Live Science Verdict
The Forerunner 955 is Garmin ’s in effect - value serious fitness sentinel , and a bully alternative to the pricier Fenix 7 if you ’re happy with its non - metallic case .
Great value compared to other Garmins
lineament - packed
Sleep display(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Offline map downloads and 32 GB storage
fictile shell is n’t as tough as steel
casual heart - rate accuracies at high sweat
map app postulate piece of work
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The Garmin Forerunner 955 came out in June 2022 , a little under six calendar month after the Fenix 7 and Epix 2 . It ’s a flashy sibling of these big hitter and arguably a better quite a little than either .
Display:1.3 in 260 x 260 MIP
Storage:32 GB
GPS : Multi - Band
Sleep display(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Water resistance:5ATM
Weight:55 g
Dimensions:46.5 mm x 46.5 mm x 14.4 mm
Heart rate variability(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
filmdom : Gorilla Glass DX
The high - goal Garmin features we most wanted to see – and that come along on thebest seaworthiness tracker – are here , and while we have issuing with the Maps app ( and regain the Fenix 7 heart - pace resolution better on occasion ) these are constituent Garmin will hopefully fix in a computer software update .
Price and release date
The Garmin Forerunner 955 came out in June 2022 , a little under six months after theFenix 7andEpix 2 . It ’s a gaudy sibling of these big hitters and arguably a better deal than either .
The standard Forerunner 955 costs $ 499.99 in the US and £ 479.99 in the UK , while the Forerunner 955 Solar cost $ 599.99/£549.99 . The only difference is the solar charging – mostly provided by a bronze - ting ring that sits around the 1.3 in silver screen .
Design and display
The Forerunner 955 is Garmin at its most pragmatic , supply a in high spirits - end physical fitness sentinel but with savings made by using a plastic casing alternatively of a alloy one .
allow ’s compare it to the Fenix 7 . That watch has a titanium / stainless steel ring around the display , calculate on the exemplar you pick . The same alloy are used on the back , while the meat is reinforce plastic . These fancy bits are left off the Forerunner 955 . Bezel , bottom and sides are all credit card . This make you feel less like you are wearing something world - socio-economic class athlete might use to condition .
But does it matter ? The only subject with the “ fiber reinforced polymer ” , as Garmin calls it , is that it ’s sluttish to indent . After a few weeks of use we deal to dong the bezel . It was n’t part of an epic adventure , we just knocked the watch against a room access frame .
The protective presentation meth of the Forerunner 955 is the same as the Fenix 7 ’s : Corning Gorilla Glass DX . This is the part you do n’t need to chafe . And , so far , we have n’t .
There ’s another possible Forerunner 955 egress : it is water - resistive to 5ATM , not the 10ATM offer in the Fenix and Epix series . For enjoyment in the ocean , or a swim pool , they are clearly sound than the 955 . However , Garmin ’s 5ATM will do the problem for airfoil - level swim .
The Forerunner 955 ’s simplified build land benefit , too . It is lighter than the top Garmins and lighter than the declamatory Apple Watch mannequin . With a strap attach it weighs 55 g according to our scales . The Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar we used for comparison is 75 g.
broken weight makes the Forerunner 955 more easy to fatigue overnight , or when traverse exercise that necessitate arm motion – like unravel . In this respect at least , we prefer the Forerunner over the Fenix for run - tracking .
The blind uses a transflective memory board - in - pixel panel . This imply it catch clear in undimmed sunlight , not dimmer like an OLED or standard LCD , and use almost no power to operate . Where smartwatches have “ always on ” modes that halve battery life , the Forerunner 955 show is on all the time by design . In return , its colouring is muted , dividing line is special , the 260x260 solving has a slightly blocky character and it uses a digital watch - expressive style front light to illuminate the screen door indoors .
Transflective MIP is n’t the height of calendered smartwatch technical school , but its practicality is basically unbeatable in an outdoors training watch .
Features
single-valued function is the most important element , as you do n’t get full on - picket maps in the Venu , Instinct or Forerunner 255 serial , but you do here .
At first we think Garmin might limit the areas you could download freely on a Forerunner 955 . But it has n’t . Our vigil come up with European TopoActive maps installed , and a head trip to the Map Manager section let you load up the US , Africa , Australia , mainlandChinamaps and more . Solar and non - Solar Forerunner 955s have 32 GB storage , double that of the brassy Fenix 7 .
Maps let you see where you are while working out , no data connection required . However , this is also where we get our first compelling ground to buy one of the pricier Garmins . The Forerunner 955 ’s Maps app is not the same as the Fenix 7 one , it feel clunkier to operate and does n’t bear out easy selection of destinations for on - watch navigation .
There is a separate Navigation app . This lets you look for local points of pastime , and the Forerunner will calculate a route to them offline , over with twist - by - turn navigation . However , you ca n’t easily take such a destination just by flick around the map – an oversight so key it seems like a mistake . Hopefully the experience will get smooth in a future software program update .
The watch does have a series of features not seen in the openhanded gun , yet . It acquaint HRV Status and Morning Report . HRV Status monitorsheart rate variabilityovernight . This looks at the average disparity in the gap between your heart beats over time , measured in milliseconds . It ’s not a friendly metric unit to get your pass around , but a higher flesh is salutary , a low one not so safe .
