Garmin announces the Forerunner 230, 235 and 630

By Michael S • October 24, 2015 • News

Brace yourselves because Garmin just announced the availability of 3 GPS enabled fitness trackers, the Forerunner 235, 230 and 630. The trio made their appearances on multiple social media platforms to much adoration this week. If this doesn’t make your Christmas gift guide, I have no idea what will.

Forerunner 230 and 235

Read the Forerunner 235 in depth review

With the Forerunner 225 released just a while back, one can only assume the runaway success with Garmin’s maiden wrist based heart rate measurement device to warrant the release of an upgrade just months later in the form of the Forerunner 235. While the Forerunner 225 featured Mio Global’s heart rate sensors, Garmin has gone ahead with their in house “Garmin Elevate” optical heart rate sensors for the Forerunner 235.

Users have complained on how the Forerunner 225 does not have all-day heart rate monitoring capabilities and that flaw has now been fixed with the Forerunner 235; the new device measure 24/7 heart rate. The new sunlight-readable display, similar to that on the Vivoactive, is now 44% larger in terms of display area. Also, the Forerunner 235 will also offer smart notifications so the user will be updated when messages, emails and calls come in. Compatibility with Garmin’s Connect IQ also means users can download apps, watch faces and widgets to the Forerunner 235 and 230 series of GPS watches.

The Forerunner 230 has nearly all the functions of the Forerunner 235 save for the wrist based heart rate monitoring; it pairs with a chest worn ANT+ heart rate monitor instead. Nevertheless both trackers are fine by any standards and will provide metrics like VO2 max estimates, predict race times, training effect and recovery duration analysed by Firstbeat.

List of features:

24/7 activity tracker. Tracks steps, distance, calories, sleep
24/7 Wrist based heart rate readings with “Garmin Elevate” technology (FR235 only)
VO2 max estimates, predict race prediction, training effect and recovery duration analysed by Firstbeat
Smart notifications with audio prompts
Garmin Connect IQ compatible
Water resistant to 50m
Coloured sunlight-readable display
Battery life of 5 weeks in watch mode, 16 hrs in training mode (FR 230)
Battery life of 9 days and 11hrs in training mode (FR 235)

The Forerunner 230 will be available in black/white, purple strike/white and force yellow/black, and will at the recommended retail price of $249.99. The Forerunner 235 will be available in black/gray, black/marsala and frost blue/black at the RRP of $329.99. Both GPS activity trackers will ship in Q4

Forerunner 630

Touted as Garmin’s most advanced GPS running watch, the Forerunner 630 is targeted towards the runner who wants more details out of his workouts to improve. Rather than focus on the run alone the Forerunner 630 features physiological measurementsso runners can be more aware of their bodies both before and after a run. Analysed by Firstbeat, the Forerunner 630 can provide information on performance conditions, stress score based on HRV and even estimate lactate threshhold when paired with Garmin’s own HRM-Run heart rate monitor.

Additionally, the Forerunner 630 also features smart notifications with audio alerts, compatibility with Garmin Connect IQ and 24/7 activity tracking. Battery life is listed as 4 weeks in activity tracking mode and up to 16 hours in training mode.

List of features:

24/7 activity tracker. Tracks steps, distance, calories, sleep
Performance condition, stress scores and lactate threshold estimate.
Running metrics such as vertical oscillation, ground contact time, stride length when paired with HRM-Run
Smart notifications with audio prompts
Vibration enabled
Garmin Connect IQ compatible
Water resistant to 50m
Coloured sunlight-readable touch display
Battery life of 4 weeks in watch mode, 16 hrs in training mode

The Forerunner 630 will be available in black/white and midnight blue at the RRP of $399.99. It will ship in Q4.

Source: Garmin.com