If you want better running power support
Choose Polar Vantage M2. It scores 4.8 vs 3.0 for running power support, with a 3.9 overall score.
Garmin Forerunner 255S Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Garmin Forerunner 255S if you want a compact, accurate, long-lasting training watch with serious running and multisport tools. Skip it if you expect a slick touchscreen smartwatch, effortless music setup, or deep app support.
Best for
Best for runners, smaller-wrist users, and casual multisport athletes who want accurate tracking, long battery life, and rich Garmin training tools in a compact package.
Not for
Not for buyers who want a flashy AMOLED touchscreen smartwatch, broad third-party apps, effortless onboard music, or the deepest sleep and health insights.
Verdict
Reviewers consistently frame the Garmin Forerunner 255S as a compact training-first watch that brings higher-end tools to smaller wrists: accurate GPS, strong heart-rate performance, rich workout modes, useful recovery prompts, and battery life that often stretches about a week or more. The tradeoff is that Garmin keeps the experience practical rather than luxurious. The memory-in-pixel display earns praise outdoors and helps battery life, but it lacks AMOLED vibrancy and touch input. Several reviewers also found menus, Connect IQ, or music setup confusing or slow, especially for newcomers. Overall, the evidence points to a dependable, high-value sports watch for runners and casual multisport users who prioritize training depth over smartwatch polish.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
44 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.010 (23%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.424 (55%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.410 (23%)
Pros
-
Comfort was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly praising the light, compact watch for day, workout, and sleep wear.
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Fit was especially strong for smaller wrists, with reviewers describing the watch as unobtrusive, well-sized, and easy to wear.
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Reviewers generally found heart-rate tracking strong for a wrist device, with several comparisons to straps or other watches; caveats centered on optical sensors and fast HIIT-style changes.
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Value for money was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the 255S a high-value training watch despite some cheaper rivals.
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Battery life was widely praised, often landing around a week or more, but music, GPS, backlight, and long-term decline introduced caveats.
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Fitness tracking accuracy was a consistent strength, with reviewers praising run, workout, and training data as accurate and useful across several use cases.
Cons
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Blood oxygen tracking was treated as a battery-heavy feature rather than a standout health tool, with one reviewer recommending disabling continuous monitoring if battery matters.
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Charging convenience was a drawback because reviewers noted the lack of wireless charging and criticized the proprietary cable as dated.
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Menu navigation was polarizing, with one reviewer praising intuitive menus but several others calling Garmin navigation inconsistent, confusing, or daunting for newcomers.
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The app ecosystem was mixed: Connect IQ adds watch faces and extras, but reviewers also described app support as limited compared with richer smartwatch stores.
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Running power support was useful in concept but limited by the need for an external Garmin sensor.
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Software smoothness was a weakness: reviewers noted slow Connect IQ downloads or the need to bounce between Garmin apps.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smartwatches, this product is above average in size options, step counting accuracy, fit, near average in workout tracking variety, customization options, below average in menu navigation, software smoothness, blood oxygen tracking.
Comparison summary
44 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher18 (41%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts17 (39%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower9 (20%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| size options | 4.7 | 3.2 | +1.5 |
| step counting accuracy | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| menu navigation | 2.9 | 3.8 | -0.9 |
| software smoothness | 3.0 | 4.0 | -1.0 |
| fit | 4.7 | 3.9 | +0.9 |
| blood oxygen tracking | 2.5 | 3.4 | -0.9 |
| onboard music storage | 3.6 | 2.9 | +0.8 |
| heart rate accuracy | 4.5 | 3.8 | +0.6 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better user interface
Choose Garmin Forerunner 165. It scores 4.7 vs 3.4 for user interface, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better recovery insights
Choose Garmin Forerunner 955. It scores 4.7 vs 3.7 for recovery insights, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better menu navigation
Choose Garmin Forerunner 70. It scores 4.8 vs 2.9 for menu navigation, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Alternative: runner-focused alternatives Polar Pacer Pro is presented as a lower-cost alternative with many similar tracking features.
- Worse: GPS signal acquisition The reviewer could start runs more quickly on the 255S than on the Polar Pacer Pro.
- Better: serious health monitoring The 255S lacks some health-monitoring depth found on the Apple Watch.
- Similar: dual-band GPS concept The review likens Garmin's multi-band GNSS approach to dual-band GPS on Apple's Ultra watch.
FAQ
Is the Garmin Forerunner 255S comfortable for small wrists?
Yes. Multiple reviewers praised the compact size, light weight, and sleep-friendly comfort, especially for smaller wrists.
How accurate is the GPS?
Most reviewers rated GPS accuracy highly, especially with multi-band GNSS. One reviewer found it only okay beside higher-end Garmin watches, but the broader pattern was strongly positive.
How long does the battery last?
Reviewers commonly reported about a week or more with normal use. Heavy GPS, music, backlight, or continuous blood oxygen tracking reduced battery life.
Is the music feature good?
It is mixed. Some reviewers liked offline storage and streaming support, while one long-term user found music setup slow, confusing, and not worth using without a phone.
Is it easy to use?
Button controls were often praised for workouts and wet conditions, but several reviewers said Garmin menus can feel confusing or daunting for newcomers.
Is it a good smartwatch?
It handles basics like notifications, payments, music, weather, alarms, and media controls, but reviewers mostly saw it as a training watch rather than a polished lifestyle smartwatch.
Is it useful beyond running?
Yes. Reviewers praised the broader workout support, including cycling, swimming, hiking, open-water swimming, and triathlon or multisport tracking.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
Article Reviews
techradar.com
- Review score
- 4.3
pinayhakawati.com
- Review score
- 3.5
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