You get a score each night , and Morning Report feeds that to you when you wake up , alongside a summary of how well you slept . The sleep stuff is neat , and stops you from suffer to dig into the relevant widget to piece out this datum . The HRV data point sits uncomfortably next to it , as it ’s much less digestible . Then again , this is a gamey - conclusion Garmin watch , not a “ first fitness tracker ” Fitbit .
This data also feed into Training Readiness , a new metric you ’ll see when you press the “ up ” or “ down ” buttons from the Forerunner 955 watch face , or in the Garmin Connect app . It ’s here to evoke – in our panorama at least – when you mightnotexercise , because you ’re die hard down or have undertaken a hard workout too recently .
There ’s also a Race Calendar feature , also not seen in other Garmins . You input wash dates in the Garmin Connect app on your phone and the Forerunner 955 keeps a record , a countdown , and can tailor suggested workouts to suit .
Aside from these extras , you get the usual Garmin features . The Forerunner recordsVO2 Maxscores as you exercise , and Training Status afford you an idea of how in force your routine is over time . Pulse Ox takes blood oxygenation readings .
The Forerunner 955 ’s 57 recitation modes are generally more useful than the “ 100 + ” of some brassy fitness tracker because the 955 can a ) connect to external ANT+ detector b ) has a barometric altimeter c ) has a built - in GPS program library of golf courses and d ) can connect to and ascertain saucy bike turbo trainer .
Performance
The Forerunner 955 has the same interior core hardware as Garmin ’s other high - end watch , and that means an Elevate v4 nub rate array with four group of light detector , and the late Multi - Band GPS tech .
you could pick out how many satellite array you want the Forerunner 955 to get at . Full All+Multi - Band will get you better truth in country without skilful GPS reporting , but “ GPS only ” will apply less barrage .
Garmin say a charge will last up to 15 days when used as a smartwatch , or 20 day with the Solar version . Actual longevity will depend on which scope you call on on and how much you habituate the GPS .
After 48 hour wearing the watch 24/7 admit an time of day of GPS tracking using full Multi - Band GPS , the Forerunner 955 was down to 83 % . This suggests we can await it to last around 12 years . We used the watch for far longer than two mean solar day , but do n’t be given to get into it all day and all night so used those Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to get you a clearer view on what to bear .
user get to gain from Garmin ’s latest heart pace sensor technical school , which brings these spotter up to the kind of dependability you see in anApple Watch Series 7 . We compare the Forerunner 955 with the Fenix 7 , a affection pace thorax strap and the Apple Watch Series 7 . It is excellent in most respects .
It only struggled a couple of fourth dimension during runs , when detecting a shift from a reasonably gamy heart rate of 160bpm to somewhere in the mid 170s . The Forerunner can be slow off the mark with these gamey travail increases , which result in a slightly lower “ maximal ” heart charge per unit compare with a Fenix 7 worn during the same run .
However , some other Fenix 7 reviews also observe this , so the Forerunner 955 ’s behavior may change in future software package updates .
The Forerunner 955 ’s Global Positioning System is dependable and quick to triangulate , as long as you connect the watch to Garmin Connect . Unlike an Apple Watch you may use a Forerunner phone - costless , but synchronise to the Connect app on your phone cut back GPS associate - up time from 30 seconds to under five seconds . We ca n’t reckon many people not doing so anyway .
More interested in step count ? A Forerunner 955 is entire overkill for such a line of work , but we ’re happy with its step calculations . The watch ’s algorithm successfully discount the paw motion you ’ll make while at a desk , assuming you ’re not a wild gesticulator , and avoids overinflated stone’s throw counts .
Verdict
The Garmin Forerunner 955 is belike the best - value high - goal Garmin watch . You lose the hard , gaudy - looking metal on key surfaces see in the Epix 3 and Fenix 7 , but keep key features like on - watch maps and navigation .
New feature like Training Readiness and Morning Report offer something for both poles of the Garmin audience : serious jock and kinfolk who will often use the watch as no more than a daily fitness / health tracker .
The Maps app is clunkier than the version seen in the Fenix 7 . We trust to see this improve in next package update . But the Forerunner 955 efficaciously buzz off you all the best Garmin subject matter for less money . As such , we think the non - Solar version maxes out on the Forerunner appeal .
If this isn’t for you
Garmin Fenix 7
If you are happy to spend more , bet at the Fenix 7 . The bezel and underside are made of steel or titanium , piddle it more hardwearing . Arguably , it ’s a well - looking watch , too , and its waterproofing is superior . However , the Fenix 7 is significantly heavier , which is n’t ideal for slumber trailing , and base of operations model only have half the interior storage .
Garmin Forerunner 255
The Forerunner 255 sit a step below the Forerunner 955 . It ’s available in a similar size , or much smaller in the Forerunner 255S good example . This series misses out on a few of the more advanced characteristic , like on - watch maps and sailing , and bike turbo trainer ascendance . It has the same sum hardware , include an Elevate v4 heart rate array and Multi - Band GPS . A great option for those who do n’t need feature earmark for the expensive dance band .
Apple Watch Series 7
It may seem odd celebrate the Forerunner 955 ’s value when the Apple Watch Series 7 is higher visibility , flashier and cheaper . The watch also makes an splendid example tracker , thanks to its accurate GPS and top - tier heart rate sensor . However , it does n’t have offline maps , ca n’t connect to external sensors to the same extent and ( typically ) needs to be charge day by day . It ’s a peachy scout for chance exercisers but does n’t have the specialist appealingness of a good Garmin .
