support, near average in workout tracking variety, recovery insights, below average in pairing reliability, stress tracking, app ecosystem.
Comparison summary
48 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher27 (56%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts13 (27%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower8 (17%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| onboard music storage | 4.2 | 2.8 | +1.4 |
| size options | 4.5 | 3.2 | +1.3 |
| pairing reliability | 2.7 | 4.0 | -1.3 |
| third-party app support | 4.5 | 3.2 | +1.3 |
| cross-platform compatibility | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.2 |
| stress tracking | 2.3 | 3.5 | -1.2 |
| app ecosystem | 2.5 | 3.6 | -1.1 |
| brightness | 3.1 | 4.2 | -1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better mapping and navigation
Choose Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2). It scores 4.7 vs 2.7 for mapping and navigation, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better smartphone notifications
Choose Garmin Forerunner 165. It scores 5.0 vs 3.2 for smartphone notifications, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better brightness
Choose Garmin Forerunner 265. It scores 5.0 vs 3.1 for brightness, with a 4.0 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Older model: battery life The reviewer switched from an Apple Watch Series 3 after its battery life no longer met running needs.
- Worse: battery life and fitness tracking The reviewer says the Forerunner 255 beats the Apple Watch for training-focused use and battery life.
- Better: battery life and navigation The Coros Apex is presented as a stronger choice when battery life is the top priority.
- Better: premium features The Forerunner 955 is presented as a pricier upgrade with the same perks and more.
FAQ
Is the Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS accurate?
Yes. GPS accuracy was one of the strongest points across the reviews, with several reviewers calling it extremely accurate or among the best they had tested.
How good is the battery life?
Reviewers generally praised it. Several reported a week or more of use with workouts, while others noted that music, Pulse Ox, and multi-band GPS reduce runtime.
Is it good for triathlon training?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly highlighted full multisport and triathlon support as a major upgrade over the Forerunner 245.
Does it work well as a smartwatch?
Only in a basic way. Notifications, Garmin Pay, music options, and watch faces are useful, but reviewers said it does not rival Apple Watch or Samsung-style smartwatch experiences.
Is the music version worth it?
It is worth considering if you want phone-free Spotify or stored audio during workouts. Several reviewers suggested saving the extra money if you usually carry your phone.
Does it have full maps?
No. Reviewers liked some route and waypoint tools, but several criticized the lack of full mapping and described navigation as breadcrumb-level.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Gauging Gadgets
- Review score
- 4.6
YouTube - Chase the Summit
- Review score
- 4.2
Article Reviews
Top Smartwatches to Consider
Good if you want premium running features, long battery life, and maps for under $200. Skip it if you need flawless heart-rate data, multiband GPS, LTE, or richer app support.
Pros: pairing reliability, brightness
Cons: Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity
Best for accurate running metrics, excellent coaching tools, a bright AMOLED display, and dependable battery life. Skip it if you need offline maps, music storage, contactless payments, multi-band GPS, or...
Pros: step counting accuracy, app ecosystem
Cons: Bluetooth connectivity, pairing reliability
Good if you want a compact, stylish Garmin with strong GPS, comfort, and week-plus battery life. Skip it if you need richer smartwatch apps, onboard music, bright always-on display, or...
Pros: health tracking accuracy, blood oxygen tracking
Cons: ECG functionality, onboard music storage
Best for luxury-watch styling, vivid TAG faces, solid build, and casual smartwatch use. Skip it if you need top fitness accuracy, call handling, LTE, or strong value.
Pros: contactless payments, pairing reliability
Cons: LTE connectivity, call handling